Malware analysis Fortect.exe Malicious activity | ANY.RUN

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File name:	Fortect.exe
Full analysis:	https://app.any.run/tasks/7d33fdb0-e37c-4bf6-9af1-5e7384fae67e
Verdict:	Malicious activity
Threats:	Adware is a form of malware that targets users with unwanted advertisements, often disrupting their browsing experience. It typically infiltrates systems through software bundling, malicious websites, or deceptive downloads. Once installed, it may track user activity, collect sensitive data, and display intrusive ads, including pop-ups or banners. Some advanced adware variants can bypass security measures and establish persistence on devices, making removal challenging. Additionally, adware can create vulnerabilities that other malware can exploit, posing a significant risk to user privacy and system security. Malware Trends Tracker >>>
Analysis date:	May 10, 2025, 22:26:53
OS:	Windows 10 Professional (build: 19044, 64 bit)
Tags:	pua adware
Indicators:
MIME:	application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
File info:	PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows, Nullsoft Installer self-extracting archive, 5 sections
MD5:	5A41CC32C5850525EED30B45517A1A24
SHA1:	DE8FB0BA058B520FBE24409634473D912AA19A3C
SHA256:	1E73585D9296635760C25DD2A76830226615E59FD8F18736A589792B1B8B5A73
SSDEEP:	24576:sJ8m9NhX4gzEhSCy4JP9ifykBT6nQmaWb/21:sJ8mfhX4gEhSCy4JP9ifykBT6n1aWbe1

ANY.RUN is an interactive service which provides full access to the guest system. Information in this report could be distorted by user actions and is provided for user acknowledgement as it is. ANY.RUN does not guarantee maliciousness or safety of the content.

Launch configuration

Task duration:: 60 seconds
Heavy Evasion option:: off
Network geolocation:: off
Additional time used:: none
MITM proxy:: off
Privacy:: Public submission
Fakenet option:: off
Route via Tor:: off
Autoconfirmation of UAC:: on
Network:: on

Software preset

Internet Explorer 11.3636.19041.0
Adobe Acrobat (64-bit) (23.001.20093)
Adobe Flash Player 32 NPAPI (32.0.0.465)
Adobe Flash Player 32 PPAPI (32.0.0.465)
CCleaner (6.20)
FileZilla 3.65.0 (3.65.0)
Google Chrome (122.0.6261.70)
Google Update Helper (1.3.36.51)
Java 8 Update 271 (64-bit) (8.0.2710.9)
Java Auto Updater (2.8.271.9)
Microsoft Edge (122.0.2365.59)
Microsoft Edge Update (1.3.185.17)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - de-de (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - en-us (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - es-es (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - it-it (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - ja-jp (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - ko-kr (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - pt-br (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - tr-tr (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professionnel 2019 - fr-fr (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office профессиональный 2019 - ru-ru (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft OneNote - en-us (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Update Health Tools (3.74.0.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x64) - 12.0.30501 (12.0.30501.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x64 Additional Runtime - 12.0.21005 (12.0.21005)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x64 Minimum Runtime - 12.0.21005 (12.0.21005)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x86) - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X64 Additional Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X64 Minimum Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X86 Additional Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X86 Minimum Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Mozilla Firefox (x64 en-US) (123.0)
Mozilla Maintenance Service (123.0)
Notepad++ (64-bit x64) (7.9.1)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component (16.0.15726.20202)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Licensing Component (16.0.16026.20146)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Localization Component (16.0.15726.20202)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Localization Component (16.0.15928.20198)
PowerShell 7-x64 (7.3.5.0)
Skype version 8.104 (8.104)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB4023057) (2.59.0.0)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB4023057) (2.63.0.0)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB4480730) (2.55.0.0)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB5001716) (8.93.0.0)
VLC media player (3.0.11)
WinRAR 5.91 (64-bit) (5.91.0)
Windows PC Health Check (3.6.2204.08001)

Hotfixes

Client LanguagePack Package
DotNetRollup
DotNetRollup 481
FodMetadata Package
Foundation Package
Hello Face Package
InternetExplorer Optional Package
KB5003791
KB5011048
KB5015684
KB5033052
LanguageFeatures Basic en us Package
LanguageFeatures Handwriting en us Package
LanguageFeatures OCR en us Package
LanguageFeatures Speech en us Package
LanguageFeatures TextToSpeech en us Package
MSPaint FoD Package
MediaPlayer Package
Microsoft OneCore ApplicationModel Sync Desktop FOD Package
Microsoft OneCore DirectX Database FOD Package
NetFx3 OnDemand Package
Notepad FoD Package
OpenSSH Client Package
PowerShell ISE FOD Package
Printing PMCPPC FoD Package
Printing WFS FoD Package
ProfessionalEdition
QuickAssist Package
RollupFix
ServicingStack
ServicingStack 3989
StepsRecorder Package
TabletPCMath Package
UserExperience Desktop Package
WordPad FoD Package

