MalwareTips
Threat LensFile scan report

Is msdot.exe safe?

Verdict
Malicious

Twenty-three of 75 engines flagged this unsigned, packed executable, with multiple established products naming Yogi and four independent tier-1 detections overall.

The file drew 23 detections from 75 engines, including four independent tier-1 detections. Multiple products identify Yogi, while the unsigned, packed structure and near-zero prevalence reinforce concern, although no completed runtime analysis is available.

Do not run this file

Quarantine the executable and do not launch it. Keep security protection enabled and replace it only with a copy obtained directly from a verified publisher channel.

Read the full analysis
Saved file evidenceAntivirus consensus
23of 75 flagged
Flagged 23No detection 52
Digital specimenmsdot.execc7d0cb64ac4fc4bfc…eea4573be63d59
Size14.1 MB
Code signingUnsigned
SandboxPartial coverage
First seenToday
Evidence2 priority signals
23 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including ALYac and APEX.

Recommended next actions

01

Before running

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

02

If you already ran 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.

90%Confidence
Very high
Analyst conclusion

The file drew 23 detections from 75 engines, including four independent tier-1 detections. Multiple products identify Yogi, while the unsigned, packed structure and near-zero prevalence reinforce concern, although no completed runtime analysis is available.

Where this verdict could be wrong4 caveats
  • engines.tier1FamilyConsensus.strong=false, and the Yogi family has only one independent tier-1 consensus vote despite several product labels.
  • 11 tier-1 engines reported no detection, including Avast, AVG, Avira, DrWeb, F-Secure, and Fortinet.
  • externalIntel.yaraify.ruleCount=0, externalIntel.circl.hit=false, and externalIntel.malwareBazaar.hit=false; these absences may reflect coverage gaps rather than exoneration.
  • No runtime evidence is available because behaviour=null, and contactedHosts=null means network reputation was not completely checked.

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 executable and do not launch it. Keep security protection enabled and replace it only with a copy obtained directly from a verified publisher channel.

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

    23 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

    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.

Threat context

How trojans work

A trojan disguises itself as something useful or harmless to trick you into running it. Once open, it does its real job in the background — anything from stealing data to opening a back door or downloading more malware.

Bottom line:The disguise is the whole trick, so a trustworthy-looking name or icon means nothing.

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

  2. Recovery step 02

    If you already ran 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

    Get a fresh copy 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 msdot.exe malware?
Evidence-based answer
Yes — msdot.exe is malicious. Do not run it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 23 of 75 antivirus engines flag it (family: Yogi). It behaves as a trojan — malware disguised as something harmless to trick you into running it. If you've already run it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
What is msdot.exe?
Evidence-based answer
msdot.exe is a Windows executable program (application/x-msdownload), about 14.1 MB. Our analysis identifies it as malicious (family: Yogi) — a trojan — malware disguised as something harmless to trick you into running it. 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 msdot.exe?
Evidence-based answer
23 of 75 antivirus engines flagged msdot.exe, 23 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 ran msdot.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 msdot.exe?
Evidence-based answer
To remove msdot.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 msdot.exe?
Evidence-based answer
msdot.exe is classified as a trojan — malware disguised as something harmless to trick you into running it. Engines attribute it to the Yogi 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 msdot.exe?
Evidence-based answer
The SHA-256 hash of msdot.exe is cc7d0cb64ac4fc4bfc1c5ea6b4f9bbc701336ef8fb6b35a545eea4573be63d59, and its MD5 is 1721f8506baa11b529c60448a889150f. 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 msdot.exe?
Evidence-based answer
This report reflects the scan run on October 4, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of msdot.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.