Understanding and Resolving Frequent ‘Audit Success’ Messages in Windows Event Viewer

If you’re a Windows user, you may have encountered the Windows Event Viewer, a built-in application that allows you to view detailed logs of system and application events on your machine. While many of these logs are routine, the sudden appearance of recurring ‘Audit Success’ messages, particularly those with Event IDs like 4672, 4624, 4798, and 5379, can be perplexing. This blog aims to delve into what these messages mean, why they might appear frequently, how they can affect your system’s performance, and what steps you can take to diagnose and resolve potential issues.

What is Windows Event Viewer?

Windows Event Viewer is a powerful tool for monitoring and managing your computer’s events. Whether you’re an IT professional watching for errors or a casual user exploring system activities, understanding how to interpret these messages is crucial. Event logs in Windows include categories like Application, Security, System, and more. Logs tagged as ‘Audit Success’ generally belong to the Security category, indicating successful security-related operations, like a successful login.

Decoding Event IDs 4672, 4624, 4798, and 5379

• Event ID 4672: Special privileges assigned to new logon. This event is logged whenever a new logon session is created with admin-level privileges. It’s essential for tracking elevated user activities.

• Event ID 4624: An account was successfully logged on. This is one of the most commonly seen events, logged every time a user successfully logs in. This can represent interactive logins or network logins.

• Event ID 4798: A user’s local group membership was enumerated. This indicates that local group membership details were retrieved, often as part of normal system processes, but frequent logging without user-initiated action could suggest potential security scrutiny or unwanted application activity.

• Event ID 5379: Credential Manager credentials were read. This event is logged when applications read saved credentials from the Windows Credential Manager, which might occur during automated login processes.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Experiencing these messages at high frequency might not only clutter your logs, but also hint at underlying issues. Here are some initial steps you can take:

1. Perform a Comprehensive Malware Scan

While it sounds like a basic step, running a thorough malware scan is critical. Since you’ve already removed a potential threat (“memo play”), consider extending your scan using supplementary Software like Malwarebytes or Norton, which can catch malware missed by Windows Defender.

2. Review Installed Applications and Processes

Analyze installed applications and currently running processes. Some applications might routinely access the internet or fetch data, resulting in frequent security events. Use Task Manager or Process Explorer to review processes for anything suspicious.

3. Monitoring Network Activity

Persistent network activity linked to unknown or suspect applications can generate frequent log entries. Utilize tools such as Wireshark or GlassWire to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. This might reveal unexpected network access causing extra load on the system.

Diagnosing Performance Issues

The performance problems you’ve observed, such as system stutters and delays, could be linked to these repeated events. Here are several approaches to diagnosing and improving your system’s performance:

1. Check System Resources

Using the Task Manager, take a close look at your system’s CPU, memory, and disk usage. Processes generating frequent auditor logs might unduly consume resources, leading to performance degradation. Tools like Resource Monitor and Performance Monitor can give deeper insights.

2. Ensure Your System is Updated

Keep your Windows 11 installation up to date. Microsoft often releases patches and updates that fix bugs or improve performance. Navigate to Settings > Update & Security and check for updates manually. Don’t underestimate the power of patched system files in resolving unexpected issues.

3. Optimizing Startup Programs

Excessive startup programs can lead to a sluggish system. Review apps that start with Windows using Task Manager’s Startup tab. Disable unnecessary applications that don’t need to be running constantly.

Investigating Persistent Audit Events

1. Review Group Policies and Audit Settings

Your ‘Audit Success’ messages might stem from configured audit policies. Access Local Security Policy (via secpol.msc) and browse to Security Settings > Local Policies > Audit Policy. Review the policies for anything unusual, particularly those related to account logon events or privilege use.

2. Security Event Log Configuration

Examine your Security event log settings. Excessive logging can occur if auditing is defined at an overly broad scope. Regularly clear out obsolete logs using the Event Viewer to improve performance and management.

3. Detect Potential Unauthorized Access

Frequent administrative logs might indicate brute-force attacks or unauthorized login attempts. Evaluate whether your accounts, particularly those with administrative privileges, have strong passwords employing complexity measures: uppercase and lowercase letters combined with numbers and symbols.

Advanced Analysis and Solutions

1. Capture More Data

Tools like Microsoft Sysinternals Suite offer a range of utilities for more in-depth system analysis. Utilities like Process Explorer, Autoruns, and TCPView deliver extensive insights into what’s running on your machine, allowing for fine-grained inspections.

2. Conduct a System Restore or Fresh Install

If persistent and unsolvable issues continue, contemplate using System Restore to revert your system to a previously functioning state. As a last resort, a clean installation of Windows 11 can resolve deep-seated problems, ensuring essential drivers and applications reload without historical anomalies.

3. Seek Professional Assistance

Sometimes, consulting with a professional technician or a trusted IT professional is the best path forward. Their expertise could uncover subtle issues that standard troubleshooting might miss.

Conclusion

Observing repeated ‘Audit Success’ events in your Windows Event Viewer can be a symptom of various things—from benign system operations to potential security concerns. By applying careful considerations to your system environment and utilizing the available diagnostic tools and practices discussed above, you should be able to pinpoint root causes and apply necessary remedies. Remember, maintaining system health demands ongoing vigilance to ensure both robust performance and security. Stay informed and proactive to keep your computing experience seamless.

Further Resources

• Microsoft Documentation: Learning more about Windows Event Viewer and Windows auditing capabilities can enhance your troubleshooting efforts.

• Security Resources: Websites like Bleeping Computer offer forums and guides that address common security concerns and solutions.

• Tech Communities: Engaging with platforms like Stack Exchange or Reddit can provide helpful insights shared by the broader tech community.

By comprehensively approaching your system’s peculiar issues, you can restore and possibly enhance its performance, enabling smoother and secure operations.