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MALICIOUS
- ADWARE has been detected (SURICATA)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
  - svchost.exe (PID: 2196)
SUSPICIOUS
- Reads security settings of Internet Explorer
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Executable content was dropped or overwritten
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- The process creates files with name similar to system file names
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
- Application launched itself
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
- Access to an unwanted program domain was detected
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
  - svchost.exe (PID: 2196)
- There is functionality for taking screenshot (YARA)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
INFO
- Create files in a temporary directory
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- The sample compiled with english language support
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Reads the computer name
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Checks supported languages
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Process checks computer location settings
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7444)
- Reads Environment values
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Reads the machine GUID from the registry
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Checks proxy server information
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Reads the software policy settings
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)
- Creates files or folders in the user directory
  - Fortect.exe (PID: 7580)

Find more information about signature artifacts and mapping to MITRE ATT&CK™ MATRIX at the full report

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No Malware configuration.

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TRiD

.exe	\|	Win32 Executable MS Visual C++ (generic) (67.4)
.dll	\|	Win32 Dynamic Link Library (generic) (14.2)
.exe	\|	Win32 Executable (generic) (9.7)
.exe	\|	Generic Win/DOS Executable (4.3)
.exe	\|	DOS Executable Generic (4.3)

EXIF

EXE

MachineType:	Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
TimeStamp:	2021:09:25 21:56:47+00:00
ImageFileCharacteristics:	No relocs, Executable, No line numbers, No symbols, 32-bit
PEType:	PE32
LinkerVersion:	6
CodeSize:	26624
InitializedDataSize:	141824
UninitializedDataSize:	2048
EntryPoint:	0x3640
OSVersion:	4
ImageVersion:	6
SubsystemVersion:	4
Subsystem:	Windows GUI
FileVersionNumber:	7.2.2.5
ProductVersionNumber:	7.2.2.5
FileFlagsMask:	0x0000
FileFlags:	(none)
FileOS:	Win32
ObjectFileType:	Executable application
FileSubtype:	-
LanguageCode:	English (U.S.)
CharacterSet:	Windows, Latin1
CompanyName:	Fortect
FileDescription:	Fortect Setup
FileVersion:	7.2.2.5
InternalName:	Fortect.exe
LegalCopyright:	© Fortect
LegalTrademarks:	© Fortect
OriginalFileName:	Fortect.exe
ProductName:	Fortect
ProductVersion:	7.2.2.5

No data.

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All screenshots are available in the full report

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Total processes

132

Monitored processes

Malicious processes

Suspicious processes

Behavior graph

Click at the process to see the details

Process information

PID

CMD

Path

Indicators

Parent process

2196

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService -p -s Dnscache

C:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe

services.exe

User:

NETWORK SERVICE

Company:

Microsoft Corporation

Integrity Level:

SYSTEM

Description:

Host Process for Windows Services

Version:

10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)

Modules

Images
c:\windows\system32\svchost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel.appcore.dll

7444

"C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect.exe"

C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect.exe

explorer.exe

User:

admin

Company:

Fortect

Integrity Level:

MEDIUM

Description:

Fortect Setup

Version:

7.2.2.5

Modules

Images
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\temp\fortect.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64win.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64cpu.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\advapi32.dll

7580

"C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect.exe" /UAC=new

C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect.exe

Fortect.exe

User:

admin

Company:

Fortect

Integrity Level:

HIGH

Description:

Fortect Setup

Version:

7.2.2.5

Modules

Images
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\temp\fortect.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64win.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64cpu.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\advapi32.dll

7768

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SppExtComObj.exe -Embedding

C:\Windows\System32\SppExtComObj.Exe

—

svchost.exe

User:

NETWORK SERVICE

Company:

Microsoft Corporation

Integrity Level:

SYSTEM

Description:

KMS Connection Broker

Version:

10.0.19041.3996 (WinBuild.160101.0800)

Modules

Images
c:\windows\system32\sppextcomobj.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\advapi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
c:\windows\system32\oleaut32.dll

7800

"C:\WINDOWS\System32\SLUI.exe" RuleId=3482d82e-ca2c-4e1f-8864-da0267b484b2;Action=AutoActivate;AppId=55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f;SkuId=4de7cb65-cdf1-4de9-8ae8-e3cce27b9f2c;NotificationInterval=1440;Trigger=TimerEvent

C:\Windows\System32\slui.exe

—

SppExtComObj.Exe

User:

NETWORK SERVICE

Company:

Microsoft Corporation

Integrity Level:

SYSTEM

Description:

Windows Activation Client

Version:

10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)

Modules

Images
c:\windows\system32\slui.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\advapi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
c:\windows\system32\user32.dll

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Total events

1 207

Read events

1 204

Write events

Delete events

Modification events


(PID) Process:	(7580) Fortect.exe	Key:	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\Content
Operation:	write	Name:	CachePrefix
Value:
(PID) Process:	(7580) Fortect.exe	Key:	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\Cookies
Operation:	write	Name:	CachePrefix
Value: Cookie:
(PID) Process:	(7580) Fortect.exe	Key:	HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\History
Operation:	write	Name:	CachePrefix
Value: Visited:

