Autoruns tips — authorized persistence checklist

Last updated: · By the BinBench editorial team · Stars and releases checked via the GitHub API
For legal, authorized and educational use only. Only analyze software you own or have written permission to examine.
Quick answer

Autoruns tips keep authorized Windows persistence inventories reviewable and attributable. Start from the Autoruns overview and Sysinternals suite map.

On this page

Snapshot

FieldValue
ToolAutoruns (Sysinternals)
JobAuthorized persistence inventory tips
SiblingAutoruns overview
Runtime cousinProcmon tips

Tip checklist (authorized only)

  1. Confirm host authorization and snapshot/rollback plan before scanning.
  2. Record Autoruns version; note Hide Microsoft/Windows option state.
  3. Export results (CSV/ARN) into the case directory; hash exports.
  4. Prefer baseline compare against a golden lab image when the syllabus provides one.
  5. Investigate unknowns with hashes + static RE — Autoruns is not a disassembler.
  6. Correlate with Procmon tips only when runtime questions remain.

Allowed framing

  • Classroom inventory on lab Windows VMs you control.
  • Teaching baseline-diff literacy for persistence noise reduction.
  • Exporting a short CSV excerpt into an authorized incident-style lab report.
  • Pairing persistence hits with later Ghidra/capa notes under one binder.

Scope we will not cover

  • No stealth persistence / Run-key abuse cookbooks for offense.
  • No anti-forensics or "hide from Autoruns" guides.
  • No credential theft from autostart binaries.
  • No unauthorized scanning of coworkers' machines.

Beginner path (authorized only)

  1. Install Autoruns from Microsoft Sysinternals; record the version.
  2. Scan an authorized lab VM; export + hash.
  3. Toggle Hide Microsoft once; document count changes.
  4. Pick three non-Microsoft entries to explain in case notes.
  5. Escalate runtime questions to Procmon; binary questions to static RE tools.
Which to pick
  • Treat Autoruns tips as baseline + export hygiene, not a stealth guide.
  • Prefer the overview for concepts; this page for checklist practice.
  • Authorized Windows hosts only.

For legal, authorized and educational use only.

FAQ

How is this different from autoruns-overview-authorized?

The Autoruns overview is orientation. This page is a tip checklist (baseline compare, export, noise control) — it does not overwrite the overview.

Hide Microsoft / Windows entries?

Useful to reduce noise on golden images — confirm the option for your Autoruns build and document whether it was enabled when capturing Evidence.

Compare to a baseline?

Yes for labs: export from a known-good lab image and diff against the case host you are authorized to inspect.

Does Autoruns replace Procmon?

No. Autoruns inventories persistence points; Procmon tips cover runtime file/reg/network events.

Does this teach stealth persistence or anti-forensics?

No. Authorized inventory literacy only — BinBench will not supply stealth persistence or anti-forensics cookbooks.

Sources