MalwareTips
Threat LensFile scan report

Is AdskNLM.exe safe?

Verdict
Malicious

A confirmed software-crack tool drew 43 of 75 engine detections, exhibited multiple offensive techniques, and dropped a child already identified as malware.

The file is an unsigned crack tool detected by 43 of 75 engines, including 11 high-trust detections and corroborated hacktool labels. Runtime evidence records process-injection and defense-evasion techniques, while one of its ten inspected dropped files is already known to be malware.

Do not run this file

Quarantine and remove the executable while keeping endpoint protection enabled. If it was executed, run a full scan and investigate dropped files, modified startup settings, services, and possible credential exposure.

Read the full analysis
Saved file evidenceAntivirus consensus
43of 75 flagged
Flagged 43No detection 32
Digital specimenAdskNLM.exe387afcf32a29605744…e1948efd7cfb3b
Size7.4 MB
Code signingUnsigned
SandboxRuntime complete
First seen1y ago
Evidence3 priority signals
The file created or unpacked 1 malicious payload.

Recommended next actions

01

Before running

Do not run it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.

02

If you already ran it

Disconnect from the internet, start a full or offline antivirus scan, then secure important accounts from a clean device.

Chapter 02

Intelligence

The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.

MT AI Engine · Verdict analysis

The reasoning behind this verdict

This section explains the evidence supporting the verdict and keeps conflicting or missing signals visible.

99%Confidence
Very high
Analyst conclusion

The file is an unsigned crack tool detected by 43 of 75 engines, including 11 high-trust detections and corroborated hacktool labels. Runtime evidence records process-injection and defense-evasion techniques, while one of its ten inspected dropped files is already known to be malware.

Where this verdict could be wrong4 caveats
  • behaviour.hasMaliciousSandboxVerdict=false, although the completed run still recorded six offensive techniques and produced a known-malicious child.
  • contactedHosts inspected only 5 hosts while behaviour records 15 IPs and 6 URLs, so no complete host-reputation result is available.
  • prevalence.classification='common_old' reflects 835 submitters and 920 submissions, but prevalence does not outweigh the confirmed crack labels and malicious dropped child.
  • externalIntel.circl.hit=false, while MalwareBazaar and YARAify coverage was skipped; this is not comprehensive external clearance.

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

Recommended action

Quarantine and remove the executable while keeping endpoint protection enabled. If it was executed, run a full scan and investigate dropped files, modified startup settings, services, and possible credential exposure.

Scan transparency

Coverage & freshness

3 of 5 complete

Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.

  • Antivirus

    Complete

    43 of 75 engines flagged the file.

  • Sandbox

    Complete

    1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.

  • Network

    Partial

    5 of 25 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.

  • YARA

    Complete

    3 signature or behavior rules matched.

  • External intel

    Partial

    Independent reference checks were attempted but are incomplete.

Chapter 03

Behavior

Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.

Runtime flight recorder

Capture complete
  • 1isolated sandbox run
  • 38MITRE ATT&CK techniques
  • 15spawned processes
  • 26network contacts
  • 34filesystem & mutex artifacts

What this file does

Observed actions and their security significance

  • High concern: Drops additional malware files onto your PC when it runs.

  • High concern: Injected code into another process, a technique that can conceal execution.

  • High concern: Used an input-capture technique that can record credentials or keystrokes.

  • High concern: Created or modified a system service, which can keep code running.

  • High concern: Changed an auto-start location that can make code run after sign-in or restart.

  • High concern: Attempted to impair or bypass security controls.

  • High concern: Manipulated how the operating system loads code, which can redirect execution.

These are observed capabilities from an isolated analysis. A technique does not prove malicious intent on its own, and the file never ran on your device.

Threat context

How hacktools are abused

This is a hacking or cracking tool — the kind used to bypass software licences, generate fake keys, or attack other systems. Even when the tool 'works', these downloads very often carry hidden malware.

Bottom line:Running one means trusting an anonymous author with full access to your PC — rarely worth the risk.

Recorded behavior

Attack story

Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.

ObservedDerived

7 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.

Chapter 04

Detection & Forensics

Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.

Chapter 05

Safety & FAQ

Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.

What to do now

This file is dangerous. Treat it as harmful and remove it.

  1. Recovery step 01

    Don't run this file. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.

  2. Recovery step 02

    If you already ran it, disconnect from the internet and start with a full antivirus scan or Microsoft Defender Offline scan. If compromise is suspected or the problem persists, use a reputable second-opinion scanner and follow incident-recovery or clean-reinstall guidance.

  3. Recovery step 03

    From a different, clean device, change the passwords on your important accounts (email and banking first) and turn on two-factor authentication.

  4. Recovery step 04

    It can drop extra files, so run a full system scan — not just a quick one — to catch anything it left behind.

  5. Recovery step 05

    Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.

Safety FAQ

Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.

8 evidence-based answers
Is AdskNLM.exe a virus?
Evidence-based answer
Yes — AdskNLM.exe is malicious. Do not run it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 43 of 75 antivirus engines flag it (family: Crack). It behaves as a hacktool — dual-use offensive tooling that is dangerous regardless of intent. If you've already run it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
What is AdskNLM.exe?
Evidence-based answer
AdskNLM.exe is a Windows executable program, about 7.4 MB. Our analysis identifies it as malicious (family: Crack) — a hacktool — dual-use offensive tooling that is dangerous regardless of intent. 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.
How many antivirus engines detected AdskNLM.exe?
Evidence-based answer
43 of 75 antivirus engines flagged AdskNLM.exe, 43 of them as outright malicious. The raw count alone does not establish safety or danger; we also weigh which engines flagged it and corroborating behavior, identity, reputation, and rule evidence. The malicious verdict is supported by a malicious child payload created or unpacked during analysis and by the wider saved evidence.
What should I do if I already ran AdskNLM.exe?
Evidence-based answer
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.
How do I remove AdskNLM.exe?
Evidence-based answer
To remove AdskNLM.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 this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or 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.
What kind of malware is AdskNLM.exe?
Evidence-based answer
AdskNLM.exe is classified as a hacktool — dual-use offensive tooling that is dangerous regardless of intent. Engines attribute it to the Crack 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.
What is the SHA-256 hash of AdskNLM.exe?
Evidence-based answer
The SHA-256 hash of AdskNLM.exe is 387afcf32a29605744367e07e5867584b18f17e15b36ecf1cee1948efd7cfb3b, and its MD5 is c1a94b4dd036c7e43d76ce1a1894b72f. 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.
How up to date is this analysis of AdskNLM.exe?
Evidence-based answer
This report reflects the scan run on September 11, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of AdskNLM.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.
Chapter 06

Community

Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.

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The raw file is processed temporarily and is not retained after processing. Its hash and report are public and permanent, so the next person who checks the same file gets an instant answer. Unknown files may be submitted to VirusTotal for analysis. If you ran this file on your computer and are worried, scan your system with an up-to-date antivirus and change critical passwords from a different device.