Is GameOverlayRenderer.dll safe?
All 75 engines were silent, but four YARA matches and runtime mappings to process injection and defense impairment warrant caution pending publisher verification.
No antivirus engine detected the DLL, and the completed sandbox did not issue a malicious result or contact a known harmful host. However, four community YARA rules matched, including a ransomware-oriented rule, while runtime evidence mapped activity to process injection and defense impairment; the unverified, unfamiliar signer leaves those warnings unresolved.
b86559eea580485416…589a75df92c95cRecommended next actions
Before using
Do not use it until the source and publisher can be verified independently.
If you already used it
Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Reinstall the parent software from the developer's official site instead of replacing this component by itself.
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.
No antivirus engine detected the DLL, and the completed sandbox did not issue a malicious result or contact a known harmful host. However, four community YARA rules matched, including a ransomware-oriented rule, while runtime evidence mapped activity to process injection and defense impairment; the unverified, unfamiliar signer leaves those warnings unresolved.
The antivirus result is strongly reassuring: 0 of 75 engines flagged the sample, including no tier-1 detections. The single sandbox run returned a clean result, wrote no identified payload hashes, established no persistence, and contacted eight fully checked domains without a reputation hit. Against that, four researcher YARA rules matched, one referencing VECT ransomware, and runtime mappings included T1055 and T1562.001. Those mappings may arise from legitimate game-overlay hooking and environment checks, but the evidence does not establish that interpretation. The signature names GSE, yet its verification status and historical publisher reputation are unavailable. With neither malware-family corroboration nor reliable publisher validation, the mixed evidence calls for caution rather than execution on a sensitive system.
What We Detected
None of 75 antivirus engines flagged this DLL, and 15 tier-1 engines reported no detection. Four community YARA rules nevertheless matched: DebuggerCheck__API, golang_bin_JCorn_CSC846, PE_Digital_Certificate, and VECT_Ransomware. The ransomware-oriented rule is concerning, but there is no matching engine family label, known-malware database record, or malicious child to corroborate it.
Threat Behavior
One completed sandbox run mapped activity to T1055 (Process Injection) and T1562.001 (Impair Defenses). Overlay components can use process hooking and environment checks as part of normal operation, so these mappings do not establish malicious intent by themselves. The run returned a clean sandbox result, found no persistence indicators, and produced no dropped file hashes. All eight observed domains were covered by the host-reputation check, with no known-malicious or suspicious results.
What To Do Now
Verify that the DLL came from the official game or platform installation and compare its hash or signature with a trusted copy. Keep endpoint protection enabled, quarantine the file if its origin is unclear, and avoid manually loading it with rundll32 until the publisher can be confirmed.
Where this verdict could be wrong3 caveats
- The VECT_Ransomware YARA rule is a meaningful warning, but no engine supplied a VECT label and the remaining three YARA rules are broad capability or file-format matches.
- T1055 and T1562.001 can indicate defense evasion, although overlay DLLs may perform hooking and environment checks for legitimate functionality.
- The sandbox returned a clean result, but it represents only behaviour.sandboxCount=1 and therefore offers limited runtime coverage.
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 of 75 antivirus engines reported a malicious or suspicious result.
- No tier-1 engine detected the sample; 15 tier-1 engines reported no detection.
- The completed sandbox returned a clean result and found no persistence indicators.
- All eight observed domains were checked, with no known-malicious or suspicious hosts.
- No packing or high-entropy code was identified.
- Four YARA rules matched, including VECT_Ransomware.
- Runtime evidence mapped activity to T1055 process injection.
- Runtime evidence mapped activity to T1562.001 defense impairment.
- The GSE signature has no verified status or historical signer reputation.
- The file carries invalid-signature and debugger-detection tags.
Use only a copy obtained through the official game or platform updater and verify it against a trusted installation. Keep endpoint protection enabled and quarantine this copy if its source or publisher cannot be confirmed.
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
Complete8 contacted hosts were cross-checked.
YARA
Complete5 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
- 14MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 15spawned processes
- 8network contacts
- 14filesystem & 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.
High concern: Used an input-capture technique that can record credentials or keystrokes.
High concern: Attempted to impair or bypass security controls.
Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.
Moderate concern: Communicated over a common application protocol; malware can use this for command-and-control.
Moderate concern: Scans through your files and folders.
Moderate concern: Checked the environment for virtualisation or analysis tools.
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.
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
GameOverlayRenderer.dll
b86559eea5804854160fe313500899f929306b69ba68902ec2589a75df92c95c
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\GameOverlayRenderer.dll",#1
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
C:\Windows\System32\loaddll64.exe loaddll64.exe "C:\Users\user\Desktop\GameOverlayRenderer.dll"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
1a11fe7f-cdeb-4cba-900b-29932d0da63b
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\1a11fe7f-cdeb-4cba-900b-29932d0da63b
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
be042f66-e417-45db-97bc-b169eb65fc87
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\be042f66-e417-45db-97bc-b169eb65fc87
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
windows.msn.com-ion.edgesuite.net
Contact observed during runtime.
