What does driver manipulation typically target?

Driver manipulation typically targets kernel-mode device drivers because these drivers operate with high levels of privilege in the system. Kernel-mode drivers are responsible for managing hardware devices and providing essential system-level services. When an attacker manipulates these drivers, they can exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or control over system resources, manipulate hardware behaviors, or bypass security measures.

By compromising a kernel-mode driver, an attacker can execute malicious code with the same level of privileges as the operating system itself, giving them significant power over the entire computing environment. This manipulation can lead to various types of attacks, including privilege escalation, data theft, and system instability.

Other options involve components that, while important in their respective contexts, do not provide the same level of access to the core operating system as kernel-mode drivers do. User applications, web browsers, and remote access functionalities are typically managed in user mode, which restricts their ability to perform malicious actions at a low-level system interaction that kernel-mode drivers can facilitate.