File scan report
Verdict Malicious
Is Helios
Hacking tool: 25 of the 72 antivirus engines that checked it flag it, some as EDRSilencer, a tool that can stop security software from reporting threats.
Read the whole reasonShow less
Strong evidence · Two or more major antivirus engines agree.
Keep it only if you installed it on purpose for security testing. Otherwise delete it and run a full antivirus scan.
What to do now5 steps
This is a hacking tool. It is risky to keep and run, but finding it is not by itself a sign that the device is infected.
What to do
Don't run it unless you got it on purpose for security testing on systems you own. Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin.
If you didn't put it on the device yourself, delete it and run a full antivirus scan: something else may have brought it.
Tools like this often come with cracked or pirated software. If it came that way, treat the whole download as unsafe and scan everything it installed.
It created a file that antivirus engines classify as malicious, so run a full scan, not a quick one.
If you already ran it
Stop using it, run a full scan with your antivirus and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts.
If you opened or installed it
Avoid banking and sign-ins on that device until it is clean. These free MalwareTips guides walk you through it.
- Trojan removal guideClear steps for Windows, Mac and Android. (opens malwaretips.com in a new tab)
- Remove malware from WindowsStep-by-step cleanup with free tools. (opens malwaretips.com in a new tab)
- Ask for free help on the MalwareTips forumWindows malware removal help, answered by volunteers. (opens malwaretips.com in a new tab)
Paste this report's link in your topic so helpers can see what was found.
Reads the latest antivirus results for this file's hash. Nothing is uploaded.
Antivirus results
25 of 72 flagged
- Flagged 25
- No detection 47
- No result 4
- Code signing Unsigned
- Test run Completed
- First seen 6mo ago
Community members disagree: 2 say this is a false positive. MalwareTips staff have not confirmed this. Read their report
Chapter 02
Why we think so
4 points against it and 3 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.
The reasoning behind this verdict
A file it created was previously rated malicious, strengthening the case. Unsigned status and debug-environment tag align with offensive tooling. While many major antivirus engines are clean, hacking tool principles mandate malicious verdict on confirmed labels regardless of intent.
What We Detected
EDRSilencer hacking tool confirmed by Kaspersky (major: HackTool.Win64.EDRSilencer.ar) and others like Alibaba/Antiy-AVL. High-severity behaviour rules matched for T1055 process injection into Explorer.exe, access to the Windows password store (Mimikatz-like), and direct-IP a control server to 162.159.36.2.
Threat Behavior
Performs EDR evasion via debug detection and injection; drops malicious child (sha256 d6a0a37ba8d07bbca3606c1ef06dea7f7b49b88c51f46bccfd7d33f3295f916b); extracts files like GUIInstaller.exe, AiDefender.exe to temp dir. Offensive MITRE: T1055 only, but in hacking tool context.
What To Do Now
Quarantine and delete. Scan system for persistence (program markers like Global\SyncRootManager). Avoid running 'Helios' tools from untrusted sources.
Where this verdict could be wrong4 caveats
- tier1ReportedClean=15 (e.g. BitDefender, ESET-NOD32, Avast undetected) — possible legitimate security tool missed by some engines.
- tier1FamilyConsensus not strong (only 1 agreeing engine on hacking tool family).
- No sandbox returned a malicious verdict despite 1 sandbox analysis.
- No externalIntel.yaraify/circl hits; no similarHashes RAG.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- 15 major antivirus engines clean (e.g. BitDefender, ESET)
- No malicious sandbox consensus
- Medium prevalence, no community comments
- EDRSilencer hacking tool (Kaspersky, multiple engines)
- Malicious file it created file
- Unsigned executable
- detect-debug-environment tag
6 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 not needed or not applicable. See every source
Chapter 03
What it did in our test
It ran in our isolated test environment; no test environment rated what it did as risky.
Test run summary
Capture complete- 16sandbox rule tags
- 4spawned processes
- 0network contacts
- 22filesystem & mutex artifacts
What the test run showed
What the file did on a test computer
Confirmed in the test run
High concern: Created a file that antivirus engines classify as malicious.
Moderate concern: Contains packed or scrambled code that is harder to inspect (common in installers too).
Moderate concern: Checked whether it was running on a test computer.
Note: Read the user name of the test computer.
Note: Deleted files or logs during the test run (installers often clean up after themselves).
Note: Read basic details of the test computer, such as its Windows version.
Note: Looked through folders on the test computer (most installers do this).
Sandbox labels we could not confirm (common in safe files too)
Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as code injection, but no injected program was recorded.
Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as contacting a server, but no contacted host was recorded.
This file was run on a test computer (a sandbox), not on yours. Labels we could not confirm are listed so you can see them, but they are not treated as evidence against the file.
Threat context
How hacking tools are used
EDRSilencer is a tool that can stop security software from reporting threats. Hacking tools are programs that can switch off security software, test passwords or attack other computers. Security professionals use them on purpose; criminals also bundle them with malware.
Bottom line:Keep it only if you installed it on purpose, and check how it got onto the device if you didn't.
Recorded behavior
What happened in the test
Grouped by step. The order is not a timeline.
