copied executable from C:Windows requires long scan?

[morgan26]

Hi, I'm a software engineer who recently updated my version of Malwarebytes AntiRansomware (Component Update Package: 1.1.258) and started noticing a weird behavior: as part of testing if a Windows directory is executable, I copy over an executable from C:Windows and run it there, then delete it. This process is repeated every time my program is started (multiple times a day).

I found out that Malwarebyte seems to hold onto the .exe (I imagine to scan it?) much longer than previously: between 5 and 20 minutes, to a point that it makes my software crash. I was wondering if there was a way to get Malwarebytes to always trust what is happening in that specific folder, disregarding .exe files being copy pasted. Since I always use the same .exe, I wouldn't mind having a hardset rule that clears it if such a thing exists.

Thanks for any help you may be able to provide!

Morgan

 

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[exile360]

Greetings,

It sounds like Ransomware Protection is analyzing the behavior and that's likely what is causing the issues.  Ransomware Protection is more reactive than proactive in that it analyzes the behavior of processes and threads in memory after they are already running to look for possible ransomware behavior (such as deleting backups, attempting to encrypt files etc.) however you should be able to exclude the process that it is getting stuck analyzing and that should prevent the issue in the future as long as the file itself has the same name and path/location.  To exclude it, follow the instructions under the Allow a file or folder section of this support article and select the option to exclude the item from detection as ransomware.

Please let us know how it goes and if the issue is resolved or not.

Thanks

[morgan26]

Hi, thanks for the info, I really appreciate it!

Unfortunately now that I'm digging into it a bit further, I just found out that I wasn't talking about the right product: we're actually using Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware.  Would you happen to have additional feedback on how to exclude a specific file for that one?

Morgan

[Porthos]

4 minutes ago, morgan26 said:

Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware

Are you using the anti-ransomware beta or the old business version.

[morgan26]

That would be the business version

[morgan26]

Anti ransomware Version is 0.9.18.806

Managed client version: 1.9.0.3671

Anti malware version: 1.80.2.1012

Anti exploit version: 1.13.2.127

 

[Porthos]

I have asked the admins to move this  to the correct section. Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware for Business

[N33dful]

Hi @morgan26,

You can't exclude a specific .exe, regardless of directory, if that's what you're asking. You can however, exclude a file within a specific directory or the directory itself. To do that, you'd simply edit the relevant policy, adding the directory or file path to the ignore list on the Anti-Ransomware tab. Alternatively, you could right-click > Stop Protection on the Anti-Ransomware icon in the task tray, then re-enable once testing is complete. Let me know if you have any questions, or if I can be of any further assistance!

[morgan26]

Hi!

I figured out what the issue was: even though I was whitelisting a whole directory and expecting .exe in there to be left alone, I didn't do it properly: I think that's because that directory was in a user's AppData folder and I had tried to use a regex to match it (something like C:/Users/*/AppData/...) I've moved the .exe to a folder that doesn't require a regex and now things are looking much better, my program isn't freaking out anymore.

Thanks for the help!

[N33dful]

@morgan26,

That makes sense, as wildcards are not supported in the Anti-Ransomware exclusions. Glad you were able to get it working, and you're very welcome!