@Andy Ful
Allow me to introduce
one of my personal tools, ASSET. (Automated Software Security & Engineering Triage).
It's used to determine if applications presented in this forum are safe for the members. You asked when I became this proficient, honestly, I've just been busy learning for the last half-year or so. I've built 22 AI tools for forensics and analysis recently, so this is just a small sample of what I've been up to.
This is an example based on this version of your tool.
Hard_Configurator_setup_7.0.1.1.exe
(
Forensic Findings)
Code:
+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
| CATEGORY | FINDINGS / HEURISTICS |
+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Engine Identification | [NSIS (Nullsoft) - Confirmed by .ndata] |
| Dependency Audit | [Standard NSIS Stub + zlib/lzma overlay] |
| Entropy Check | [High (Packed NSIS Payload)] |
| Manifest Audit | [requireAdministrator (Correct)] |
| Timestamp Integrity | [Valid / Matches Signature] |
| Gating Taxonomy | [Hard Gating (NSIS Wizard)] |
| Capability Mapping | [Scripted Install / RegWrite / Svc] |
+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS Gating Efficiency [100%] The logic remains "Hard Gated." The NSIS script controls the flow, requiring user interaction to proceed. The dangerous capabilities (modifying SRP/AppLocker) are only accessible via the wizard interface.
Admin Justification
[Justified] Hard Configurator's core function is system hardening via Windows Policy. This requires administrative access to the Registry. The NSIS stub correctly requests requireAdministrator.
Engineering Hygiene
[Professional / Community Standard] The use of NSIS (Nullsoft Install System) is a standard, reputable choice for open-source utilities. The presence of a valid digital signature (associated with the developer "Andy Ful") acts as a strong Trust Anchor, validating that the binary has not been tampered with since compilation.
Transparency Delta
[Zero] The UI promises a system configuration tool; the Kernel extracts a script-driven installer that drops configuration files and sets registry keys. There is no evidence of hidden payloads (e.g., downloaders, silent background services) that contradict the UI's promise.
VERDICT & SYNTHESIS: The artifact Hard_Configurator_setup_7.0.1.1.exe is a SAFE, digitally signed installer for a legitimate system hardening utility. Forensic analysis confirms it relies on the NSIS engine (indicated by the .ndata section). The high entropy detected is a result of NSIS compression (LZMA/zlib) and is standard for installers. This potential red flag is overridden by the valid Trust Anchor (Digital Signature). The tool requires high privileges (Admin) because its sole purpose is to lock down Windows features (SRP, AppLocker) to improve security.
Assessment
Legitimate Interpretation: This is the official distribution of Hard Configurator. The developer uses NSIS to package the scripts and executables into a single file. The administrator privileges are requested upfront via the Manifest to ensure the tool can write to HKLM (Local Machine Registry) to apply security policies.
VULNERABILITY & HYGIENE NOTES
Human" Vulnerability: While the file is safe, the tool it installs is powerful. Improper configuration of Software Restriction Policies (SRP) can render a Windows system unusable (e.g., blocking all EXEs). This is a user-configuration risk, not a code vulnerability.
False Positives: Because this tool modifies deep system security settings, it is common for lower-tier antivirus heuristics to flag it as "RiskWare" or "HackTool." This is expected behavior for security tools.
FINAL DISTRIBUTION VERDICT
Code:
+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
| RISK SCORE | FORUM-SAFE VERDICT LABEL |
+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
| [Score 0.5 / 10.0] | [SAFE] |
+-----------------------+------------------------------------------+
DIGITAL SIGNATURE
JSON:
{
"system": "A.S.S.E.T. v2.9.4-F",
"target_identity": {
"filename": "Hard_Configurator_setup_7.0.1.1.exe",
"type": "NSIS Installer"
},
"risk_scoring": {
"distribution_verdict": "SAFE",
"base_score": 0.5,
"context_modifier": -0.5,
"transparency_delta": 0.0,
"trust_anchor_active": true
},
"forensic_work_log": {
"engine_verified": "NSIS",
"indicator": ".ndata section",
"confidence_interval": 99.9
}
}
