File scan report
Verdict Safe
Is libcrypto safe? Yes, no threats found.
Widely distributed OpenSSL library signed by Python Software Foundation; 17 major antivirus engines clean; 4+ year history with zero detections.
Read the whole reasonShow less
Strong evidence · A verified publisher signature, and no engine flags it.
This file is safe. It is a legitimate OpenSSL cryptographic library signed by Python Software Foundation and widely distributed with zero malicious detections across 4+ years and 11,500+ submissions. No action is required.
Good practice2 tips
We found nothing harmful in this file.
Use it only as part of a program you got from the developer's own website.
Keep your antivirus and Windows updates switched on.
No scanner can promise a file is 100% safe.
Reads the latest antivirus results for this file's hash. Nothing is uploaded.
Antivirus results
0 of 71 flagged
- Flagged 0
- No detection 71
- No result 4
- Code signing Python Software Foundation
- Test run Completed
- First seen 4y ago
Chapter 02
Why we think so
0 points against it and 5 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.
The reasoning behind this verdict
This file is libcrypto, the OpenSSL cryptographic library bundled in Python distributions. Over 11,500 submissions from 181 sources since 2022 show zero malicious detections. The rule-based flag reflects benign DLL-loading activity, not malware injection.
The evidence strongly supports a benign classification. All 17 major antivirus engines (Kaspersky, BitDefender, ESET-NOD32, Avast, Fortinet, and others) report the file clean or undetected. The file is signed by Python Software Foundation, a trusted publisher on our curated list. Prevalence data shows 11,568 submissions from 181 unique sources over 4+ years with zero malicious detections — a clear indicator of a legitimate, widely distributed library. No malicious sandbox verdict. No complete contacted-host reputation result was available. The file's presence in malware research repositories (vx-underground, virus.exchange) reflects its use as a reference sample for comparative analysis, not evidence of malice.
What We Detected
File: libcrypto (Win32 DLL, 3.4 MB), signed by Python Software Foundation, first submitted Sep 6, 2022. Filename and signer are consistent with the OpenSSL cryptographic library bundled in Python distributions.
Engine Coverage
71 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it analyzed the file. All 17 major antivirus engines (Kaspersky, BitDefender, ESET-NOD32, Avast, Fortinet, Emsisoft, Ikarus, F-Secure, DrWeb, GData, Avira, AVG, and others) report the file clean or undetected. Zero engines flagged it as malicious or suspicious.
Signing & Publisher
The file is cryptographically signed and verified. The signer, Python Software Foundation, is on our curated list of trusted publishers. This is the legitimate publisher of Python and its bundled libraries.
Prevalence & History
The file has been submitted 11,568 times by 181 unique sources over 4+ years. Throughout this entire period, zero malicious detections have been recorded. This long, clean history is a strong indicator of a legitimate, widely distributed library.
Behavior Analysis
However, the evidence is a benign rundll32.exe command loading a DLL from the Desktop — a common pattern for legitimate DLL testing and development, not malware injection. No malicious sandbox verdict was recorded. No complete contacted-host reputation result was available.
Code Analysis
Entropy is 7.64, which is expected for compiled cryptographic code. No packer was detected. The file is not packed or obfuscated.
External Intelligence
The file appears in malware research repositories (vx-underground.org, virus.exchange). This reflects its use as a reference sample for comparative malware analysis, not evidence of malice. Legitimate software is routinely archived in these databases.
What To Do Now
No action is required. This file is safe to use. If you encountered it as an email attachment or download, it is likely part of a legitimate Python installation or a research sample. If you have concerns about its origin, verify it came from the official Python website or a trusted distribution channel.
Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
- communityComments cite vx-underground.org and virus.exchange — malware research repositories. However, legitimate software is routinely archived in these databases for comparative analysis; presence alone does not indicate malice, especially when paired with zero engine detections and a trusted signer.
- The signer's lack of a saved history means we have no historical sample count for Python Software Foundation in our database — we cannot quantify the signer's historical safety rate. However, Python Software Foundation is a well-known, established publisher; the absence of history in our specific database does not override the trusted-publisher match and the 4+ year prevalence with zero detections.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- Signed by Python Software Foundation (trusted publisher)
- 17 major antivirus engines report clean
- 11,568 submissions over 4+ years with zero malicious detections
- No malicious sandbox verdict. No complete contacted-host reputation result was available.
- Consistent with legitimate OpenSSL library bundled in Python
6 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 not needed or not applicable. See every source
Chapter 03
What it did in our test
It ran in our isolated test environment; no test environment rated what it did as risky.
Test run summary
Capture complete- 18sandbox rule tags
- 2spawned processes
- 0network contacts
- 40filesystem & mutex artifacts
Includes 18 mapped techniques, every process, file, registry and network entry and 10 dropped files.
Show the technical evidenceChapter 04
Technical details
None of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag it; signed by Python Software Foundation.
Sources checked
Every check behind this verdict
6 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 not needed or not applicable. Complete means the check returned a usable result; it does not mean the file is safe.
File fingerprint
- Last analyzed
- Jul 11, 2026, 3:55 AM UTC
- SHA-256
976ce72efd0a8aeeb6e21ad441aa9138434314ea07f777432205947cdb149541- SHA-1
8278f9539463f0a45009287f0516098cb7a15406- MD5
6f4b8eb45a965372156086201207c81f
About this file
libcrypto is a Win32 DLL file of 3.4 MB.
- Type and size
- Win32 DLL · 3.4 MB
- Signer
- Python Software FoundationValid code signature.
- First seen
- Sep 6, 2022On VirusTotal.
- Submitted by
- 181 distinct sources
- Packer
- None detected
- Entropy
- 7.64 of 8
First scanned
Includes every engine result (75), 1 matched signature rule, PE section entropy and packers and how widely the file has been seen.
Show the technical evidenceChapter 05
Questions & answers
Short answers to the 7 questions people ask most about this file.
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Community
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