Question

EZ registry monitoring software?

Asked by: codefinger

I have an application which stores these registry keys and changes them to allow a locally-installed application to be launched from a web browser using wsshell (sp?), then changes them back.
Problem is, SOMETHING is interfering and changing the keys AGAIN after my application changes them, so at random times during the day my app cannot be launched from the web browser.

I need a SIMPLE utility that will monitor the following keys and report (but not interfere with) when they are changed and most importanlty, what program changed them.  The report can be in the form of a text file log.  Everything I have Googled so far is like trying to swat a fly with a Boeing 747 --- overkill and too complicated to get the job done.

Recommendations, anyone?

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\1\1201", 0, "REG_DWORD"
 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\3\1201", 0, "REG_DWORD"

                                  
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Asked On
2009-08-05 at 15:47:46ID24629823
Topics

Security Software

,

Scripting Languages

,

Internet Explorer Web Browser

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: RobSampsonPosted on 2009-08-05 at 20:56:03ID: 25030015

Hi, for something more simple, what about this:

How Can I Monitor Changes to a Registry Key?
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/resources/qanda/jul05/hey0711.mspx

Although you'll want to use RegistryValueChangeEvent instead of RegistryKeyChangeEvent:
RegistryValueChangeEvent
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa393042(VS.85).aspx

I'm not sure however, exactly sure how you'll be able to know *what* program made the change....that could be difficult....

Regards,

Rob.

 

by: codefingerPosted on 2009-08-06 at 02:54:43ID: 25031533

Hmmmm.....well I should be able to log what time the registry key was changed.  Then if I could determine what programs (or it might be a process) were active at that time it might at least narrow down the choices.

So what I need next is a simple way to list what programs and processes are active on the user's desktop.  ( These might be web apps.)

Any ideas,   links,  appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

by: RobSampsonPosted on 2009-08-06 at 23:23:21ID: 25040276

OK, so here's two scripts....the first will list the processes that are running on the local machine....

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2") 
Set colProcess = objWMIService.ExecQuery ("Select Name From Win32_Process")
strProcessList = "PROCESSES RUNNING:"
For Each objProcess in colProcess
	strProcessList = strProcessList & VbCrLf & objProcess.Name
Next
WScript.Echo strProcessList

                                              
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by: RobSampsonPosted on 2009-08-06 at 23:24:51ID: 25040280

The second will list the actual application names that are running.  If you don't want to know about the hidden ones, just comments out this line:
            strProgramsList = strProgramsList & VbCrLf & "HIDDEN: " & objTask.Name

Play around with this code and see what you can find out....

Regards,

Rob.

Set objWord = CreateObject("Word.Application")
strProgramsList = "RUNNING PROGRAMS:"
For Each objTask In objWord.Tasks
	If objTask.Visible = True Then
		strProgramsList = strProgramsList & VbCrLf & objTask.Name
	Else
		strProgramsList = strProgramsList & VbCrLf & "HIDDEN: " & objTask.Name
	End If
Next
objWord.Quit
WScript.Echo strProgramsList

                                              
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by: codefingerPosted on 2009-08-07 at 00:02:43ID: 31612187

Thanks Rob.  I appreciate  the prompt response.  

 

by: RobSampsonPosted on 2009-08-07 at 00:13:55ID: 25040451

No problem. Good luck with it.

Thanks for the grade.

Regards,

Rob.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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