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Verdict Malicious

Analyzed , 14 hours ago

Is Wave Browser.exe safe? No, we rate this exact file malicious.

This exact file is listed in abuse.ch MalwareBazaar, a public malware-sample sharing database, as Adware.Wavesor. 9 of the 60 antivirus engines that checked it also flag it.

Read the whole reasonShow less

Strong evidence · Two or more major antivirus engines agree.

Don't run it: it is unwanted software

Run a full-system antivirus scan.

What to do now4 steps

This is unwanted software (adware or a bundled program), not an infection. Remove it and undo any changes it made.

If you haven't installed it

  1. Don't run this file. Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin.

If you already ran it

  1. Uninstall it and any program you don't recognise that arrived at the same time (Settings > Apps on Windows).

  2. Remove browser extensions you didn't add, and reset your browser's home page, new-tab page and search engine if they changed.

  3. Run a scan with your antivirus to catch anything bundled with it.

If you opened or installed it

Unwanted software is not a full infection, but it should go. These free MalwareTips guides show how to remove it.

Paste this report's link in your topic so helpers can see what was found.

Why we think so

Share this file report

Wave Browser.exe: Malicious — MalwareTips file scan

The link always shows the latest result for this exact file (its SHA-256 fingerprint).

Antivirus results

9 of 60 flagged

  • Flagged 9
  • No detection 51
  • No result 15
FileWave Browser.exe1.7 MBSHA-256 d886a422b288…2f61e9
  • Code signing Eightpoint Technologies Ltd. SEZC
  • Test run Completed
  • First seen 2mo ago
2 strong detection rules matched this file.

Chapter 02

Why we think so

2 points against it and 0 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.

Malware intelligence match

Why this file is treated as malware

The conclusion below is grounded in the recorded hash match and scan evidence.

Analyst conclusion

MalwareBazaar files it under the Adware.Wavesor family, first listed on Sep 25, 2026.

Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
  • MalwareBazaar accepts submissions from anyone, including automated uploads; legitimate tools bundled with malware are sometimes listed.

These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.

6 sources checked · all complete. See every source

Chapter 03

What it did in our test

It ran in 6 isolated tests; no test environment rated what it did as risky.

Test run summary

Capture complete
  • 6isolated sandbox runs
  • 25sandbox rule tags
  • 2spawned processes
  • 4network contacts
  • 7filesystem & mutex artifacts

What the test run showed

What the file did on a test computer

Confirmed in the test run

  • Moderate concern: Contains packed or scrambled code that is harder to inspect (common in installers too).

  • Moderate concern: Ran commands or a script on the test computer.

  • Moderate concern: Checked whether it was running on a test computer.

  • Moderate concern: Hid files or windows on the 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: Talked to servers over the internet during the test run.

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 creating a service; no new service was recorded.

  • Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as setting up auto-start; no auto-start entry was recorded.

  • Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as weakening security settings; no setting change 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 bundlers and adware work

This is a bundler: a real-looking installer that hides extra software inside. When you run it, it installs things you never asked for, such as ad injectors, browser toolbars or fake 'PC cleaner' apps. The people behind it get paid for every app it installs.

Bottom line:It is not usually built to destroy files, but it slows the PC, floods it with ads and can be hard to remove completely.

Recorded behavior

What happened in the test

Grouped by step. The order is not a timeline.

Seen in the test runWorked out from other results

  1. Input file

    The submitted object

    1
    1. Evidence 1 of 6: FileSeen in the test run

      Wave Browser.exe

      d886a422b288e22fdab3b66b4f91d6589700e639900e1bf04b2fb87af92f61e9

      Uploaded file

  2. Processes

    What ran

    2
    1. Evidence 2 of 6: ProcessSeen in the test run

      Wave Browser - 2026-08-20T113351.189.exe

      "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\Wave Browser - 2026-08-20T113351.189.exe"

      Test run
    2. Evidence 3 of 6: ProcessSeen in the test run

      Wave Browser - 2026-08-20T113351.189.exe

      "C:\Users\user\Desktop\Wave Browser - 2026-08-20T113351.189.exe"

      Test run
    3. +1 more recorded observation

  3. Files

    Created or changed

    1
    1. Evidence 4 of 6: Written fileSeen in the test run

      Roaming

      C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming

      Test run

  4. Network

    Hosts contacted

    2
    1. Evidence 5 of 6: Contacted hostSeen in the test run

      api.wavebrowserbase.com

      Contacted during the test run.

      Test run
    2. Evidence 6 of 6: Contacted hostSeen in the test run

      crt.rootg2.amazontrust.com

      Contacted during the test run.

      Test run
    3. +1 more recorded observation

6 facts from the test run. See the full activity list.

Chapter 04

Technical details

9 of the 60 antivirus engines that checked it flag it; signed by Eightpoint Technologies Ltd. SEZC.

Sources checked

Every check behind this verdict

6 sources checked · all complete. Complete means the check returned a usable result; it does not mean the file is safe.

