System and method for modifying configuration files in a secured operating system

Abstract

A computer system and method modifies operating system files via a self-deleting background process that downloads to a user's desktop and bypasses operating system securities. The background process modifies operating system files including configuration files in a registry via a downloadable desktop component. A method for a computer system having a registry includes installing a background process, bypassing computer operating system securities for the registry via the background process, modifying the registry via the background process, and removing the background process. The method further includes providing a desktop component related to an executable file that executes when the user selects the desktop component. Following the execution of the executable file, the method includes modifying configuration files including registry keys and automatically removing the executable file, the desktop component and files associated with the executable file. A computer system includes a processor coupled to a bus, at least one memory coupled to the bus, a plurality of input/output devices coupled to the bus, and an operating system stored in memory, the operating system including a registry of configuration files, operating system securities for the registry, the operating system securities preventing modification of the registry according to a permissions system, a self-deleting background process, wherein the background process bypasses the operating system securities for the registry via the background process, and the background process modifies configuration files in the registry. The computer system also includes a self-deleting executable file including a utility file that installs the self-deleting background process.