Threat LensFile scan report

Is setup.exe safe?

Verdict
Suspicious

Two tier-1 engines flag this unsigned installer, including a Meterpreter label, but family disagreement and absent runtime results prevent definitive attribution.

Six of 74 engines flagged this unsigned installer, including two tier-1 products that respectively identified Meterpreter and a generic PSEB trojan. The disagreement, broad non-detection among other tier-1 engines, and lack of completed sandbox observation leave meaningful uncertainty, but the file should not be run on a normal system.

Do not install it until verified

Quarantine the file and obtain a signed copy directly from the official publisher. Keep endpoint protection enabled; if execution already occurred, isolate the system and run a full scan.

Read the full analysis
Saved file evidenceAntivirus consensus
6of 74 flagged
Flagged 6No detection 68
Digital specimensetup.exec2a7ffd856055f8964…7949e5f7981329
Size5.0 MB
Code signingUnsigned
SandboxPartial coverage
First seenToday
Evidence2 priority signals
6 of 74 antivirus engines flagged the file, including Bkav and GData.

Recommended next actions

01

Before installing

Do not install it until the source and publisher can be verified independently.

02

If you already installed it

Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Download a fresh installer from the developer's official site or an official app store.

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.

82%Confidence
High
Analyst conclusion

Six of 74 engines flagged this unsigned installer, including two tier-1 products that respectively identified Meterpreter and a generic PSEB trojan. The disagreement, broad non-detection among other tier-1 engines, and lack of completed sandbox observation leave meaningful uncertainty, but the file should not be run on a normal system.

Where this verdict could be wrong4 caveats
  • 15 of 17 tier-1 engines did not flag the sample, and engines.tier1FamilyConsensus.strong=false.
  • externalIntel.yaraify.ruleCount=0, externalIntel.circl.hit=false, and externalIntel.malwareBazaar.hit=false; these absences may reflect coverage gaps rather than exoneration.
  • peAnalysis.highEntropyCode=false and peAnalysis.likelyPacked=false, providing no static packing indicator.
  • No completed runtime observation is available because behaviour.sandboxCount=0, and contactedHosts=null means no complete host-reputation result 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.

Recommended action

Quarantine the file and obtain a signed copy directly from the official publisher. Keep endpoint protection enabled; if execution already occurred, isolate the system and run a full scan.

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

    6 of 74 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.

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

We couldn't fully clear this file. Treat it with caution.

  1. Recovery step 01

    Don't install it unless you're certain it came from a source you trust.

  2. Recovery step 02

    Check where you got it — an unexpected attachment or a random download link is a red flag.

  3. Recovery step 03

    If its origin cannot be confirmed, delete this file and use a fresh copy from a trusted source. Download a fresh installer from the developer's official site or an official app store.

  4. 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.

8 evidence-based answers
Is setup.exe safe, or is it malware?
Evidence-based answer
setup.exe is suspicious — treat it as unsafe until you're sure. 6 of 74 antivirus engines flag it; that detection signal contributes to the cautious verdict. Don't install it unless you fully trust where it came from. Download a fresh installer from the developer's official site or an official app store.
What is setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
setup.exe is a software installer, about 5 MB. We identify a file by its cryptographic hash rather than its name, because the same filename can be reused by completely different files — the hash below is the reliable fingerprint.
How many antivirus engines detected setup.exe?
Evidence-based answer
6 of 74 antivirus engines flagged setup.exe, 6 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.
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 trojan — malware disguised as something harmless to trick you into running it. 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 c2a7ffd856055f8964adced1db4c728a736554657da40b23457949e5f7981329, and its MD5 is dd1f9e6b2398a34631de920bfc7bf647. 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 19, 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.

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.