Our call: Is hwmonitor_1.67.exe safe?Safe
HWMonitor installer signed by its legitimate publisher CPUID with zero engine detections.
- 0 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file.Observed · Antivirus analysis
- The file has a valid code signature from CPUID.Observed · Code-signing metadata
- 1 high-confidence signature or behavior rule matched this file.Derived · Signature and behavior rules
8c6799f8ece4ab5846…943d453473Recommended next actions
Before running
Run it only when it came from the developer's official site or another source you independently trust.
If you already ran it
Keep normal device protection enabled and stop if the file behaves unexpectedly.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete0 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Not runNo contacted-host reputation check is recorded.
No timestamp recordedYARA
Complete2 signature or behavior rules matched.
External intel
Complete3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.
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
hwmonitor_1.67.exe
8c6799f8ece4ab5846cc8beddcf52bd887a5ae896279652960ef8d943d453473
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\hwmonitor_1.67.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-LJO1N.tmp\hwmonitor_1.67.tmp" /SL5="$26014A,2755581,776192,C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\hwmonitor_1.67.exe"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
hwmonitor_1.67.tmp
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-LJO1N.tmp\hwmonitor_1.67.tmp
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
iconcache_idx.db
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache_idx.db
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
5 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
0 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 02
The file has a valid code signature from CPUID.
ProvenanceObservedSourceCode-signing metadataObserved at - 03
1 high-confidence signature or behavior rule matched this file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceDerivedSourceSignature and behavior rulesObserved at - 04
Scanned file: hwmonitor_1.67.exe — 8c6799f8ece4ab5846cc8beddcf52bd887a5ae896279652960ef8d943d453473
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\hwmonitor_1.67.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-LJO1N.tmp\hwmonitor_1.67.tmp" /SL5="$26014A,2755581,776192,C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\hwmonitor_1.67.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: hwmonitor_1.67.tmp — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-LJO1N.tmp\hwmonitor_1.67.tmp
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: iconcache_idx.db — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache_idx.db
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
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.
All 75 engines are clean, the file is signed by CPUID, and a prior identical-signer sample was rated safe. The observed installer behaviour explains the MITRE flags without indicating malice.
Zero detections across 75 engines and a verified CPUID signature place the file in the benign-signed-installer pattern. The single prior RAG match with the same signer also returned safe. Sandbox artefacts are typical of Inno Setup installers and do not override the clean signals. No malicious children or external-intel hits exist.
What We Detected
75 engines reported the sample; none flagged it malicious. The executable is signed and the certificate belongs to CPUID, the actual vendor of HWMonitor. One previous sample with the same imphash and signer was previously rated safe.
Threat Behavior
The sandbox recorded typical Inno Setup extraction and LSASS handle opens that occur during font-cache and thumbnail operations; no C2 traffic, dropped malicious children, or external-intel hits were observed.
What To Do Now
The file can be executed if obtained from the official CPUID site. Keep Windows Defender and other endpoint protection enabled.
Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
- Sandbox observed T1055 and LSASS access, which could indicate malicious behaviour if the signer were unknown or the file rare.
- contactedHosts is null, so no complete host-reputation cross-check is available.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- 0/75 engines flagged malicious
- Verified CPUID signature
- Prior same-signer sample rated safe
Treat as legitimate HWMonitor installer; no further action required beyond normal security hygiene.
Behavior
Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.
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.
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-LJO1N.tmp\hwmonitor_1.67.tmp
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache_idx.db
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\iconcache_32.db
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_idx.db
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\thumbcache_32.db
- Local\SessionImmersiveColorMutex
- Global\C::Users:Bruno:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_48.db!dfMaintainer
- Global\C::Users:Bruno:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_96.db!dfMaintainer
- Global\C::Users:Bruno:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_256.db!dfMaintainer
- Global\C::Users:Bruno:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_768.db!dfMaintainer
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 8 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- a4ab9de15b6f9284e1ac…bc4389Never scannednever seen before
- 8cee4432ee826a1cf4d6…00636cNever scannednever seen before
- 6d04c1ea0041f3ec623f…16548eNever scannednever seen before
- b05d2998794e7fdd25e2…5c97f1Never scannednever seen before
- e2d5c4f38edd482eea28…d7aef9Never scannednever seen before
- 37ebf6905bb199305c25…d24f9fNever scannednever seen before
- 36eda4d789b9f9160da5…6b416eNever scannednever seen before
- 388a796580234efc95f3…136f95Never scannednever seen before
Detection & Forensics
Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.
Detection sources at a glance
The available sources did not agree on a named threat category.
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.
EvidenceC:\Windows\system32\DllHost.exe /Processid:{AB8902B4-09CA-4BB6-B78D-A8F59079A8D5}Sandbox 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.exe
0 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
- hwmonitor_1.67.exe
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- Signature valid: CPUID
- Size
- 3.5 MB
- Last analyzed
- Aug 2, 2026, 5:39 AM UTC
8c6799f8ece4ab5846cc8beddcf52bd887a5ae896279652960ef8d943d453473Safety & FAQ
Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.
What to do now
This file appears low risk based on the evidence available now.
Run it only when it came from the developer's official site or another source you independently trust.
A clean result reduces known risk, but it cannot guarantee that every new or targeted threat has been detected.
Keep your antivirus and Windows updates switched on so you stay protected.