Windows
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Arrival Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following processes:
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It creates the following folders:
(Note: %AppDataLocal% is the Local Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %Application Data% is the current user's Application Data folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Application Data on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
Autostart Technique
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries to enable its automatic execution at every system startup:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
sws = "%AppDataLocal%\Programs\safe-watch\resources\app\swch_go_service\swch_go_service.exe"
Other System Modifications
This Potentially Unwanted Application deletes the following folders:
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{GUID}
InstallLocation = "%AppDataLocal%\Programs\safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{GUID}
KeepShortcuts = "true"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\{GUID}
ShortcutName = "safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
DisplayName = "Safe Watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
UninstallString = "%AppDataLocal%\Programs\safe-watch\Uninstall safe-watch.exe /currentuser"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
QuietUninstallString = "{random characters}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
DisplayVersion = "1.6.22"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
DisplayIcon = "%AppDataLocal%\Programs\safe-watch\safe-watch.exe,0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
NoModify = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
NoRepair = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
{GUID}
EstimatedSize = "257033"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
explorer
GlobalAssocChangedCounter = "12"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.torrent
safe-watch_backup = ""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.torrent
(Default) = "safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safe-watch
(Default) = ""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safe-watch\DefaultIcon
(Default) = "%AppDataLocal%\Programs\safe-watch\safe-watch.exe,0"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safe-watch\shell
(Default) = "open"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safe-watch\shell\open
(Default) = "Open with safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safe-watch\shell\open\
command
(Default) = "%AppDataLocal%\Programs\safe-watch\safe-watch.exe %1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safewatch
(Default) = "URL:safewatch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safewatch
URL Protocol = ""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safewatch\shell
(Default) = "open"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safewatch\shell\open
(Default) = "Open with safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
safewatch\shell\open\
command
(Default) = "%AppDataLocal%\Programs\safe-watch\safe-watch.exe %1"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\
.swdownload
(Default) = "safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.swdownload
(Default) = "safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.torrent\OpenWithProgids
(Default) = "safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\
.torrent\OpenWithProgids
safe-watch = ""
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
FileExts\.swdownload
(Default) = "safe-watch"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
FileExts\.torrent\OpenWithList
MRUList = "safe-watch.exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
FileExts\.torrent\UserChoice
ProgId = "safe-watch"
Dropping Routine
This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:
Other Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Restart in Safe Mode
Step 3
Identify and terminate files detected as PUA.Win32.SafeWatch.A
Step 4
Delete this registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.