Short bio
RiskWare.MisusedLegit is Malwarebytes’ generic detection name for legitimate files that are suspected to be used for malicious purposes. Often these files will be detected because they are placed in another directory or folder than they would be under normal circ*mstances.
Type and source of the infection
Riskware, in general, is a detection for items that are not strictly malicious, but pose some sort of risk for the user in another way.
Programs might be termed as “riskware” because they:
- Violate the terms of service (ToS) of other software or a user platform.
- Block another application or software from being updated and patched.
- Might be illegal to use in the users’ country.
- Could be used as a backdoor for other malware.
- Are indicative of the presence of other malware.
RiskWare.MisusedLegit falls under the last two categories. A detection of this kind always should be reason for further investigation, unless there is a legitimate explanation for the detection.
RiskWare.MisusedLegit is often part of the toolkit an attacker has placed on the affected system.
Protection
Malwarebytes blocks RiskWare.MisusedLegit
Home remediation
Malwarebytes can detect and remove RiskWare.MisusedLegit without further user interaction.
- Pleasedownload Malwarebytesto your desktop.
- Double-clickMBSetup.exeand follow the prompts to install the program.
- When yourMalwarebytes for Windowsinstallation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
- Click on theGet startedbutton.
- ClickScanto start aThreat Scan.
- ClickQuarantineto remove the found threats.
- Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.
Business remediation
How to remove RiskWare.MisusedLegit with the Malwarebytes Nebula console
You can use the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Nebula console to scan endpoints.
Nebula endpoint tasks menu
Choose the Scan + Quarantine option. Afterwards you can check theDetections pageto see which threats were found.
On theQuarantine pageyou can see which threats were quarantined and restore them if necessary.
Add an exclusion
Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.
- Open Malwarebytes for Windows.
- Click theDetection History
- Click theAllow List
- To add an item to theAllow List, clickAdd.
- Select the exclusion typeAllow a file or folderand use theSelect a folderbutton to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
- Repeat this for any secondary files or folder(s) that belong to the software.
If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, also add an exclusion of the typeAllow an application to connect to the internetand use theBrowsebutton to select the file you wish to grant access.
