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Verdict Malicious

Analyzed , 23 hours ago

Is GHOST SETUP safe? No, we rate this exact file malicious.

Nine of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it flagged this unsigned, protected executable, while evidence from the test run recorded concrete policy changes aimed at disabling…

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Strong evidence · Two or more major antivirus engines agree.

Don't install this file

If you already installed it, follow the steps below.

What to do now4 steps

This file is harmful. Don't run it, and remove it.

If you haven't installed it

  1. Don't install this file. Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin.

If you already installed it

  1. Disconnect the device from the internet, then run a full antivirus scan. Microsoft Defender Offline (Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options) also finds malware that hides while Windows runs.

  2. If you typed passwords on the device after running it, change them from another device you trust.

  3. If the scan keeps finding it, or the device still acts strangely, scan again with a second-opinion scanner from another company; if that doesn't fix it, back up your personal files and reinstall Windows.

If you already ran it, do these in order.

If you opened or installed it

Avoid banking and sign-ins on that device until it is clean. These free MalwareTips guides walk you through it.

Paste this report's link in your topic so helpers can see what was found.

Why we think so

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GHOST SETUP: Malicious — MalwareTips file scan

The link always shows the latest result for this exact file (its SHA-256 fingerprint).

Antivirus results

9 of 69 flagged

  • Flagged 9
  • No detection 60
  • No result 5
FileGHOST SETUP149.5 kBSHA-256 3322f736503a…0dd6d1
  • Code signing Unsigned
  • Test run Completed
  • First seen 6y ago
2 strong detection rules matched this file.

Chapter 02

Why we think so

5 points against it and 4 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.

MT AI Engine · Verdict analysis

The reasoning behind this verdict

Analyst conclusion

Three major antivirus engines and six other independent engines detected the executable, mainly as a generic or MSIL loader. More importantly, evidence from the test run recorded Windows Defender real-time protection policy changes, corroborating the defence-evasion mapping; keep security software enabled and do not run the file.

Where this verdict could be wrong3 caveats
  • The combined sandbox verdict was clean despite the recorded Windows Defender policy changes.
  • No inspected contacted host matched the malicious or suspicious cache.
  • The file has been submitted by 177 distinct sources and was first seen on May 21, 2020.

These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.

6 sources checked · all complete. See every source

Chapter 03

What it did in our test

It ran in 6 isolated tests; no test environment rated what it did as risky.

Test run summary

Capture complete
  • 6isolated sandbox runs
  • 22sandbox rule tags
  • 4spawned processes
  • 1network contact
  • 35filesystem & mutex artifacts

What the test run showed

What the file did on a test computer

Confirmed in the test run

  • High concern: Switched off or weakened security settings on the test computer.

  • Moderate concern: Contains packed or scrambled code that is harder to inspect (common in installers too).

  • Moderate concern: Ran commands or a script on the test computer.

  • Moderate concern: Checked whether it was running on a test computer.

  • Note: Read the user name of the test computer.

  • Note: Listed the programs running on the test computer.

  • Note: Talked to servers over the internet during the test run.

Sandbox labels we could not confirm (common in safe files too)

  • Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as code injection, but no injected program was recorded.

  • Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as changing how Windows loads code; nothing confirms it.

This file was run on a test computer (a sandbox), not on yours. Labels we could not confirm are listed so you can see them, but they are not treated as evidence against the file.

Threat context

How trojans work

A trojan pretends to be something useful or harmless so that you run it. Once open, it does its real job in the background, from stealing data to opening a back door or downloading more malware.

Bottom line:The disguise is the whole trick, so a trustworthy-looking name or icon means nothing.

Recorded behavior

What happened in the test

Grouped by step. The order is not a timeline.

Seen in the test runWorked out from other results

  1. Input file

    The submitted object

    1
    1. Evidence 1 of 6: FileSeen in the test run

      GHOST SETUP

      3322f736503a1e2adf80af1c578809f69d2bc5b4a686bc509413f574ae0dd6d1

      Uploaded file

  2. Processes

    What ran

    2
    1. Evidence 2 of 6: ProcessSeen in the test run

      program.exe

      "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\program.exe"

      Test run
    2. Evidence 3 of 6: ProcessSeen in the test run

      powershell.exe

      "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" sources\setup.exe /compact:on

      Test run
    3. +1 more recorded observation

  3. Files

    Created or changed

    2
    1. Evidence 4 of 6: Written fileSeen in the test run

      executable.exe.log

      C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\CLR_v4.0\UsageLogs\executable.exe.log

      Test run
    2. Evidence 5 of 6: Written fileSeen in the test run

      Caches

      C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Caches

      Test run
    3. +1 more recorded observation

  4. Network

    Hosts contacted

    1
    1. Evidence 6 of 6: Contacted hostSeen in the test run

      217.20.54.38

      Contacted during the test run.

      Test run

6 facts from the test run. See the full activity list.

Chapter 04

Technical details

9 of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it flag it; no publisher signature.

Sources checked

Every check behind this verdict

6 sources checked · all complete. Complete means the check returned a usable result; it does not mean the file is safe.

