What is a INF file
INF files are files containing plain text. They are most commonly used by Microsoft Windows, however it is not platform-specific. INF files define which files are needed for a software installation or update. Sometimes, the files also contain information about the location where the new program should be installed. INF files are known to be easily infested by viruses. It's advised to scan them before opening or to not open them manually at all.
INF files are a part of the Windows Setup API and the Windows Installer. They contain several sections that contain further information about the files that are involved in the installation process. Since INF files can contain autorun commands, they are popular to execute viruses upon an attempt to open them. It is thus advised to thoroughly scan INF files for potential malware.
Here's a small, but not exhaustive list of programs that can open INF documents:
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Notepad
- MacroMates TextMate
