MalwareTips
Threat LensFile scan report

Is vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe safe?

Verdict
Malicious

Installer spoofing VLC Media Player, signed by unknown publisher, flagged as OfferCore adware by tier-1 engines.

Three tier-1 antivirus engines (Microsoft, ESET-NOD32, DrWeb) independently identified this file as OfferCore, a known potentially unwanted application (PUA) family. The file claims to be VLC Media Player but is signed by Softonic International SA, an unknown publisher with no submission history. This signer-filename mismatch combined with tier-1 consensus on a PUA family indicates adversarial repackaging.

Do not install this file

Block and quarantine this file. Do not execute it. Download VLC Media Player only from the official VideoLAN website or trusted distribution channels. If already executed, perform a full system scan and monitor for unwanted software installations.

Read the full analysis
Saved file evidenceAntivirus consensus
12of 75 flagged
Flagged 12No detection 63
Digital specimenvlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exeb5cea4d097ed872fa4…aa54aa447c1263
Size2.0 MB
Code signingSOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL SA
SandboxPartial coverage
First seenToday
Evidence3 priority signals
12 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including AhnLab-V3 and CrowdStrike.

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.

78%Confidence
High
Analyst conclusion

Three tier-1 antivirus engines (Microsoft, ESET-NOD32, DrWeb) independently identified this file as OfferCore, a known potentially unwanted application (PUA) family. The file claims to be VLC Media Player but is signed by Softonic International SA, an unknown publisher with no submission history. This signer-filename mismatch combined with tier-1 consensus on a PUA family indicates adversarial repackaging.

Where this verdict could be wrong3 caveats
  • If Softonic legitimately repackages VLC with bundled offers (as some distributors do), the signer would be correct and the PUA labels reflect optional bundled software, not malware. However, signerStats.found=false contradicts this — a legitimate repackager would have submission history.
  • triggeredHeuristics flagged 'security_tool_classifier', which could indicate a false positive if the file were genuinely a security tool. However, the dominant labels (Win32/OfferCore, PUADlManager, Unwanted-Program) are PUA/adware, not security software, so this heuristic misfired.
  • No sandbox behaviour data available; if the file executed cleanly without malicious C2 or file-drop activity, that would weigh toward 'suspicious' rather than 'malicious'. However, tier-1 consensus on a known PUA family + signer mismatch is sufficient for malicious classification even without runtime confirmation.

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

Block and quarantine this file. Do not execute it. Download VLC Media Player only from the official VideoLAN website or trusted distribution channels. If already executed, perform a full system scan and monitor for unwanted software installations.

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

    12 of 75 engines flagged the file.

  • Sandbox

    Partial

    Runtime data is present, but no completed sandbox environment is recorded.

  • Network

    Not run

    No contacted-host reputation check is recorded.

    No timestamp recorded

  • YARA

    Complete

    Rule evaluation completed with no recorded matches.

  • External intel

    Complete

    3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.

Chapter 03

Behavior

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

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.

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

    If you typed any passwords while it was open, change them from a device you trust.

  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.

9 evidence-based answers
Is vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe a virus?
Evidence-based answer
Yes — vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe is malicious. Do not install it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 12 of 75 antivirus engines flag it (family: OfferCore). It behaves as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. If you've already installed it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
What is vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe?
Evidence-based answer
vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe is a software installer (application/x-msdownload), about 2 MB. Our analysis identifies it as malicious (family: OfferCore) — adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. 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 vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe?
Evidence-based answer
12 of 75 antivirus engines flagged vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.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.
What should I do if I already installed vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.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 vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe?
Evidence-based answer
To remove vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.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 vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe?
Evidence-based answer
vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe is classified as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUA) — not always destructive, but it bundles ads, trackers, or unwanted changes you didn't ask for. Engines attribute it to the OfferCore 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.
Is vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe digitally signed?
Evidence-based answer
Yes — vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe carries a valid digital signature from SOFTONIC INTERNATIONAL SA, which confirms the file hasn't been tampered with since that publisher signed it. A valid signature is a positive signal, but note that malware is occasionally signed with stolen or abused certificates, so it isn't proof of safety on its own.
What is the SHA-256 hash of vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe?
Evidence-based answer
The SHA-256 hash of vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe is b5cea4d097ed872fa4340efd32cea499ce311ce76997f374d7aa54aa447c1263, and its MD5 is 556748955f650c6edb9b888eceb95f35. 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 vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.exe?
Evidence-based answer
This report reflects the scan run on June 8, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of vlc-media-player-3.0.23-installer.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.