MalwareTips
File verdict·MT AI Engine assessment

Our call: Is AdskNLM.exe safe?Malicious

Do not run this file
12Safety ratingCritical risk

Unsigned 7.8 MB executable flagged by 9 tier-1 engines as a confirmed crack/hacktool with 5 offensive MITRE techniques.

crack
Evidence snapshot
  • 40 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including ALYac and Arcabit.Observed · Antivirus analysis
  • The hash has a long, established submission history across 783 sources.Derived · Submission history
  • The hash has been submitted 965 times from 783 sources.Derived · Saved report facts
AdskNLM.exe
7.4 MB
e2dd28c2f6c6170255…24eaf572b9
Antivirus
40 of 75 flagged
Sandbox
Runtime complete
Code signing
Unsigned
First seen
First seen 2y ago

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.

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

    40 of 75 engines flagged the file.

  • Sandbox

    Complete

    1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.

  • Network

    Partial

    5 of 25 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.

  • YARA

    Complete

    1 signature or behavior rule matched.

  • External intel

    Partial

    Independent reference checks were attempted but are incomplete.

Recorded behavior

Attack story

Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.

ObservedDerived

7 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.

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.

85%Confidence
Very high
Analyst conclusion

40 of 75 engines flag the file, including 9 tier-1 detections that label it a crack tool. The sample is unsigned, exhibits 5 offensive MITRE techniques, and hacktoolConfirmed is true. Prevalence is common_old, indicating a widely distributed cracking utility.

Where this verdict could be wrong3 caveats
  • contactedHosts.maliciousHosts.length=0 and droppedChildren.hasMaliciousChild=false — no observed malicious network or child-file corroboration.
  • behaviour.hasMaliciousSandboxVerdict=false — sandbox did not return an explicit malicious verdict despite offensive techniques.
  • communityComments contain mixed researcher annotations; one comment states the file is used to crack Autodesk products without confirming active harm.

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

Block or delete the file; do not run cracking utilities as they are inherently malicious regardless of claimed purpose.

Chapter 03

Behavior

Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.

What this file does

Observed actions and their security significance

  • High concern: Used an input-capture technique that can record credentials or keystrokes.

  • High concern: Used removable-media replication behaviour that can spread files between devices.

  • High concern: Created or modified a system service, which can keep code running.

  • High concern: Changed an auto-start location that can make code run after sign-in or restart.

  • High concern: Attempted to impair or bypass security controls.

  • High concern: Manipulated how the operating system loads code, which can redirect execution.

  • Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.

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.

Threat context

How hacktools are abused

This is a hacking or cracking tool — the kind used to bypass software licences, generate fake keys, or attack other systems. Even when the tool 'works', these downloads very often carry hidden malware.

Bottom line:Running one means trusting an anonymous author with full access to your PC — rarely worth the risk.

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. Don't run this file. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.

  2. 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. From a different, clean device, change the passwords on your important accounts (email and banking first) and turn on two-factor authentication.

  4. Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.

Frequently asked

Safety FAQ

Is AdskNLM.exe a virus?
Yes — AdskNLM.exe is malicious. Do not run it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 40 of 75 antivirus engines flag it (family: crack). It behaves as a hacktool — dual-use offensive tooling that is dangerous regardless of intent. If you've already run it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
What is AdskNLM.exe?
AdskNLM.exe is a Windows executable program, about 7.4 MB. Our analysis identifies it as malicious (family: crack) — a hacktool — dual-use offensive tooling that is dangerous regardless of intent. 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 AdskNLM.exe?
40 of 75 antivirus engines flagged AdskNLM.exe, 40 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.
What should I do if I already ran AdskNLM.exe?
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 AdskNLM.exe?
To remove AdskNLM.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 AdskNLM.exe?
AdskNLM.exe is classified as a hacktool — dual-use offensive tooling that is dangerous regardless of intent. Engines attribute it to the crack 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 AdskNLM.exe?
The SHA-256 hash of AdskNLM.exe is e2dd28c2f6c61702551eb6f8aec59a127bb50c186cea0e068f03f024eaf572b9, and its MD5 is d47f09e385e5d5107e7ba0c649ee557a. 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 AdskNLM.exe?
This report reflects the scan run on July 30, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of AdskNLM.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.
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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.