What is Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer is a fake registry cleaner. These so-called "registry cleaners" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have problems. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems.
More information can be found on our Malwarebytes Labs blog.
How do I know if I am infected with Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer?
This is how the main screen of the registry cleaning application looks:

You will find these icons in your taskbar and on your desktop:

And see these warnings during install:


and these screens during "operations":


You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:

and this task in your Task Scheduler:

How did Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer get on my computer?
These so-called registry cleaners use different methods of getting installed. This particular one was downloaded from their website.
How do I remove Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted application.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes removes Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer completely.
- This PUP creates some scheduled tasks. You can read here how to check for and, if necessary, remove Scheduled Tasks.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this registry cleaner.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer installer. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
You may see these entries in FRST logs:
() C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer.lnk C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer version 1.0 (HKLM-x32\...\{6406DF9F-E9C8-4C2E-AB48-80352BDF1471}_is1) (Version: 1.0 - Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer) Task: {6CB2D7B7-39B1-47C1-83D7-C681EDDF5991} - System32\Tasks\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer => C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe [2017-03-28] ()Alterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer Adds the file details.dll.xml"="10/4/2017 9:29 AM, 97284 bytes, A Adds the file error.dll.xml"="4/28/2014 10:44 PM, 55340 bytes, A Adds the file favicon.ico"="3/22/2017 11:20 AM, 9662 bytes, A Adds the file log.txt"="10/8/2016 12:39 PM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll"="6/3/2014 1:08 AM, 171008 bytes, A Adds the file Scanlog.xml"="10/4/2017 9:30 AM, 20692 bytes, A Adds the file Sys_auth.dll.xml"="10/27/2016 5:52 PM, 62 bytes, A Adds the file System.Windows.Controls.Input.Toolkit.dll"="3/2/2010 11:09 AM, 109400 bytes, A Adds the file System.Windows.Controls.Layout.Toolkit.dll"="3/2/2010 11:09 AM, 95064 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe"="3/28/2017 12:59 PM, 2814136 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe.config"="3/24/2017 12:20 PM, 4077 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.pdb"="3/28/2017 12:59 PM, 738816 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.vshost.exe"="3/28/2017 12:59 PM, 22472 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.vshost.exe.config"="3/24/2017 12:20 PM, 4077 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.vshost.exe.manifest"="1/1/2015 8:25 PM, 2672 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Uninstaller.exe"="3/28/2017 1:08 PM, 553144 bytes, A Adds the file unins000.dat"="10/4/2017 9:28 AM, 30388 bytes, A Adds the file unins000.exe"="10/4/2017 9:26 AM, 718520 bytes, A Adds the file unins000.msg"="10/4/2017 9:28 AM, 11397 bytes, A Adds the file WpfAnimatedGif.dll"="8/7/2013 11:30 AM, 28160 bytes, A Adds the file WpfPageTransitions.dll"="8/29/2014 5:24 PM, 19456 bytes, A Adds the file WPFToolkit.dll"="3/2/2010 11:09 AM, 467288 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\de Adds the file AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll"="10/27/2016 1:30 PM, 4608 bytes, A Adds the file Regprocleaner.resources.dll"="11/9/2016 4:33 PM, 18944 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.resources.dll"="3/28/2017 12:59 PM, 19456 bytes, A Adds the file UltraRegistryCare.resources.dll"="11/22/2016 4:46 PM, 19456 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\en Adds the file AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll"="10/27/2016 1:30 PM, 4608 bytes, A Adds the file Regprocleaner.resources.dll"="11/9/2016 4:33 PM, 17920 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.resources.dll"="3/28/2017 12:59 PM, 18432 bytes, A Adds the file UltraRegistryCare.resources.dll"="11/22/2016 4:46 PM, 18432 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\es Adds the file AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll"="10/27/2016 1:30 PM, 4608 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\fr Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\ja Adds the file AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll"="10/27/2016 1:30 PM, 4608 bytes, A Adds the file Regprocleaner.resources.dll"="11/9/2016 4:33 PM, 20992 bytes, A Adds the file Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.resources.dll"="3/28/2017 12:59 PM, 21504 bytes, A Adds the file UltraRegistryCare.resources.dll"="11/22/2016 4:46 PM, 21504 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Sounds Adds the file Issues.wav"="4/30/2014 4:45 AM, 380240 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer Adds the file Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer.lnk"="10/4/2017 9:28 AM, 1427 bytes, A Adds the file Uninstall Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer.lnk"="10/4/2017 9:28 AM, 1322 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\Public\Desktop Adds the file Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer.lnk"="10/4/2017 9:28 AM, 1409 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Windows\System32\Tasks Adds the file Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer"="10/4/2017 9:28 AM, 3298 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Activation] "Insdate"="REG_SZ", "04-Oct-2017 09:28:26 AM" "Prog_Name"="REG_SZ", "Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer_v2M" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Error_Details] "activex_error"="REG_SZ", "55" "deep_error"="REG_SZ", "27" "font_error"="REG_SZ", "6" "help_error"="REG_SZ", "7" "his_error"="REG_SZ", "1" "ins_error"="REG_SZ", "22" "Last_Scan"="REG_SZ", "04-Oct-2017 09:29:08 