Malware-Prevention-Method: A Novel Approach to Blocking Undetectable Malware

This work presents a novel method to prevent malware execution by modifying the extensions of executable files at the system level. Unlike traditional antivirus approaches that rely on signature-based detection or behavioral analysis, this method blocks malware by making the operating system unable to recognize and run malicious `.exe` files. Originally developed in 2009, this technique has been tested successfully across various Windows versions (XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10). The author has documented the capture and neutralization of over 1,500 unique malware types using this method, without the aid of antivirus software. The simplicity of this approach makes it ideal for low-resource environments such as schools or legacy systems. By changing the file extension of trusted applications and running them intentionally, while leaving the `.exe` type blocked by default, the method traps any self-executing malware instantly. This technique is shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license to support further research in cybersecurity and public defense against emerging threats.