Rootkit Protection turned off

[whatmeworry?]

This morning, I started my Windows 7 Prof. desktop computer running the most recent version of Malwarebytes. Everything seemed fine, but Malwarebytes didn't start and ask me to scan. When I tried to see whether it was perhaps hidden in the system tray box for excess programs, I could get no response from my computer.Indeed, the computer was frozen. I couldn't even use the Start button to restart. I forced a shutdown and tried again. Same story. I tried a third time, and this time Malwarebytes did appear on my screen and ask for a scan, but it also indicated that Rootkit Protection was turned off. I was unable to start that protection. I nonetheless ran a scan, and I was told that no problems were detected. But since Rootkit Protection was still turned off, I decided to follow Malwarebytes procedure to report a problem.  I've run the support tool and have attached mbst-grab-results.zip. 

mbst-grab-results.zip

[Malwarebytes]

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[LiquidTension]

Hello,

Thanks for reporting the issue.

The system freeze you originally experienced was likely caused by the mrcbt.sys driver belonging to your installed Macrium Reflect product (specifically related to the "Changed Block Tracking" feature). We've had a few reports from other users experiencing similar freezes and analysis of dump files obtained from the users revealed the source to be operations performed by Macrium Reflect's mrcbt.sys driver.

I suspect the subsequent issues you encountered with the Anti-Rookit module not starting are related to the machine's forced/ungraceful shut down.

I recommend starting by addressing the system freeze. From your logs, I can see that the Changed Block Tracking feature is enabled in Macrium Reflect. Macrium have provided an updated version of their mrcbt.sys driver file that is intended to help address the issue. It can be downloaded from here: https://updates.macrium.com/mrcbt/64/mrcbt.sys

Replace the mrcbts.sys file in C:\Windows\System32\drivers with the updated version from the download link above and then reboot your computer (this is important).

Afterwards, please let us know if you encounter any further issues with system freezes and or Rootkit scanning within Malwarebytes.

Edited April 11, 2019 by LiquidTension

[whatmeworry?]

Thanks very much, LiquidTension, for your helpful response.  I'm embarrassed to admit that the message I sent this morning had a major error in it. For some reason, I wrote "Rootkit Protection" when I meant "Ransomware Protection"! 🙄  It's only when I came back to the Forum to read your response that I recognized my stupid mistake. However, I read what you had to say about the freeze issue and found that I did have the Changed Block Tracking feature enabled in Macrium. Since I do Full rather than Incremental backups, I decided to simply uncheck that feature and see what difference that made. After unchecking it, I rebooted, and I found that not only did the computer not freeze, the Ransomware Protection feature was now on rather than off. Since I don't do Incremental backups,  the computer is no longer frozen, and Ransomware Protection is again working, do I need to download and install the updated version of Macrium's mrcbt.sys driver file? 

[LiquidTension]

That's not a problem. Thanks for the update.

As you don't intend on using the Changed Block Tracking feature, there's no need to use the updated mrcbt.sys driver file. For completeness, you might want to uninstall that feature from Macrium Reflect as the driver is still loaded at boot even with the option unchecked. To do so: Open Programs and Features -> Right-click Macrium Reflect and click Change -> Click Next followed by Modify -> Uncheck Install CBT and click Next -> Click Install -> Reboot the computer.

We haven't seen any issues specifically between Macrium Reflect and the Ransomware Protection component, so it's possible it was the reboot that solved the issue (following on from the earlier unexpected shut down).

Please continue to monitor the computer and let us know if you encounter any further issues.

Edited April 11, 2019 by LiquidTension

[whatmeworry?]

Thanks VERY much, LiquidTension, for your helpful follow-up message. Since the Changed Block Tracking feature didn't come back when I rebooted, I think for now I'll just leave it unchecked and see whether it stays off. If it comes back, I'll take your advice and uninstall it.