Rogue.RegistrySmart

Short bio

Rogue.RegistrySmart is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a rogue registry scanner called RegistrySmart.

GUI RegistrySmart

Symptoms

Rogue.RegistrySmart gaines persistence by using Scheduled Tasks.

Rogue.RegistrySmart Scheduled Task

Users of affected machine may have seen these warnings during install:

Rogue.RegistrySmart installer

and may see this entry in their list of installed Programs and Features:

and this warning after a scan with the rogue scanner:

Rogue.RegistrySmart scanresults

Type and source of infection

Rogue.RegistrySmart is a typical rogue that produces false positives in an attempt to convince users they need to buy the software.
Rogue.RegistrySmart is often installed by trojans or bundlers.

Protection

Malwarebytes protects users from Rogue.RegistrySmart by using real-time protection.

Malwarebytes blocks Rogue.RegistrySmart

Remediation

Malwarebytes can detect and remove Rogue.RegistrySmart without further user interaction.

Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
Then click Finish.
Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
Restart your computer when prompted to do so.

Malwarebytes removal log

A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 7/30/18
Scan Time: 11:59 AM
Log File: 34ec19fe-93df-11e8-add8-00ffdcc6fdfc.json
Administrator: Yes

-Software Information-
Version: 3.5.1.2522
Components Version: 1.0.374
Update Package Version: 1.0.6123
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 251110
Threats Detected: 29
Threats Quarantined: 29
Time Elapsed: 3 min, 29 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Detect
PUM: Detect

-Scan Details-
Process: 1
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.exe, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123

Module: 1
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.exe, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123

Registry Key: 6
Rogue.RegistrySmart, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TREE\RegistrySmart Scheduled Scan, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\TASKS\{17BA9627-AFC4-4A8A-A2AE-E0331FA6372D}, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS NT\CURRENTVERSION\SCHEDULE\TASKCACHE\PLAIN\{17BA9627-AFC4-4A8A-A2AE-E0331FA6372D}, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\RegistrySmart_is1, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\RegistrySmart, Quarantined, [1364], [212840],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, HKCU\SOFTWARE\RegistrySmart, Quarantined, [1364], [210497],1.0.6123

Registry Value: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 4
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\RegistrySmart\Log, Quarantined, [1364], [170329],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\REGISTRYSMART, Quarantined, [1364], [170329],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\REGISTRYSMART, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\PROGRAMDATA\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\REGISTRYSMART, Quarantined, [1364], [171858],1.0.6123

File: 17
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\RegistrySmart - Changes.txt.lnk, Quarantined, [1364], [199824],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\RegistrySmart - Changes.txt, Quarantined, [1364], [199824],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\RegistrySmart.exe, Quarantined, [1364], [199824],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\RegistrySmart.lnk, Quarantined, [1364], [199824],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\RegistrySmart\Log\2018 Jul 30 - 11_52_27 AM_094.log, Quarantined, [1364], [170329],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\DataBase.ref, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\license.rtf, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.exe, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.url, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\unins000.dat, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\unins000.exe, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\RegistrySmart Scheduled Scan, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\RegistrySmart.lnk, Quarantined, [1364], [171220],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\WINDOWS\TASKS\RegistrySmart Scheduled Scan.job, Quarantined, [1364], [207855],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart on the Web.lnk, Quarantined, [1364], [171858],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.lnk, Quarantined, [1364], [171858],1.0.6123
Rogue.RegistrySmart, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RegistrySmart\Uninstall RegistrySmart.lnk, Quarantined, [1364], [171858],1.0.6123

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

Add an exclusion

Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.

The Exclusions tab includes a list of items to be excluded from scans. The items may include files, folders, websites, or applications that connect to the Internet, as well as previously detected exploits.

To access the exclusions in Malwarebytes:

Click on the Settings tab in the left pane.
Click on the Exclusions tab.
Click the Add Exclusion button.
Select the exclusion type Exclude a File or Folder and use the Browse button to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
Repeat this for any secondary folder(s) that belong to the software.
If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, add an exclusion of the type Exclude an application that Connects to the Internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.

Traces/IOCs

You may see these entries in FRST logs:

(E-NextMedia) C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.exe
C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\RegistrySmart Scheduled Scan
C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\RegistrySmart.lnk
C:\Windows\Tasks\RegistrySmart Scheduled Scan.job
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\RegistrySmart
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RegistrySmart
C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart

RegistrySmart 2.10.4342 (HKLM-x32\...\RegistrySmart_is1) (Version: 2.10 - E-NextMedia)
Task: {17BA9627-AFC4-4A8A-A2AE-E0331FA6372D} - System32\Tasks\RegistrySmart Scheduled Scan => C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.exe [2011-11-11] (E-NextMedia)
Task: C:\Windows\Tasks\RegistrySmart Scheduled Scan.job => C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart\RegistrySmart.exe
scheduled C:\Program Files (x86)\RegistrySmart {username}.Run