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Most of these actions are under the control of the operating system, but you can also add custom actions here. The Winlogon key controls actions that occur when a user logs on to a computer running Windows 7. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\Run.Using policy settings to specify startup programs creates corresponding values in either of two Registry keys: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices.
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The startup folder path for all users is C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp. The startup folder path for the current user is C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. There is a startup folder location for individual user accounts as well as a system-wide startup folder that will be checked regardless of which user account logs in. Placing a program within a startup folder will also cause that program to execute when a user logs in. These programs will be executed under the context of the user and will have the account's associated permissions level. Adding an entry to the "run keys" in the Registry or startup folder will cause the program referenced to be executed when a user logs in. Adversaries may achieve persistence by adding a program to a startup folder or referencing it with a Registry run key.
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