I am always fighting malware on someones home computer. I found this list helpful to remove autoruns. Thanks mstarks for this list.
Pop quiz: how many places can an application install itself to ensure it will survive a Windows reboot? If you named the usual suspects like the run and autorun locations in the registry, you would be correct, but have mentioned only a small subsection of the many places. I’m going to resist the urge to rant about how insane it is to have so many possible places for an application (i.e. trojan) to ensure its survivial. Instead, I’ll just give you the most comprehensive list I have come across, courtesy of the Autoruns utility from Microsoft (formerly SysInternals):
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\WINDOWS\Tasks
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\Wds\rdpwd\StartupPrograms
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\Protocols\Filter
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\Protocols\Handler
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SharedTaskScheduler
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ShellServiceObjectDelayLoad
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellExecuteHooks
HKLM\Software\Classes\*\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\Directory\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\Directory\Shellex\DragDropHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\Directory\Shellex\PropertySheetHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\Directory\Shellex\CopyHookHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\Folder\Shellex\ColumnHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\Folder\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
HKLM\Software\Classes\Directory\Background\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Approved
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\UrlSearchHooks
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\BootExecute
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\KnownDlls
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\UIHost
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify
HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\Scrnsave.exe
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\Protocol_Catalog9\Catalog_Entries
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinSock2\Parameters\NameSpace_Catalog5\Catalog_Entries
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SecurityProviders
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\Authentication Packages
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\Notification Packages
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa\Security Packages
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order
