Eli5: How do unwanted programs prevent themselves from being uninstalled?
In: 8
1.) They do not provide an uninstaller program.
2.) They replicate instances of themselves in areas of the operating system that make it difficult for the end user to spot/terminate.
3.) Even with application of anti-virus and anti-malware, some malware is persistent enough to reinstall after a total operating system restore even on a new hard disk. It can re-install itself from firmware on the motherboard.
4.) Some malware immediately uses exploits to give itself SYSTEM level access in Windows environments which is the highest authority in the land. When it does this, its impossible to terminate processes created by this malware unless you can find, take ownership and then terminate each instance.
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