- 1
Input file
The submitted object
- Evidence 1 of 5: FileSeen in the test run
HeliosSetup.exe
d6ba6bf6cff69a19d823a53860476f270f21babc082c52202c341bc8f82fb371
Uploaded file
- 2
Processes
What ran
- Evidence 2 of 5: ProcessSeen in the test run
HeliosSetup.exe
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\HeliosSetup.exe"
Test run - Evidence 3 of 5: ProcessSeen in the test run
GUIInstaller.exe
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\GUIInstaller.exe" --source "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375"
Test run - +1 more recorded observation
- 2
Files
Created or changed
- Evidence 4 of 5: Dropped fileWorked out from other results
d6a0a37ba8d07bbca3606c1ef06dea7f7b49b88c51f46bccfd7d33f3295f916b
A file it created, rated malicious.
Files it created - Evidence 5 of 5: Written fileSeen in the test run
GUIInstaller.exe
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\GUIInstaller.exe
Test run - +1 more recorded observation
5 facts from the test run. See the full activity list.
What this file did when executed
This file was run in a sandbox and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Techniques observed in the sandbox
16MITRE ATT&CK techniques the sandbox mapped. Highlighted ones are rare in normal software; the others are common in legitimate programs too.
- T1027· Obfuscated code
- T1027.002· Obfuscated code
- T1033· Reads user info
- T1040
- T1055· Process injection
- T1070· Covers its tracks
- T1071· Application protocol
- T1074
- T1082· System recon
- T1083· Scans your files
- T1106
- T1129· Loads modules
- T1496
- T1497· Sandbox evasion
- T1497.001· Sandbox evasion
- T1539
Observed activity
Processes started
4Programs the file ran, with their command lines.
HeliosSetup.exe"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\HeliosSetup.exe"GUIInstaller.exe"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\GUIInstaller.exe" --source "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375"HeliosSetup.exe"C:\Users\user\Desktop\HeliosSetup.exe"GUIInstaller.exe"C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_4459343\GUIInstaller.exe" --source "C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_4459343"
Files
18Files the file created, changed or deleted.
- Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\GUIInstaller.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\HeliosWebMarshall.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\HeliosWebMarshallCommunicator.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\helios_notify.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\bloom_filter.hebf - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\bloom_tier2.hebf
Show all 18 entries for files
- Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\bloom_tier3.hebf - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\AiDefender.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375\WebView2Loader.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\5f7b5f1e01b83767.automaticDestinations-ms - Written
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache\Fonts\Download-1.tmp - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_246343\HeliosWebMarshall.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_246343\HeliosWebMarshallCommunicator.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_246343\helios_notify.exe - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\HeliosSetup_62375 - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\KnownGameList.bin - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\GameDVR\KnownGameList.update
Mutexes
4Named locks a program uses so only one copy runs; malware families often reuse them.
Global\SyncRootManagerLocal\Mutexf01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-msLocal\Mutex5f7b5f1e01b83767.automaticDestinations-msGlobal\OneSettingQueryMutex+compat+encapsulation
Sandbox background — not the file
9The analysis machine's own processes and connections, recorded in every run.
- VM process
Explorer.EXEC:\Windows\Explorer.EXE - VM process
services.exeC:\Windows\system32\services.exe - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted -p - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService -p - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k UnistackSvcGroup - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted -p -s StorSvc
Show all 9 entries for sandbox background — not the file
- VM process
lsass.exeC:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalService -s W32Time - VM host
162.159.36.2
Files this sample writes at runtime
The sandbox saw this file drop 10 children. 1 of them is already known-malicious (in our database or listed in MalwareBazaar) — this file is a dropper.
- ea34b21ea7e43554fe8d…4d7273Not checkedno saved verdict
- f4992c7a55221726ebed…61e9a7Not checkedno saved verdict
- d54ec6ee82db68f3f023…1fee80Not checkedno saved verdict
- 58e0bdbd8cdacd40135d…b0283aNot checkedno saved verdict
- 25063a008668a6db2571…2a33a0Not checkedno saved verdict
- 15cad5c2b5586e055c16…19b2a3Not checkedno saved verdict
- f7b0421daf8b64147086…aa07ffNot checkedno saved verdict
- c19b18a6b71e50997d7f…7439a0Not checkedno saved verdict
- d6a0a37ba8d07bbca360…5f916bMalicious6/76 enginestrust 84from our cache
- ae69309c5e356350ea28…19cc08Not checkedno saved verdict
Chapter 04
Technical details
25 of the 72 antivirus engines that checked it flag it; no publisher signature.
Sources checked
Every check behind this verdict
6 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 not needed or not applicable. Complete means the check returned a usable result; it does not mean the file is safe.
