File scan report
Verdict Safe
Is Freesm
None of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flagged this unsigned FreesmLauncher installer, which is widely submitted and behaved like an ordinary game-launcher setup in the…
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Moderate evidence · No engine flags it, but no publisher signature confirms who made it.
This installer appears to be a legitimate FreesmLauncher setup; download it only from the project's official release channel and keep your security software enabled.
Good practice2 tips
We found nothing harmful in this file.
Install it only if it came from the developer's own website or an official app store.
Keep your antivirus and Windows updates switched on.
No scanner can promise a file is 100% safe.
Reads the latest antivirus results for this file's hash. Nothing is uploaded.
Antivirus results
0 of 71 flagged
- Flagged 0
- No detection 71
- No result 4
- Code signing Unsigned
- Test run Completed
- First seen 27d ago
Chapter 02
Why we think so
1 point against it and 4 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.
The reasoning behind this verdict
None of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flagged this FreesmLauncher setup file, and it has been submitted by about 300 distinct sources since it was first seen on Sep 29, 2026. In the sandbox it installed the launcher, a Microsoft Visual C++ runtime and link handlers, with a clean combined verdict.
None of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flagged the file, including all 18 major antivirus engines that reported on it. The file is widely shared, with about 300 distinct submitters since it was first seen on Sep 29, 2026. The combined sandbox verdict was clean, and the recorded activity matches a normal installer: unpacking installer components, installing the Visual C++ runtime, registering uninstall entries and launcher link handlers, then starting the launcher. The main limitation is that the installer is unsigned, so its publisher cannot be confirmed through a signature.
What We Detected
None of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flagged this installer, including Kaspersky, ESET, BitDefender and Avira. It is unsigned, uses no packer according to the antivirus analysis, and has been submitted by about 300 distinct sources since it was first seen on Sep 29, 2026.
Threat Behavior
The sandbox runs show a typical setup process. The installer wrote its components to the user's program folder, installed the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime, and registered an uninstall entry and link handlers for launcher protocols. It then started the launcher and contacted a Microsoft short-link domain. The combined sandbox verdict was clean, and no injection into another process was recorded. One host-reputation result was outdated, so it is context only.
What To Do Now
If you downloaded this file from the project's official release page, it is reasonable to install it. Keep your antivirus enabled, and avoid copies of the installer from unofficial mirrors.
Where this verdict could be wrong3 caveats
- The installer is unsigned, so the publisher's identity cannot be confirmed from a signature.
- One community comment labels the file malware, though it gives no detail or evidence.
- A file built with the same import table was previously found to be a malicious downloader, but that table is shared by many installers built with the same framework.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- None of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flagged the file.
- Widely submitted, by about 300 distinct sources.
- The combined sandbox verdict was clean and the observed activity matches a normal launcher installation.
- No packer or high-entropy code was found by the antivirus analysis.
- The installer is not digitally signed, so its publisher cannot be verified by signature.
6 sources checked · all complete. 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- 30sandbox rule tags
- 6spawned processes
- 2network contacts
- 31filesystem & mutex artifacts
What this file did when executed
This file was run in a sandbox and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Sandbox verdicts
1- VT: CLEANclean
Techniques observed in the sandbox
30MITRE ATT&CK techniques the sandbox mapped. Highlighted ones are rare in normal software; the others are common in legitimate programs too.
- T1010
- T1012
- T1027· Obfuscated code
- T1033· Reads user info
- T1036
- T1055· Process injection
- T1059· Runs commands
- T1069
- T1070· Covers its tracks
- T1071· Application protocol
- T1082· System recon
- T1083· Scans your files
- T1112
- T1115
- T1125
- T1129· Loads modules
- T1134
- T1202
- T1222
- T1485
- T1497· Sandbox evasion
- T1497.001· Sandbox evasion
- T1518· Checks your AV
- T1529
- T1547.009· Auto-start
- T1553
- T1553.002
- T1564· Hides artifacts
- T1564.003· Hides artifacts
- T1574· Execution hijack
Observed activity
Processes started
6Programs the file ran, with their command lines.
FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe"IM freesmlauncher.exeTaskKill /IM freesmlauncher.exe /Fvc_redist.x64.exeC:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\vc_redist\vc_redist.x64.exe /install /passive /norestartvc_redist.x64.exe"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{6CEF1106-8FC7-4929-B5AF-2D6FC9E46259}\.cr\vc_redist.x64.exe" -burn.clean.room="C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\vc_redist\vc_redist.x64.exe" -burn.filehandle.attached=808 -burn.filehandle.self=800 /install /passive /norestartfreesmlauncher.exe"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\freesmlauncher.exe"FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe"C:\Users\user\Desktop\FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe"
Network contacts
22 hosts, listed as 1 domain, 1 address. Links show the host and path only.
- Domain
aka.ms - IP address
23.200.225.241
Files
30Files the file created, changed or deleted.
- Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\modern-wizard.bmp - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\nsDialogs.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\System.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\nsExec.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\freesmlauncher.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\freesmlauncher_filelink.exe
Show all 30 entries for files
- Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\freesmlauncher_updater.exe - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\qt.conf - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\qtlogging.ini - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\Qt6Core.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\Qt6Gui.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\Qt6Network.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\Qt6NetworkAuth.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\Qt6OpenGL.dll - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Programs\FreesmLauncher\Qt6Svg.dll - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\modern-wizard.bmp - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\NScurl.dll - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\nsDialogs.dll - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\nsExec.dll - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\System.dll - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\nsgCD15.tmp\ - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{6CEF1106-8FC7-4929-B5AF-2D6FC9E46259}\.cr\vc_redist.x64.exe - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{6CEF1106-8FC7-4929-B5AF-2D6FC9E46259}\.cr\ - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{6CEF1106-8FC7-4929-B5AF-2D6FC9E46259}\ - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{A1804E3D-D7D4-410A-B790-858C9678C015}\.ba\1028\license.rtf - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{A1804E3D-D7D4-410A-B790-858C9678C015}\.ba\1028\thm.wxl - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{A1804E3D-D7D4-410A-B790-858C9678C015}\.ba\1028\ - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{A1804E3D-D7D4-410A-B790-858C9678C015}\.ba\1029\license.rtf - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{A1804E3D-D7D4-410A-B790-858C9678C015}\.ba\1029\thm.wxl - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\{A1804E3D-D7D4-410A-B790-858C9678C015}\.ba\1029\
Registry and auto-start
15Settings the file changed, including ways to start again after a restart.
- Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\FreesmLauncher\InstallDir - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\curseforge\shell\open\command\(Default) - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\freesmlauncher\shell\open\command\(Default) - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\prismlauncher\shell\open\command\(Default) - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\DisplayName - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\DisplayIcon
Show all 15 entries for registry and auto-start
- Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\UninstallString - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\QuietUninstallString - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\InstallLocation - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\Publisher - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\Version - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\DisplayVersion - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\VersionMajor - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\VersionMinor - Set
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\FreesmLauncher\EstimatedSize
Mutexes
1Named locks a program uses so only one copy runs; malware families often reuse them.
cversions.3.m
Sandbox background — not the file
9The analysis machine's own processes and connections, recorded in every run.
- VM process
DllHost.exeC:\Windows\system32\DllHost.exe /Processid:{F32D97DF-E3E5-4CB9-9E3E-0EB5B4E49801} - VM process
services.exeC:\Windows\system32\services.exe - VM process
Explorer.EXEC:\Windows\Explorer.EXE - 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
This file drops 10 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache. 10 have no saved verdict and were not checked; that is missing coverage, not a finding.
- 2ac8b7c19a5189662de3…39f9caNot checkedno saved verdict
- c9d4c5c5dbf8d9ef3264…9f18e5Not checkedno saved verdict
- 44c76290f7a2e45940e8…acbc8dNot checkedno saved verdict
- 27891eec899be859e3b4…c6e701Not checkedno saved verdict
- 5c13a65870d770d1642a…0c7009Not checkedno saved verdict
- 2b8b22bb0d43cfc30efb…4c5fb9Not checkedno saved verdict
- b99babee579b57632b4b…b0675aNot checkedno saved verdict
- 2cd3a2d4053954db1196…843c77Not checkedno saved verdict
- f13bae0ec08c91b4a315…4d6916Not checkedno saved verdict
- 503c433dcde2f3a9e7d3…044fdeNot checkedno saved verdict
Chapter 04
Technical details
None of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag it; no publisher signature.
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.
File fingerprint
- Last analyzed
- Oct 11, 2026, 11:55 PM UTC
- SHA-256
f878b94482cb7cd10892d0b4aaf85df2829546f5b28ecc9788dfc3db7c5bd8f9- SHA-1
64953bb99003e3b33077b4176785172484b56a4c- MD5
7338bee98dbe0034013b6770977323cb
About this file
FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe is a Win32 EXE file of 28.8 MB.
- Type and size
- Win32 EXE · 28.8 MB
- Signer
- UnsignedNo code signature.
- First seen
- Sep 29, 2026On VirusTotal.
- Submitted by
- 301 distinct sources
- Packer
- None detected
- Entropy
- 5.18 of 8
First scanned Updated
Antivirus consensus
0 of 71 engines flagged this file
4 of the 75 engines returned no result for this file (file type not supported, or the scan did not finish), so they did not check it.
- Tier-118 engines0flagged
- Tier-236 engines0flagged
- Low-trust17 engines0flagged
View all 75 engine results
- AcronisClean
- AhnLab-V3Clean
- AlibabaClean
- alibabacloudClean
- ALYacClean
- Antiy-AVLClean
- APEXClean
- ArcabitClean
- AvastClean
- Avast-MobileNo result
- AVGClean
- AviraClean
- BitDefenderClean
- BitDefenderFalxNo result
- BkavClean
- CAT-QuickHealClean
- ClamAVClean
- CMCClean
- CrowdStrikeClean
- CTXClean
- CylanceClean
- CynetClean
- DeepInstinctClean
- DrWebClean
- ElasticClean
- EmsisoftClean
- ESET-NOD32Clean
- F-SecureClean
- FortinetClean
- GDataClean
- GoogleClean
- GridinsoftClean
- huorongClean
- IkarusClean
- JiangminClean
- K7AntiVirusClean
- K7GWClean
- KasperskyClean
- KingsoftClean
- LionicClean
- MalwarebytesClean
- MaxSecureClean
- McAfeeDClean
- MicrosoftClean
- MicroWorld-eScanClean
- NANO-AntivirusClean
- PaloaltoClean
- PandaClean
- RisingClean
- SangforClean
- SentinelOneClean
- SkyhighClean
- SophosClean
- SUPERAntiSpywareClean
- SymantecClean
- SymantecMobileInsightNo result
- TACHYONClean
- tehtrisClean
- TencentClean
- TrapmineClean
- TrellixENSClean
- TrendMicroClean
- TrendMicro-HouseCallClean
- TrustlookNo result
- VaristClean
- 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
Lots of people are uploading this but it's recent — typical of newly-released legitimate software. Low prior for malware.
Chapter 05
Questions & answers
Short answers to the 6 questions people ask most about this file.
Is FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe safe?
What is FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe?
How many antivirus engines detected FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe?
What is the SHA-256 hash of FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe?
Is it safe to install FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe?
How up to date is this analysis of FreesmLauncher-Windows-MSVC-Setup-2.3.1.exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.