Is CheatEngine77 (1).exe safe?
OfferCore PUA bundle signed by a brand-new malicious signer and matching known-bad imphashes.
27 of 75 engines flag this file, including 7 tier-1 engines converging on the OfferCore family. The signer Plooto Inc has a 100% malicious history and the imphash matches multiple prior OfferCore samples.
7ba0af7427ec614004…9fe5e181d82095Recommended next actions
Before running
Do not run it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.
If you already ran it
Disconnect from the internet, start a full or offline antivirus scan, then secure important accounts from a clean device.
Intelligence
The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.
The reasoning behind this verdict
This section explains the evidence supporting the verdict and keeps conflicting or missing signals visible.
27 of 75 engines flag this file, including 7 tier-1 engines converging on the OfferCore family. The signer Plooto Inc has a 100% malicious history and the imphash matches multiple prior OfferCore samples.
The combination of tier-1 consensus on OfferCore, a brand-new signer with exclusively malicious history, and four prior imphash matches returning malicious verdicts outweighs the absence of known-bad contacted hosts. Process injection (T1055) is also flagged as an offensive technique. While the file is widely distributed, the distribution pattern is consistent with aggressive bundlers rather than legitimate software.
What We Detected
27 of 75 engines flag the sample. Seven tier-1 engines (BitDefender, DrWeb, Emsisoft, ESET-NOD32, GData, Microsoft, Sophos) converge on the OfferCore family. The file is signed by Plooto Inc; this signer has only one prior sample and that sample was malicious.
Threat Behavior
Runtime evidence shows process injection (MITRE T1055) and direct-IP network traffic. The sample drops three child files and creates multiple mutexes typical of installer frameworks. no complete contacted-host reputation result was available were contacted in our cache cross-check.
What To Do Now
Do not execute the file. If already run, review recently created processes and scheduled tasks for unexpected OfferCore components. Keep endpoint protection enabled.
Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
- contactedHosts.inspected=13 with 0 malicious hosts — no known-bad infrastructure observed in cache cross-check.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- no complete contacted-host reputation result was available contacted
- No malicious dropped children detected
- Tier-1 consensus on OfferCore PUA family
- Brand-new signer with 100% malicious history
- Imphash matches four prior malicious OfferCore samples
- Process injection technique observed (T1055)
Block or quarantine the file; treat as unwanted software and avoid execution.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete27 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Partial13 of 33 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.
YARA
Complete2 signature or behavior rules matched.
External intel
Complete3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.
Behavior
Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.
Runtime flight recorder
Capture complete- 1isolated sandbox run
- 11MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 5spawned processes
- 40network contacts
- 20filesystem & mutex artifacts
What this file does
Observed actions and their security significance
High concern: Injected code into another process, a technique that can conceal execution.
Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.
Moderate concern: Removed execution artefacts or logs, which can conceal activity.
Moderate concern: Communicated over a common application protocol; malware can use this for command-and-control.
Note: Reads your Windows user-account details.
Note: Collects details about your system.
Note: Loads extra code modules while running.
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 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.
Attack story
Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.
Input file
The submitted object
- FileObserved
CheatEngine77 (1).exe
7ba0af7427ec61400440f6f16251fa1e96db62c9152dc0b04c9fe5e181d82095
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\program.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-3797BKAGYE.tmp\program.tmp" /SL5="$28015A,5592098,893952,C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\program.exe"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
program.tmp
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-3797BKAGYE.tmp\program.tmp
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
$Quota:$Q:$INDEX_ALLOCATION
C:\$Extend\$Quota:$Q:$INDEX_ALLOCATION
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
3.161.239.219
Contact observed during runtime.
06Isolated runtime analysis - Contacted hostObserved
3.161.239.7
Contact observed during runtime.
07Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
7 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.