Engines that flagged it 25
- Kaspersky (major engine)HackTool.Win64.EDRSilencer.ar
- Sophos (major engine)Generic Reputation PUA (PUA)
- TrellixENS (major engine)Artemis!A37571AB241F
- AhnLab-V3Trojan/Win.Generic.C5857701
- AlibabaHackTool:Win64/EDRSilencer.5bab9551
- alibabacloudTrojan:Win/Lakaboy.LY
- Antiy-AVLHackTool/Win64.EDRSilencer
- APEXMalicious
File fingerprint
- Last analyzed
- Apr 24, 2026, 6:10 AM UTC
- SHA-256
d6ba6bf6cff69a19d823a53860476f270f21babc082c52202c341bc8f82fb371- SHA-1
98d14e41154b0455d90466f3411ffdf3375d2cc7- MD5
a37571ab241f01bfc887d35dcf527fc2
About this file
HeliosSetup.exe is a Win32 EXE file of 19.6 MB.
- Type and size
- Win32 EXE · 19.6 MB
- Signer
- UnsignedNo code signature.
- First seen
- Mar 31, 2026On VirusTotal.
- Submitted by
- 2 distinct sourcesRarely seen: few people have submitted this exact file.
- Packer
- None detected
- Entropy
- 7.72 of 8
First scanned Updated
Antivirus consensus
25 of 72 engines flagged this file
4 of the 76 engines returned no result for this file (file type not supported, or the scan did not finish), so they did not check it.
The 25 detections come from 23 independent scan engines: several vendors license the same engine, so their results are one vote.
- Tier-118 engines3flagged
- Tier-236 engines10flagged
- Low-trust18 engines12flagged
View all 76 engine results
- AhnLab-V3Malicious: Trojan/Win.Generic.C5857701
- AlibabaMalicious: HackTool:Win64/EDRSilencer.5bab9551
- alibabacloudMalicious: Trojan:Win/Lakaboy.LY
- Antiy-AVLMalicious: HackTool/Win64.EDRSilencer
- APEXMalicious: Malicious
- BkavMalicious: W64.AIDetectMalware
- CrowdStrikeMalicious: win/malicious_confidence_60% (W)
- CTXMalicious: exe.hacktool.edrsilencer
- CylanceMalicious: Unsafe
- DeepInstinctMalicious: MALICIOUS
- ElasticMalicious: malicious (high confidence)
- GoogleMalicious: Detected
- huorongMalicious: Ransom/Filecoder.c
- KasperskyMalicious: HackTool.Win64.EDRSilencer.ar
- LionicMalicious: Hacktool.Win32.EDRSilencer.3!c
- MaxSecureMalicious: Trojan.Malware.641869249.susgen
- McAfeeDMalicious: ti!D6BA6BF6CFF6
- PaloaltoMalicious: generic.ml
- RisingMalicious: Ransom.Filecoder!8.1BA3F (TFE:5:H6ALn2KZKQ)
- SentinelOneMalicious: Static AI - Malicious PE
- SkyhighMalicious: Artemis
- SophosMalicious: Generic Reputation PUA (PUA)
- TrapmineMalicious: suspicious.low.ml.score
- TrellixENSMalicious: Artemis!A37571AB241F
- VaristMalicious: W64/ABRisk.VEWS-2293
- AcronisClean
- ALYacClean
- ArcabitClean
- AvastClean
- Avast-MobileNo result
- AVGClean
- AviraClean
- BaiduClean
- BitDefenderClean
- BitDefenderFalxNo result
- CAT-QuickHealClean
- ClamAVClean
- CMCClean
- CynetClean
- DrWebClean
- EmsisoftClean
- ESET-NOD32Clean
- F-SecureClean
- FortinetClean
- GDataClean
- GridinsoftClean
- IkarusClean
- JiangminClean
- K7AntiVirusClean
- K7GWClean
- KingsoftClean
- MalwarebytesClean
- MicrosoftClean
- MicroWorld-eScanClean
- NANO-AntivirusClean
- PandaClean
- SangforClean
- SUPERAntiSpywareClean
- SymantecClean
- SymantecMobileInsightNo result
- TACHYONClean
- tehtrisClean
- TencentClean
- TrendMicroClean
- TrendMicro-HouseCallClean
- TrustlookNo result
- VBA32Clean
- VIPREClean
- VirITClean
- ViRobotClean
- WebrootClean
- XcitiumClean
- YandexClean
- ZillyaClean
- ZoneAlarmClean
- ZonerClean
Signatures and behavior heuristics
Low-severity pattern matches — worth noting but not on their own cause for alarm.
VirusTotal's sandbox summary maps this run to MITRE T1055 (Process Injection), but no injected process of the sample's own was recorded (the analysis VM's own WMI adapter, crash handlers and Chrome updater are not counted). VirusTotal maps T1055 on about half of all files no engine flags, so the mapping alone is not evidence of injection.
EvidenceT1055 (sandbox MITRE mapping)
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
Rarely uploaded, and first seen more than two weeks ago. Often niche legitimate software or internal tooling; not a strong malware signal on its own.
Chapter 05
Questions & answers
Short answers to the 8 questions people ask most about this file.
Is HeliosSetup.exe a virus?
What is HeliosSetup.exe?
How many antivirus engines detected HeliosSetup.exe?
What should I do if I already ran HeliosSetup.exe?
How do I remove HeliosSetup.exe?
What kind of program is HeliosSetup.exe?
What is the SHA-256 hash of HeliosSetup.exe?
How up to date is this analysis of HeliosSetup.exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.
