Malicious
Strong tier-1 consensus on MalwareX family plus process injection and direct-IP C2 behaviour.
24100b43cdef8a018b…fc26a36c1fThe reasoning behind this verdict
The MT AI Engine weighs every signal from this scan — antivirus detections, sandbox behaviour, code signing, prevalence and historical matches — to reach a single, evidence-based verdict.
The tier-1 family consensus on malwarex is decisive: four high-trust engines converged on the same family while eleven tier-1 engines overall reported malicious. Offensive MITRE techniques T1055 and T1543.003 plus the high-severity ProcessInjection heuristic indicate active evasion and persistence attempts. Direct-IP C2 to four addresses without DNS usage is a classic malware pattern. The file is unsigned, has zero reputation, and no similar-hash RAG history to suggest prior clean distribution.
Each signal cites a concrete token from the evidence the arbiter saw — engine name, MITRE technique, signer string, or an exact count.
engines.tier1FamilyConsensus.strong=true (family=malwarex, 4 agreeing tier-1 engines)
behaviour.offensiveTechniques=[T1055, T1543.003] and triggeredHeuristics MalwareTips.Synth.ProcessInjection (high)
signing.signed=false with contactedIps showing direct-IP C2 (45.32.1.23, 23.11.33.159)
engines.topDetections includes Avast Win64:MalwareX-gen, Avira ADWARE/W64.MalwareX, Kaspersky HEUR:AdWare.Win32.PCAppStore.gen
- no malicious sandbox verdict returned
- no known-malicious contacted hosts in cache
- no dropped malicious children
- tier1FamilyConsensus.strong=true on malwarex
- offensive MITRE T1055 and T1543.003 observed
- direct-IP C2 with zero DNS usage
- unsigned with 0 reputation and 31-day age
Treat as malicious PUA; block execution and remove any installed PCAppStore/VeryFast components.
What this file does
What it attempted when executed in an isolated sandbox
High concern: Hides inside another running program to evade antivirus.
High concern: Records what you type — keylogger behaviour.
High concern: Talks to a remote server to take commands or send out your data.
High concern: Installs itself as a Windows service to stay running.
High concern: Sets itself to run automatically every time you start your PC.
High concern: Tries to disable or bypass your security software.
Moderate concern: Obfuscates or packs its code to avoid detection.
Translated from the file's technical behaviour during analysis. It never ran on your device.
Threat context
How bundlers & adware work
This is a bundler — a real-looking installer that hides extra software inside. When you run it, it quietly installs things you never asked for: ad injectors, browser toolbars, fake 'PC cleaner' apps, or even more bundlers. The people behind it get paid for every unwanted app they sneak on.
Bottom line:It's not usually built to destroy files, but it slows your PC, floods it with ads, and can be a real pain to fully remove.
What to do now
This file is dangerous. Treat it as harmful and remove it.
Don't open or run this file. Delete it from your Downloads (or wherever you saved it), then empty the Recycle Bin.
If you already opened it, disconnect from the internet and run a full scan with your antivirus — Windows Security, built into Windows, is sufficient.
From a different, clean device, change the passwords on your important accounts (email and banking first) and turn on two-factor authentication.
In future, only download software from the official website or an official app store.
pcappstore corroborated by 2 sources
- VT (75 engines)pcappstore
- MT AI Enginemalwarex
What this file did when executed
This file was detonated in 1 sandbox and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Adversary techniques mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- 45.32.1.23
- 23.11.33.159
- 8.8.8.8
- 209.222.21.115
- https://pcapp.store:443/inst_cpg.php?guid=60E3CDBD-D39E-11EF-9E8E-B8CA3A66C878&version=fa.2046&src=g_inst&uc=16le&i_type=10&_fcid=1780766902097379
- https://pcapp.store:443/pixel.gif?guid=60E3CDBD-D39E-11EF-9E8E-B8CA3A66C878&version=fa.2046&evt_src=fa_g_installer_cpp&evt_action=show_page&p=wel&_fcid=1780766902097379&i_type=10
- http://status.rapidssl.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBRJiUKgT2m88fZ4nxc1Lu6M%2FjvkagQUDNtsgkkPSmcKuBTuesRIUojrVjgCEAJmJ%2B0%2F3085KKQ3%2BQaGR1I%3D
- https://pcapp.store/inst_cpg.php?guid=8CE01CC0-882F-4658-9A78-B9AA408651DF&version=fa.2046&src=g_inst&uc=16le&i_type=10&_fcid=1780766902097379
- https://pcapp.store/pixel.gif?guid=8CE01CC0-882F-4658-9A78-B9AA408651DF&version=fa.2046&evt_src=fa_g_installer_cpp&evt_action=show_page&p=wel&_fcid=1780766902097379&i_type=10
- https://pcapp.store/pixel.gif?guid=8CE01CC0-882F-4658-9A78-B9AA408651DF&version=fa.2046&evt_src=fa_g_installer_cpp&evt_action=emulated_click&p=wel&_fcid=1780766902097379&i_type=10
- C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache\Fonts\Download-1.tmp
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies
- PCAppStoreMutex
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\PCAppStoreMutex
YARA & heuristic rule matches
A researcher-curated or high-severity heuristic rule matched this sample. These rules target specific malware families and are near-definitive.