06Isolated runtime analysis - Contacted hostObserved
a1672.dscr.akamai.net
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.
- windows.msn.com-ion.edgesuite.net
- a1672.dscr.akamai.net
- www.msn.com
- www.msn.com.edgekey.net
- e592.d.akamaiedge.net
- assets.msn.com
- assets.msn.com-ion.edgesuite.net
- a1666.dscr.akamai.net
- \REGISTRY\A\{a9455f78-5d0a-e345-b087-799af77f82d9}\Root\InventoryApplicationFile\PermissionsCheckTestKey
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\1a11fe7f-cdeb-4cba-900b-29932d0da63b
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\be042f66-e417-45db-97bc-b169eb65fc87
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\FeedSessions\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy!Widgets!!com.msn.desktopfeed
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\FeedSessions\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy!Widgets!!com.msn.desktopfeed\4c7506f3-0443-440f-9fb8-9a067bb58004.dat
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\FeedSessions\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy!Widgets!!com.msn.desktopfeed\4c7506f3-0443-440f-9fb8-9a067bb58004.dat.~tmp
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\FeedSessions\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy!Widgets!!com.msn.desktopfeed
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\FeedSessions\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy!Widgets!!com.msn.desktopfeed\4c7506f3-0443-440f-9fb8-9a067bb58004.dat
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\FeedSessions\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy!Widgets!!com.msn.desktopfeed\4c7506f3-0443-440f-9fb8-9a067bb58004.dat~RF448012.TMP
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WidgetsPlatformRuntime_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\FeedSessions\MicrosoftWindows.Client.WebExperience_cw5n1h2txyewy!Widgets!!com.msn.desktopfeed\4c7506f3-0443-440f-9fb8-9a067bb58004.dat~RF44837d.TMP
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Local\WERReportingForProcess5016
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\InventorySynchronizationInventoryApplicationFileMutex3172
Detection & Forensics
Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.
Evidence integrity
Chain of custody for the facts preserved in this report.
- 5rule hits recorded
- 0 / 75engines flagged
- 29sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
5 high-confidence signature or behavior rules matched this file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceDerivedSourceSignature and behavior rulesObserved at - 02
0 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file.
ProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
YARAify matched 4 researcher rules to this file.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 04
Scanned file: GameOverlayRenderer.dll — b86559eea5804854160fe313500899f929306b69ba68902ec2589a75df92c95c
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\GameOverlayRenderer.dll",#1
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — C:\Windows\System32\loaddll64.exe loaddll64.exe "C:\Users\user\Desktop\GameOverlayRenderer.dll"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: 1a11fe7f-cdeb-4cba-900b-29932d0da63b — C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\1a11fe7f-cdeb-4cba-900b-29932d0da63b
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: be042f66-e417-45db-97bc-b169eb65fc87 — C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\be042f66-e417-45db-97bc-b169eb65fc87
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: windows.msn.com-ion.edgesuite.net — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 10
Contacted host: a1672.dscr.akamai.net — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
The available sources did not agree on a named threat category.
One or more independent reference databases matched 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.
- DebuggerCheck__API
- golang_bin_JCorn_CSC846
- PE_Digital_Certificate
- VECT_Ransomware
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:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\GameOverlayRenderer.dll",#1
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
Moderate prevalence — neither rare nor common. No strong prior applies.
Fingerprint and provenance
- File name
- GameOverlayRenderer.dll
- Format
- Win32 DLL
- Code signing
- Signature not verified: GSE
- Size
- 1.9 MB
- Last analyzed
- Sep 25, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC
b86559eea5804854160fe313500899f929306b69ba68902ec2589a75df92c95cSafety & FAQ
Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.
What to do now
We couldn't fully clear this file. Treat it with caution.
- Recovery step 01
Don't use it unless you're certain it came from a source you trust.
- Recovery step 02
Check where you got it — an unexpected attachment or a random download link is a red flag.
- Recovery step 03
Do not delete or replace the component manually. Quarantine it with your antivirus or repair the parent software from its official source. Reinstall the parent software from the developer's official site instead of replacing this component by itself.
- Recovery step 04
If you're still unsure, scan it again in a day or two — detections often catch up on newer files.
Safety FAQ
Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.
Is GameOverlayRenderer.dll safe, or is it malware?
What is GameOverlayRenderer.dll?
How many antivirus engines detected GameOverlayRenderer.dll?
What should I do if I already used GameOverlayRenderer.dll?
How do I remove GameOverlayRenderer.dll?
Is GameOverlayRenderer.dll digitally signed?
What is the SHA-256 hash of GameOverlayRenderer.dll?
How up to date is this analysis of GameOverlayRenderer.dll?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.