SourceStatusResultChecked
Antivirus enginesVirusTotal · 75 enginesCompleteRisk signal: 9 of 60 engines flagged it · 15 gave no result Details for antivirus engines
Sandbox runVirusTotal sandboxes · C2AE, CAPA, CAPE SandboxComplete6 runs: 1 clean, 5 without a verdict Details for sandbox run
Contacted hostsMalwareTips URL scannerComplete4 contacted hosts checked Details for contacted hosts
Signature rulesYARAify community rules + MalwareTips rulesCompleteRisk signal: 9 community YARA rules (2 malware-specific) · 2 MalwareTips behaviour rules Details for signature rules
Malware sample databaseabuse.ch MalwareBazaarCompleteRisk signal: Listed (family: Adware.Wavesor)
Known-software referenceCIRCL hashlookupCompleteNo match

Engines that flagged it 9

  • DrWeb (major engine)Adware.Spigot.176
  • ESET-NOD32 (major engine)MSIL/WaveBrowser.B potentially unwanted application
  • Fortinet (major engine)MSIL/WaveBrowser
  • CrowdStrikewin/grayware_confidence_100% (D)
  • DeepInstinctMALICIOUS
  • MalwarebytesPUP.Optional.Wave
  • RisingPUA.WaveBrowser@XH.AF05 (CERT:PGeDTm1TvEj4nf4CHjBqVQ)
  • VBA32Win32.Malware.Dropper.Heur
1 more in the full engine list

File fingerprint

Last analyzed
Nov 7, 2026, 3:48 AM UTC
SHA-256
d886a422b288e22fdab3b66b4f91d6589700e639900e1bf04b2fb87af92f61e9
SHA-1
ff277db1cf56be1d67e8d7ed8a16f9fb0de43891
MD5
092459b6cabf160c64dad016594d54e9

About this file

Wave Browser.exe is a Win32 EXE file of 1.7 MB.

Claims to be
WaveBrowserFrom the file's own version information, written by whoever built it.
Original name
Wave Browser.exeMatches the shared file name.
Type and size
Win32 EXE · 1.7 MB
Signer
Eightpoint Technologies Ltd. SEZCValid code signature.
First seen
Aug 20, 2026On VirusTotal.
Submitted by
271 distinct sources
Packer
None detected
Entropy
7.50 of 8

First scanned

Chapter 05

Questions & answers

Short answers to the 10 questions people ask most about this file.

Is Wave Browser.exe malware?
Wave Browser.exe is not a virus, but it is unwanted software (adware or a bundled program). Don't run it. Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin. 9 of the 60 antivirus engines that checked it flag it, some as Adware.Wavesor. If you've already run it, see the removal steps below.
What is Wave Browser.exe?
Wave Browser.exe is a Windows program, about 1.7 MB. Its version information says it is “WaveBrowser”. The digital signature from Eightpoint Technologies Ltd. SEZC checks out. VirusTotal first saw it on Aug 20, 2026.
How many antivirus engines detected Wave Browser.exe?
9 of the 60 antivirus engines that checked it flag Wave Browser.exe, including ESET and Malwarebytes. We weigh which engines flagged it and what else the scan found, not just the count. The rating also rests on a listing of this exact file in MalwareBazaar, a public malware database, and on the other evidence.
I already downloaded and ran Wave Browser.exe — what should I do?
1) Uninstall it, and any program you don't recognise that arrived at the same time, from Settings > Apps (or Control Panel > Programs). 2) Remove browser extensions you didn't add and reset your browser's home page, new-tab page and search engine if they changed. 3) Run a scan with your antivirus to catch anything bundled with it. It is unwanted software rather than an infection, so you don't need to disconnect the device, change passwords or reinstall anything unless the scan finds real malware.
How do I remove Wave Browser.exe?
To remove Wave Browser.exe: 1) uninstall it from Settings > Apps (or Control Panel > Programs), together with anything installed alongside it. 2) Remove unfamiliar browser extensions and reset browser settings it changed. 3) Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin. 4) Run a scan with your antivirus and remove what it finds.
What kind of program is Wave Browser.exe?
Antivirus engines classify Wave Browser.exe as unwanted software: adware or a bundled program that installs things you didn't ask for. Engines attribute it to the Adware.Wavesor family.
Is Wave Browser.exe digitally signed?
Yes. Wave Browser.exe has a valid digital signature from Eightpoint Technologies Ltd. SEZC, which shows the file hasn't been changed since that publisher signed it. Malware is sometimes signed with stolen certificates, so a signature alone isn't proof of safety.
Has Wave Browser.exe been seen before?
Yes. This exact file is listed in MalwareBazaar, a public malware database (tracked as Adware.Wavesor), first listed on Sep 26, 2026. MalwareBazaar accepts uploads from anyone, including automated ones, so the listing supports the other evidence rather than proving malice on its own.
What is the SHA-256 hash of Wave Browser.exe?
The SHA-256 fingerprint of Wave Browser.exe is d886a422b288e22fdab3b66b4f91d6589700e639900e1bf04b2fb87af92f61e9, and its MD5 is 092459b6cabf160c64dad016594d54e9. Two files with the same SHA-256 are identical, so use it to check you have exactly this file, not just one with the same name.
How up to date is this analysis of Wave Browser.exe?
This report reflects the scan on Nov 7, 2026. A file's fingerprint never changes, but antivirus engines keep learning, so a rating can change later. To get a newer result, scan the file again: we refresh the antivirus results when the saved ones are out of date.
Chapter 06

Community

Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.

Related file reports

Recent reports on other files with the same rating.

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