AM" "lib_error"="REG_SZ", "15" "mru_error"="REG_SZ", "37" "soft_error"="REG_SZ", "154" "sound_error"="REG_SZ", "3" "stup_error"="REG_SZ", "0" "Time_Elapsed"="REG_SZ", "00:00:38" "Tot_error"="REG_SZ", "349" "user_error"="REG_SZ", "18" "vir_error"="REG_SZ", "4" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Settings] "auto_regbackup"="REG_SZ", "1" "auto_update_type"="REG_SZ", "1" "culanguage"="REG_SZ", "en" "culanguageindex"="REG_SZ", "0" "notice_tray"="REG_SZ", "1" "scan_notice"="REG_SZ", "1" "sch_date"="REG_SZ", "0" "sch_day"="REG_SZ", "0" "sch_run_type"="REG_SZ", "1" "sch_start_time"="REG_SZ", "0" "sys_tray"="REG_SZ", "1" "trans_level"="REG_SZ", "1" "update_notice"="REG_SZ", "1" "version"="REG_SZ", "1.0" "win_startup"="REG_SZ", "1" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{6406DF9F-E9C8-4C2E-AB48-80352BDF1471}_is1] "Comments"="REG_SZ", "Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer" "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\favicon.ico" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer version 1.0" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "1.0" "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 6258 "Inno Setup: App Path"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer" "Inno Setup: Deselected Tasks"="REG_SZ", "" "Inno Setup: Icon Group"="REG_SZ", "Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer" "Inno Setup: Language"="REG_SZ", "en" "Inno Setup: Selected Tasks"="REG_SZ", "desktopicon" "Inno Setup: Setup Version"="REG_SZ", "5.5.5 (a)" "Inno Setup: User"="REG_SZ", "{username}" "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "20171004" "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\" "MajorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 1 "MinorVersion"="REG_DWORD", 0 "NoModify"="REG_DWORD", 1 "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD", 1 "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer" "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\unins000.exe" /SILENT" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\unins000.exe""Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 10/4/17 Scan Time: 9:48 AM Log File: 7480a67c-a8d8-11e7-b751-080027750297.json Administrator: Yes -Software Information- Version: 3.2.2.2018 Components Version: 1.0.188 Update Package Version: 1.0.2945 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 322675 Threats Detected: 48 Threats Quarantined: 48 Time Elapsed: 2 min, 4 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 1 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe, Quarantined, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 Module: 1 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe, Quarantined, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 Registry Key: 2 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441754],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\{6406DF9F-E9C8-4C2E-AB48-80352BDF1471}_is1, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 Registry Value: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 7 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Sounds, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\de, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\en, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\es, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\fr, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\ja, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\PROGRAMDATA\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\START MENU\PROGRAMS\TWEAKERBIT REGISTRY OPTIMIZER, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441750],1.0.2945 File: 37 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\USERS\PUBLIC\DESKTOP\TWEAKERBIT REGISTRY OPTIMIZER.LNK, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441751],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\TASKS\TWEAKERBIT REGISTRY OPTIMIZER, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441752],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\de\AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\de\Regprocleaner.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\de\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\de\UltraRegistryCare.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\en\AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\en\Regprocleaner.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\en\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\en\UltraRegistryCare.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\es\AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\ja\AAMP_Uninstaller.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\ja\Regprocleaner.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\ja\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\ja\UltraRegistryCare.resources.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Sounds\Issues.wav, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.pdb, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\details.dll.xml, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\error.dll.xml, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\favicon.ico, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\log.txt, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Scanlog.xml, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Sys_auth.dll.xml, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.exe.config, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.vshost.exe.config, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Registry_Optimizer.vshost.exe.manifest, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit_Uninstaller.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\unins000.dat, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\unins000.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\unins000.msg, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\WpfAnimatedGif.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\Program Files (x86)\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\WpfPageTransitions.dll, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441748],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer.lnk, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441750],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer\Uninstall Tweakerbit Registry Optimizer.lnk, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441750],1.0.2945 PUP.Optional.TweakerbitRegistryOptimizer, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\TWEAKERBIT REGISTRY OPTIMIZER.EXE, Delete-on-Reboot, [8950], [441758],1.0.2945 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention