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Verdict Malicious

Analyzed , 3 days ago

Is unknown safe? No, we rate this exact file malicious.

This unsigned, VMProtect-protected 64-bit DLL is flagged by 43 of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it, including eleven independent major antivirus engines, though they name…

Read the whole reasonShow less

Strong evidence · Two or more major antivirus engines agree.

Don't use this component

Delete this DLL and the package it came with, then run a full scan with your security software kept enabled.

What to do now4 steps

This file is harmful. Don't run it, and remove it.

If you haven't used it

  1. Don't use this component. Let your antivirus remove this component, then repair or reinstall the program it belongs to from its official website. Don't delete or replace the file by hand.

If you already used it

  1. Disconnect the device from the internet, then run a full antivirus scan. Microsoft Defender Offline (Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options) also finds malware that hides while Windows runs.

  2. If you typed passwords on the device after running it, change them from another device you trust.

  3. If the scan keeps finding it, or the device still acts strangely, scan again with a second-opinion scanner from another company; if that doesn't fix it, back up your personal files and reinstall Windows.

If you already ran it, do these in order.

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.

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

Why we think so

Share this file report

unknown: Malicious — MalwareTips file scan

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

Antivirus results

43 of 69 flagged

  • Flagged 43
  • No detection 26
  • No result 6
Fileunknown14.6 MBSHA-256 f9ebce21fdf5…93683e
  • Code signing Unsigned
  • Test run Completed
  • First seen 1y ago
1 strong detection rule matched this file.

Chapter 02

Why we think so

4 points against it and 3 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.

MT AI Engine · Verdict analysis

The reasoning behind this verdict

Analyst conclusion

43 of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it flag this DLL, including Microsoft, Symantec, TrendMicro, BitDefender and Avira. The file is unsigned and heavily protected with VMProtect, which hides its code. The sandbox runs showed no overtly hostile actions. Some labels point to crack or riskware tooling, but the weight of major detections makes it unsafe to run.

Where this verdict could be wrong3 caveats
  • Several detections are unwanted program, riskware or crack labels. The file may be a protected game cheat or crack library rather than a classic trojan.
  • The sandbox runs recorded no injection, no persistence and no malicious verdict. The observed network contacts were Microsoft and MSN hosts with no malicious reputation.
  • More than 1,300 distinct submitters over 450 days show the file is widely circulated.

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 3 isolated tests; no test environment rated what it did as risky.

Test run summary

Capture complete
  • 3isolated sandbox runs
  • 9sandbox rule tags
  • 8spawned processes
  • 5network 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: Checked whether it was running on a test computer.

  • Note: Talked to servers over the internet during the test run.

  • Note: Read basic details of the test computer, such as its Windows version.

  • Note: Checked which security software was installed on the test computer.

Sandbox labels we could not confirm (common in safe files too)

  • Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as setting up auto-start; no auto-start entry 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 cracked-software installers work

A crack or patch installer is one of the most common ways to spread trojans. Even if the program seems to work, it can install malware in the background.

Bottom line:There is no safe copy of a cracked installer: delete it, and get the software from its real publisher.

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 7: FileSeen in the test run

      unknown

      f9ebce21fdf5695eaa9e8c2891b5781dd54cf177cdc102e0d2858269c793683e

      Uploaded file

  2. Processes

    What ran

    2
    1. Evidence 2 of 7: ProcessSeen in the test run

      rundll32.exe

      "C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\discord_game_sdk.dll",#1

      Test run
    2. Evidence 3 of 7: ProcessSeen in the test run

      loaddll64.exe

      C:\Windows\System32\loaddll64.exe loaddll64.exe "C:\Users\user\Desktop\discord_game_sdk.dll"

      Test run
    3. +1 more recorded observation

  3. Files

    Created or changed

    2
    1. Evidence 4 of 7: Written fileSeen in the test run

      Logs

      C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Security Health\Logs

      Test run
    2. Evidence 5 of 7: Written fileSeen in the test run

      Connect

      \Device\ConDrv\\Connect

      Test run
    3. +1 more recorded observation

  4. Network

    Hosts contacted

    2
    1. Evidence 6 of 7: Contacted hostSeen in the test run

      config-edge-skype.ln-0007.ln-msedge.net

      Contacted during the test run.

      Test run
    2. Evidence 7 of 7: Contacted hostSeen in the test run

      ln-0007.ln-msedge.net

      Contacted during the test run.

      Test run
    3. +1 more recorded observation

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

Chapter 04

Technical details

43 of the 69 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.

SourceStatusResultChecked
Antivirus enginesVirusTotal · 75 enginesCompleteRisk signal: 43 of 69 engines flagged it · 6 gave no result Details for antivirus engines
Sandbox runVirusTotal sandboxes · C2AE, CAPE Sandbox, ZenboxComplete3 runs, no sandbox verdict recorded Details for sandbox run
Contacted hostsMalwareTips URL scannerComplete11 contacted hosts checked Details for contacted hosts
Signature rulesYARAify community rules + MalwareTips rulesCompleteRisk signal: 2 MalwareTips behaviour rules Details for signature rules
Malware sample databaseabuse.ch MalwareBazaarCompleteNot listed
Known-software referenceCIRCL hashlookupCompleteNo match

Engines that flagged it 43

  • Avast (major engine)Win64:MalwareX-gen [Trj]
  • AVG (major engine)Win64:MalwareX-gen [Trj]
  • Avira (major engine)TR/W64.MalwareX
  • BitDefender (major engine)Trojan.GenericKD.77181856
  • Emsisoft (major engine)Trojan.GenericKD.77181856 (B)
  • ESET-NOD32 (major engine)Win64/Packed.VMProtect.AC suspicious application
  • F-Secure (major engine)Trojan.TR/W64.MalwareX
  • Fortinet (major engine)Riskware/Application
35 more in the full engine list

File fingerprint

Last analyzed
Oct 22, 2026, 3:37 PM UTC
SHA-256
f9ebce21fdf5695eaa9e8c2891b5781dd54cf177cdc102e0d2858269c793683e
SHA-1
b636ac5d21e3be875479afcf08da8f14e0a5f123
MD5
e880ce6b5f85abf90ae8240c9e09a3d4

About this file

unknown is a Win32 DLL file of 14.6 MB.

Type and size
Win32 DLL · 14.6 MB
Signer
UnsignedNo code signature.
First seen
Jul 29, 2025On VirusTotal.
Submitted by
1,329 distinct sources
Packer
VMProtect 2.XX-3.XX (DetectItEasy protector)Packing hides code; legitimate installers use it too.
Entropy
7.85 of 8A code section is highly compressed or encrypted.

First scanned

Chapter 05

Questions & answers

Short answers to the 8 questions people ask most about this file.

Is unknown a virus?
Yes. This copy of unknown (SHA-256 f9ebce21…683e) is malicious. Other files with the same name can be different, so check the hash. Don't use it. Let your antivirus remove this component, then repair or reinstall the program it belongs to from its official website. Don't delete or replace the file by hand. 43 of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it flag it. Antivirus engines classify it as a trojan hidden in a cracked-software installer. If you've already used it, see the steps below.
What is unknown?
unknown is a Windows library (DLL), about 14.6 MB. It carries no version information saying what it is or who made it. VirusTotal first saw it on Jul 29, 2025.
How many antivirus engines detected unknown?
43 of the 69 antivirus engines that checked it flag unknown, including Microsoft and ESET. We weigh which engines flagged it and what else the scan found, not just the count. The rating comes from all the evidence together, not from this count alone.
What should I do if I already used unknown?
Act quickly. 1) Disconnect the device from the internet. 2) Run a full scan with your antivirus and let it remove what it finds. 3) Change your important passwords from another device you trust, starting with email and banking, and turn on two-step verification. 4) If you bank or shop on this device, watch your accounts and tell your bank about payments you don't recognise. 5) If the scan keeps finding it, back up your personal files and reinstall Windows.
How do I remove unknown?
To remove unknown: 1) run a full scan with your antivirus and let it remove what it finds. 2) Let your antivirus remove this component, then repair or reinstall the program it belongs to from its official website. Don't delete or replace the file by hand. 3) Check Settings > Apps, your browser extensions, startup apps (Task Manager > Startup apps) and scheduled tasks for anything you don't recognise. 4) Restart and scan again. If it keeps coming back, scan from Safe Mode with Networking, or back up your files and reinstall Windows.
What kind of malware is unknown?
Antivirus engines classify unknown as a trojan hidden in a cracked-software installer.
What is the SHA-256 hash of unknown?
The SHA-256 fingerprint of unknown is f9ebce21fdf5695eaa9e8c2891b5781dd54cf177cdc102e0d2858269c793683e, and its MD5 is e880ce6b5f85abf90ae8240c9e09a3d4. 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 unknown?
This report reflects the scan on Oct 22, 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

Other files people checked with the same name, and recent reports with the same rating. A matching name does not make two files the same: only the SHA-256 fingerprint identifies a file.

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This report and its SHA-256 fingerprint are public, so the next person who checks the same file gets an instant answer; documents and images are listed by type instead of their file name. A file we had not seen before is uploaded to VirusTotal, whose security partners and subscribers can download it; MalwareTips deletes its own copy after the scan. If you ran this file and are worried, scan your device with up-to-date security software.