Hidden Browser in Microsoft Windows XP
January 3, 2008 – 8:35 am by Shane
Ever been on PC where Internet Explorer was blocked? One solution would be to use a portable version of Firefox on a USB drive, or you can access a hidden browser in Microsoft HTML Help program if removable media is not an option. This was tested on Windows XP SP2 with Internet Explorer 6.
- Open calculator. You can do this quickly with Windows button+R on your keyboard, type ‘calc’ in the run box, click OK.
- In Microsoft Calculator go to Help -> Help Topics.
- Now right click on the left hand side of the title bar and click on ‘Jump To URL..’.
- Type in the URL including the ‘http://’ and off you go. Repeat to visit other sites.
Essentially this is Internet Explorer embedded inside of the HTML Help application. Adobe Flash isn’t working in my hidden browser, but a quick visit to Adobe took care of it. Take care and look for my post in the near future on how to block Internet Explorer from running on your Windows PC.
Tags: Featured, Security, Windows
30 Responses to “Hidden Browser in Microsoft Windows XP”
I have created an application that can block the use of Internet Explorer go to http://www.zenox.net/software and download AppBlocker XP.
By Sam Braidley on Jan 3, 2008
It was awesome!!
vv
By Andrew on Jan 3, 2008
Hey Sam.
Nice software. what method does your software use? Group Policy? You should consider going open source.
Also a browse button would be nice to specify the exe name.
By Shane on Jan 3, 2008
This works with all other XP program with help file (e.g. Paint).
By boris on Jan 3, 2008
That only works if the admin does not do the right job…my systems are fool proof for that…i will suggest using firefox from a flash drive but if you are on my network I will know it and you will be in trouble…
By The Admin on Jan 4, 2008
Very clever. Thanks for the tip!
By Steven Klassen on Jan 4, 2008
A method much like this was once used to thawt Windows XP Activation, well allow it to let you access your files when you had been locked out.
- Dwayne Charrington.
http://www.dwaynecharrington.com
By Dwayne Charrington on Jan 6, 2008
@TheAdmin: Would it ping for the various other browsers? Maxthon, Opera, Safari, Netscape, XeroBank or even Songbird? If it does then what makes you think that there aren’t ways to get around you seeing them? If you are crafty, you’d just change the process name and you’d never know, say change it to svchost.exe =P if running XP you’d have to have at least 3 or 4 of those for a stable running environment, unless of course you are one of those admin that likes to disable everything but the bare essentials.
By zer0-kill on Jan 9, 2008
RE:zer0-kill
Using my application you can block any process whatever the name and I’m unsure if re-naming processes will make them seem a security threat.
By Sam Braidley on Jan 9, 2008
Doesn’t work on xp pro SP3 (I’m beta testing it) with ie7
By hottestbrain on Jan 9, 2008
zer0-kill is correct, unless the administrator is using hashes to block programs, renaming the executable will work in some cases.
By Shane on Jan 9, 2008
Thanks for that brilliant tip!
Now I have another thing to hide from my friends!
Thanks a lot!
By Lexon Gradalox on Feb 12, 2008
I know how to find Window’s XP hidden browser in the XP Home edition, but I can’t find it in XP Pro. Is it in XP Pro?
Thanks, Alan
By alan on Mar 11, 2008
Alan, it is in XP Pro.
By Shane on Mar 12, 2008
favorited this one, bro
By SwispummomsNiz on May 8, 2008