MalwareTips
Threat LensFile scan report

Is setup.exe safe?

Verdict
Malicious

Unsigned installer flagged by four tier-1 engines as crack/hacktool with offensive MITRE techniques.

12 of 74 engines flag the file, four of them tier-1, with consistent crack/hacktool labels. The binary is unsigned, exhibits privilege-escalation and defense-evasion techniques, and matches prior malicious imphashes.

Do not install this file

Treat as malicious; delete the file and do not run it.

Read the full analysis
Saved file evidenceAntivirus consensus
12of 74 flagged
Flagged 12No detection 62
Digital specimensetup.exea3ba1dde7cb3246935…050477e1d33708
Size5.5 MB
Code signingUnsigned
SandboxRuntime complete
First seen2y ago
Evidence3 priority signals
12 of 74 antivirus engines flagged the file, including CAT-QuickHeal and GData.

Recommended next actions

01

Before installing

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

02

If you already installed 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.

85%Confidence
Very high
Analyst conclusion

12 of 74 engines flag the file, four of them tier-1, with consistent crack/hacktool labels. The binary is unsigned, exhibits privilege-escalation and defense-evasion techniques, and matches prior malicious imphashes.

Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
  • prevalence.classification=common_old with 2183 submitters indicates wide distribution rather than targeted malware campaign
  • droppedChildren.hasMaliciousChild=false and droppedChildren.rollup.malicious=0 across 10 children

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

Treat as malicious; delete the file and do not run it.

Scan transparency

Coverage & freshness

4 of 5 complete

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

  • Antivirus

    Complete

    12 of 74 engines flagged the file.

  • Sandbox

    Complete

    1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.

  • Network

    Partial

    3 of 23 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.

  • YARA

    Complete

    1 signature or behavior rule matched.

  • External intel

    Complete

    3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.

Chapter 03

Behavior

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

Runtime flight recorder

Capture complete
  • 1isolated sandbox run
  • 29MITRE ATT&CK techniques
  • 15spawned processes
  • 23network contacts
  • 40filesystem & mutex artifacts

What this file does

Observed actions and their security significance

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

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

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

  • Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.

  • Moderate concern: Runs hidden system commands (script or shell).

  • 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.

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 install this file. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.

  2. Recovery step 02

    If you already installed 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

    Download a fresh installer 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 setup.exe malware?
Evidence-based answer
Yes — setup.exe is malicious. Do not install it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 12 of 74 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 installed it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
What is setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
setup.exe is a software installer, about 5.5 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 setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
12 of 74 antivirus engines flagged setup.exe, 12 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 comes from the complete saved evidence, not from this antivirus count by itself.
I already downloaded and installed setup.exe — what should I do?
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 setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
To remove setup.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 setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
setup.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 setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
The SHA-256 hash of setup.exe is a3ba1dde7cb3246935a7f5a22fc172ea69a383a35c1e0517db050477e1d33708, and its MD5 is 02e9f9c05125aa63280148f6bb875a7e. 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 setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
This report reflects the scan run on September 4, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of setup.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.