MITRE T1055 (Process Injection) observed — CreateRemoteThread / APC / reflective-DLL injection. The payload is being smuggled into a legitimate process to bypass AV hooks.
EvidenceC:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService -pSandbox observed process activity targeting LSASS (Windows credential store). Legitimate software has no business reading LSASS memory — this is Mimikatz-shape behaviour.
EvidenceC:\Windows\system32\lsass.exeSample contacted 4 external IP address(es) and zero domains. Benign software virtually always uses DNS; no-DNS direct-IP C2 is a strong malware indicator because it bypasses reputation systems and dodges domain-based blocklists.
Evidence45.32.1.23 · 23.11.33.159 · 8.8.8.8
28 detections across 75 engines
Section entropy & packers
Section-level entropy and packer detection from the PE header. Nothing suspicious here — entropy is within the normal range for unpacked code.
How widely this file has been seen
Moderate prevalence — neither rare nor common. No strong prior applies.
Forensic fingerprint
- File name
- Setup.exe
- Size
- 4.35 MB
- MIME type
- application/x-msdownload
- Detected type
- Win32 EXE
- SHA-256
- 24100b43cdef8a018bad380d223a2825b8eb33b3e7bcacaae316eefc26a36c1f
- MD5
- 89131076b31dfff1ac51c6def46f5328
- SHA-1
- e195b6f140d0fcdf3224e8bf5fe57d4dce3ebb82
- PE imphash
- 6baf91e587892c296d304b3daf25a3cd
- First seen (VT)
- 6/6/2026, 1:44:22 PM
- Last analysis (VT)
- 6/6/2026, 1:44:22 PM
- First scan (MalwareTips)
- 6/6/2026, 1:45:03 PM
- Last scan (MalwareTips)
- 7/7/2026, 11:54:04 PM
Safety FAQ
Common questions about Setup.exe, answered from the scan data above.
- Yes — Setup.exe is malicious, so do not run it, and delete it. 28 of 75 antivirus engines flag it (family: malwarex). It behaves as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. If you've already run it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
- Setup.exe is a Windows executable program (application/x-msdownload), about 4.3 MB. Our analysis identifies it as malicious (family: malwarex) — adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. Because a file's name and icon can be faked, the safest way to identify it is by its cryptographic hash (below), not its filename.
- 28 of 75 antivirus engines flagged Setup.exe, 28 of them as outright malicious. A detection rate at this level is a reliable signal that the file is dangerous.
- Act quickly. 1) Disconnect the device from the internet to stop the malware communicating or spreading. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software (such as Malwarebytes) and quarantine everything it finds. 3) Change your important passwords from a DIFFERENT, clean device — many threats log keystrokes or steal saved credentials. 4) If you bank or shop on this device, watch closely for fraud and alert your bank. 5) For a confirmed infection, the most reliable fix is to back up your personal files and reinstall the operating system for a clean start.
- To remove Setup.exe: 1) restart into Safe Mode (Safe Mode with Networking if you need to download a tool) so the malware doesn't auto-start. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software and let it quarantine or delete the detections. 3) Delete the original Setup.exe file and empty the Recycle Bin/Trash. 4) Check your browser extensions, startup items, and scheduled tasks for anything unfamiliar. 5) Reboot and scan again to confirm it's gone. If detections keep coming back, a clean operating-system reinstall is the most dependable cure.
- Setup.exe is classified as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. Engines attribute it to the malwarex family. Knowing the family matters because it tells you the likely impact — data theft, remote control, file encryption, or unwanted ads — and guides the cleanup.
- The SHA-256 hash of Setup.exe is 24100b43cdef8a018bad380d223a2825b8eb33b3e7bcacaae316eefc26a36c1f, and its MD5 is 89131076b31dfff1ac51c6def46f5328. This hash is the file's unique fingerprint — two files with the same SHA-256 are identical. Use it to confirm you're looking at exactly this file (not just one with the same name) when comparing against antivirus databases or a download's published checksum.
- This report reflects the scan run on June 6, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of Setup.exe is fixed — but antivirus coverage improves over time, so a file that looks clean today can pick up detections later (and vice-versa). If you need the latest picture, MalwareTips staff can re-run the analysis from scratch.
Reviews & malware reports(0)
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