Something triggered as infected?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
       #1

    Something triggered as infected?


    So I was doing a virus scan with Malwarebytes...

    Only one thing came up, and this is what it showed:

    Registry Data Items Infected:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoActiveDesktopChange s (Hijack.DisplayProperties) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> No action taken.
    What is that? Is that a custom Windows 7 configuration? Because it's obviously flagged as a virus and I haven't known Malwarebytes to have lots of false positives. I just want to be sure this is safe, and if it is... does anybody know how to stop Malwarebytes from reporting it as infected?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 632
    windows 7 x64 Home Premium
       #2

    Malwarebytes flags that registry key when the value has been changed from 0 (the default setting) to 1.

    Some malware sets the value to 1 because that locks the desktop settings. If you set it back to 0 the warnings should go away on your next scan.

    Edit: If Malwarebytes had detected additional signs of infection, it would have reset the value to 0 on its own. Since that was the only problem it found, it assumed you set the desktop to "lock" yourself.
    Last edited by stevieray; 27 Aug 2009 at 23:47. Reason: Added details
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 18,404
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #3

    As Stevieray has mentioned, it's just a registry entry and is not harmful. You can let Malwarebytes "fix it" or manually do it yourself, which is just setting it to zero. Nothing to worry about.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #4

    So what does that mean, locked desktop settings? Is it like that by default, or would I have accidentally set it?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 632
    windows 7 x64 Home Premium
       #5

    The default is unlocked.

    This exists so a computer administrator can keepthe other users from changing the way the desktop looks and acts.

    Some games use this key to save your desktop display settings... I really don't know why, but they do. Sometimes these games forget to change it back when they shut down.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hmm... I'm the only user on this computer, so I should automatically be an administrator.

    No harm done if I make it unlocked, right? It was probably one of my oldish games that doesn't know how to configure Windows 7 correctly.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 632
    windows 7 x64 Home Premium
       #7

    The oldish game is a likely culprit. No harm if you change it back to 0.

    And as an aside... you, as the only user, are an administrator by default, but not a true administrator. Confusing? Yes. If you want full administrative privileges, you'll have to grant yourself them. Yes, I know... WTF?... but that's the way it is. The default administrator is a weak administrator.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #8

    How do I make myself a true administrator? Is it possible?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #9

    drfsupercenter said:
    How do I make myself a true administrator? Is it possible?
    True administrator? Do You mean a member of the admin group, or do you mean the hidden Super admin?

    Ken
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 198
    Windows 7 Ultimate and Ubuntu 9.04
    Thread Starter
       #10

    What's a Super Admin?

    I mean whatever gives me the privilege to do whatever I want on my computer.
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:41.
Find Us