SourceStatusResultChecked
Antivirus enginesVirusTotal · 74 enginesCompleteRisk signal: 9 of 69 engines flagged it · 5 gave no result Details for antivirus engines
Sandbox runVirusTotal sandboxes · C2AE, CAPA, CAPE SandboxComplete6 runs: 1 clean, 5 without a verdict Details for sandbox run
Contacted hostsMalwareTips URL scannerComplete11 contacted hosts checked Details for contacted hosts
Signature rulesYARAify community rules + MalwareTips rulesCompleteRisk signal: 5 MalwareTips behaviour rules Details for signature rules
Malware sample databaseabuse.ch MalwareBazaarCompleteNot listed
Known-software referenceCIRCL hashlookupCompleteNo match

Engines that flagged it 9

  • Fortinet (major engine)Adware/ExtGPi
  • TrellixENS (major engine)Artemis!E9D76E0B38FD
  • TrendMicro-HouseCall (major engine)Trojan.MSIL.LOADER.TL0101EK26YV
  • GoogleDetected
  • huorongTrojan/MSIL.Loader.j
  • KingsoftMsil.Troj.loader.j
  • Paloaltogeneric.ml
  • RisingTrojan.Loader!8.15A8 (CLOUD)
1 more in the full engine list

File fingerprint

Last analyzed
Nov 1, 2026, 4:27 AM UTC
SHA-256
3322f736503a1e2adf80af1c578809f69d2bc5b4a686bc509413f574ae0dd6d1
SHA-1
0df2dda3c81b3757622f4c329a6e628c86538024
MD5
e9d76e0b38fd3ffccfef64ffc9ed7935

About this file

GHOST SETUP says it is GHOST SPECTRE (GHOST SETUP), 149.5 kB.

Claims to be
GHOST SPECTRE (GHOST SETUP)From the file's own version information, written by whoever built it.
Original name
GHOST SETUPMatches the shared file name.
Type and size
Win32 EXE · 149.5 kB
Signer
UnsignedNo code signature.
First seen
May 21, 2020On VirusTotal.
Submitted by
177 distinct sources
Packer
Smart Assembly (DetectItEasy protector)Packing hides code; legitimate installers use it too.
Entropy
5.15 of 8

First scanned

Chapter 05

Questions & answers

Short answers to the 8 questions people ask most about this file.

Is GHOST SETUP a virus?
Yes. This copy of GHOST SETUP (SHA-256 3322f736…d6d1) is malicious. Other files with the same name can be different, so check the hash. Don't install it. Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin. 9 of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it flag it. Antivirus engines classify it as a trojan: malware disguised as something harmless so that you run it. If you've already installed it, see the steps below.
What is GHOST SETUP?
GHOST SETUP is a software installer, about 149.5 kB. Its version information says it is “GHOST SPECTRE” (GHOST SETUP). Version information is written by whoever built the file, so it is a claim, not proof of who made it. VirusTotal first saw it on May 21, 2020.
How many antivirus engines detected GHOST SETUP?
9 of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it flag GHOST SETUP, including Trend Micro and Trellix (McAfee). We weigh which engines flagged it and what else the scan found, not just the count. The rating comes from all the evidence together, not from this count alone.
What should I do if I already installed GHOST SETUP?
Act quickly. 1) Disconnect the device from the internet. 2) Run a full scan with your antivirus and let it remove what it finds. 3) Change your important passwords from another device you trust, starting with email and banking, and turn on two-step verification. 4) If you bank or shop on this device, watch your accounts and tell your bank about payments you don't recognise. 5) If the scan keeps finding it, back up your personal files and reinstall Windows.
How do I remove GHOST SETUP?
To remove GHOST SETUP: 1) run a full scan with your antivirus and let it remove what it finds. 2) Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin. 3) Check Settings > Apps, your browser extensions, startup apps (Task Manager > Startup apps) and scheduled tasks for anything you don't recognise. 4) Restart and scan again. If it keeps coming back, scan from Safe Mode with Networking, or back up your files and reinstall Windows.
What kind of malware is GHOST SETUP?
Antivirus engines classify GHOST SETUP as a trojan: malware disguised as something harmless so that you run it.
What is the SHA-256 hash of GHOST SETUP?
The SHA-256 fingerprint of GHOST SETUP is 3322f736503a1e2adf80af1c578809f69d2bc5b4a686bc509413f574ae0dd6d1, and its MD5 is e9d76e0b38fd3ffccfef64ffc9ed7935. Two files with the same SHA-256 are identical, so use it to check you have exactly this file, not just one with the same name.
How up to date is this analysis of GHOST SETUP?
This report reflects the scan on Nov 1, 2026. A file's fingerprint never changes, but antivirus engines keep learning, so a rating can change later. To get a newer result, scan the file again: we refresh the antivirus results when the saved ones are out of date.
Chapter 06

Community

Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.

Related file reports

Recent reports on other files with the same rating.

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This report and its SHA-256 fingerprint are public, so the next person who checks the same file gets an instant answer; documents and images are listed by type instead of their file name. A file we had not seen before is uploaded to VirusTotal, whose security partners and subscribers can download it; MalwareTips deletes its own copy after the scan. If you ran this file and are worried, scan your device with up-to-date security software.