What this file did when executed
This file was detonated in 1 sandbox and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Adversary techniques mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- 3.161.239.219
- 3.161.239.7
- 108.156.245.37
- 161.69.238.26
- 23.53.127.166
- 107.167.125.189
- 104.18.25.17
- 13.225.61.21
- 107.167.96.31
- 108.156.224.71
- http://statusd.digitalcertvalidation.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBRNolijWxrE%2B4oss3hMFE8Heagz1AQU9VYiH9m%2Fa1kkUrDhas3A4Vdn6egCEAaV2Cvjf8%2BY2vZ6CGdVSuk%3D
- http://crls.ssl.com/SSLcom-TLS-Root-2022-ECC.crl
- http://crls.ssl.com/SSL.com-TLS-T-ECC-R2.crl
- https://d1dj9aohuk02ls.cloudfront.net/o
- https://d3mq5i5bxc3hns.cloudfront.net/zbd
- https://d1dj9aohuk02ls.cloudfront.net/f/RAV_Triple_NCB/images/DOTPS-855/EN.png
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-3797BKAGYE.tmp\program.tmp
- C:\$Extend\$Quota:$Q:$INDEX_ALLOCATION
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-DJAMO8PL37.tmp\7ba0af7427ec61400440f6f16251fa1e96db62c9152dc0b04c9fe5e181d82095.tmp
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\is-H3ELOIFD58.tmp
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Local\RstrMgr3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Local\RstrMgr-3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511-Session0000
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\{0eeac75b-b5c2-4c83-ad5f-bac212f42476}Installer
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Global\{0eeac75b-b5c2-4c83-ad5f-bac212f42476}Installer
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Global\C::Users:user:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:iconcache_idx.db!rwWriterMutex
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 3 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- 07eea42af4d565d09ce6…d3da42Never scannednever seen before
- 388a796580234efc95f3…136f95Never scannednever seen before
- 976d070339c1ecd80d0d…b2b738Never scannednever seen before
Detection & Forensics
Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.
Evidence integrity
Chain of custody for the facts preserved in this report.
- 2rule hits recorded
- 27 / 75engines flagged
- 101sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
1 high-confidence signature or behavior rule matched this file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceDerivedSourceSignature and behavior rulesObserved at - 02
27 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including AhnLab-V3 and ALYac.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The file has a valid code signature from Plooto Inc.
ProvenanceObservedSourceCode-signing metadataObserved at - 04
Scanned file: CheatEngine77 (1).exe — 7ba0af7427ec61400440f6f16251fa1e96db62c9152dc0b04c9fe5e181d82095
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\program.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-3797BKAGYE.tmp\program.tmp" /SL5="$28015A,5592098,893952,C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\program.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: program.tmp — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-3797BKAGYE.tmp\program.tmp
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: $Quota:$Q:$INDEX_ALLOCATION — C:\$Extend\$Quota:$Q:$INDEX_ALLOCATION
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: 3.161.239.219 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 10
Contacted host: 3.161.239.7 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
Category: pua
MalwareBazaar, YARAify, and CIRCL hashlookup completed and returned no entries for this hash.
Signatures and behavior heuristics
A community signature or high-severity behavioral heuristic matched. Signatures identify known patterns; heuristics are strong leads but are not proof on their own.
The saved runtime evidence maps this activity to MITRE T1055 (Process Injection). The mapping supports possible process injection, but it does not prove the exact injection method or the operator's intent.
Evidence"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\program.exe"The sample contacted an external IP address directly and no application domain was recorded. Direct-IP traffic also occurs in legitimate installers and infrastructure, so this is supporting context only and requires corroboration from host reputation and other runtime evidence.
Evidence3.161.239.219 · 3.161.239.7 · 108.156.245.37
27 of 75 engines flagged this file
View all 75 engine results
Section entropy & packers
No high-entropy executable section or known packer signature was detected. Data and resource sections can still have high entropy without indicating packed code.
How widely this file has been seen
Lots of people are uploading this but it's recent — typical of newly-released legitimate software. Low prior for malware.
Fingerprint and provenance
- File name
- CheatEngine77 (1).exe
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- Signature valid: Plooto Inc
- Size
- 6.6 MB
- Last analyzed
- Aug 31, 2026, 11:02 AM UTC
7ba0af7427ec61400440f6f16251fa1e96db62c9152dc0b04c9fe5e181d82095Safety & 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.
- Recovery step 01
Don't run this file. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.
- 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.
- Recovery step 03
If you typed any passwords while it was open, change them from a device you trust.
- Recovery step 04
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.
Is CheatEngine77 (1).exe malware?
What is CheatEngine77 (1).exe?
How many antivirus engines detected CheatEngine77 (1).exe?
I already downloaded and ran CheatEngine77 (1).exe — what should I do?
How do I remove CheatEngine77 (1).exe?
What kind of malware is CheatEngine77 (1).exe?
Is CheatEngine77 (1).exe digitally signed?
What is the SHA-256 hash of CheatEngine77 (1).exe?
How up to date is this analysis of CheatEngine77 (1).exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.