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Executable files

Suspicious files

Text files

Unknown types

Dropped files

PID	Process	Filename		Type
7444	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect\plugins\System.dll		executable
		MD5:074A2FECD36EF94675CB4623884B762C	SHA256:4C7C26BB007517A74CCB1EBBD78E2EBDABD75A33CE6CEAFCF8C3D868A7404D50
7444	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect\plugins\UserInfo.dll		executable
		MD5:1EEB5C2C318E7A3DCDA394BDD64E4886	SHA256:76AB09A1F1EC889003753A29E592D8295260D6011A80D19306BAEDB1DE77FE08
7580	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\CryptnetUrlCache\Content\B46811C17859FFB409CF0E904A4AA8F8		binary
		MD5:1FBB37F79B317A9A248E7C4CE4F5BAC5	SHA256:9BF639C595FE335B6F694EE35990BEFD2123F5E07FD1973FF619E3FC88F5F49F
7580	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\CryptnetUrlCache\MetaData\B46811C17859FFB409CF0E904A4AA8F8		binary
		MD5:5123A5F5AE42BF54B08308EEA53866EA	SHA256:4AD89ED43D7EFFE9D3BB66C48963D1DDB82654BD0E0AB133027AC100CCE7662E
7580	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect\plugins\INetC.dll		executable
		MD5:5C9E0E104B41CA4AE11D31D202B1941A	SHA256:C0D3ED3AB5B9FBBF6408A4558F4A9B52EC5B08DB66297E8AFB8614DB898EB3B8
7580	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect\plugins\nsProcess.dll		executable
		MD5:866B43B8390F943F3E74C0DBF16D6CB5	SHA256:5C8DF12BABC6BADB49DBD14B555E45A4E1D564DFDDF2C1F57669A2513ECF5FF7
7580	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect\plugins\modern-header.bmp		image
		MD5:1E608F54C109218745C0D7A06BCD5235	SHA256:843BB7E3A52E3EEB58A0EF385F21D80383C8E5E65DAF12BC297D570BC6722F22
7580	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE\RR3E01RZ\events[1].htm		text
		MD5:444BCB3A3FCF8389296C49467F27E1D6	SHA256:2689367B205C16CE32ED4200942B8B8B1E262DFC70D9BC9FBC77C49699A4F1DF
7580	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect\plugins\nsDialogs.dll		executable
		MD5:7E0A4543D7B051950A74CD0AA3395343	SHA256:4C177764AC8D5B4608E0036AA5CECD18C735C1E276D5EF08A8D3F87C37379F48
7444	Fortect.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Fortect\plugins\LogEx.dll		executable
		MD5:9C3BC2EF57B3D38DD4738FB82F5643F2	SHA256:1D445ECD219B93D07FD1A6F04180C2260C35F368CD469BA6624F150E364F34FC

Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report

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HTTP(S) requests

TCP/UDP connections

DNS requests

Threats

HTTP requests

PID	Process	Method	HTTP Code	IP	URL	CN	Type	Size	Reputation
—	—	GET	200	23.48.23.184:80	http://crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicRooCerAut2011_2011_03_22.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
—	—	GET	200	23.35.229.160:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/MicSecSerCA2011_2011-10-18.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
7580	Fortect.exe	GET	200	172.217.16.195:80	http://c.pki.goog/r/gsr1.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
7580	Fortect.exe	GET	200	172.217.16.195:80	http://c.pki.goog/r/r4.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6544	svchost.exe	GET	200	2.17.190.73:80	http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBSAUQYBMq2awn1Rh6Doh%2FsBYgFV7gQUA95QNVbRTLtm8KPiGxvDl7I90VUCEAJ0LqoXyo4hxxe7H%2Fz9DKA%3D	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
7244	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	23.35.229.160:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Update%20Secure%20Server%20CA%202.1.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
7244	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	23.35.229.160:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Product%20Root%20Certificate%20Authority%202018.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted

Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report

Connections

PID	Process	IP	Domain	ASN	CN	Reputation
—	—	4.231.128.59:443	settings-win.data.microsoft.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	IE	whitelisted
4	System	192.168.100.255:137	—	—	—	whitelisted
—	—	23.48.23.184:80	crl.microsoft.com	Akamai International B.V.	DE	whitelisted
—	—	23.35.229.160:80	www.microsoft.com	AKAMAI-AS	DE	whitelisted
4	System	192.168.100.255:138	—	—	—	whitelisted
7580	Fortect.exe	172.67.75.40:443	app.fortect.com	CLOUDFLARENET	US	unknown
7580	Fortect.exe	172.217.16.195:80	c.pki.goog	GOOGLE	US	whitelisted
3216	svchost.exe	172.211.123.250:443	client.wns.windows.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	FR	whitelisted
6544	svchost.exe	40.126.32.138:443	login.live.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	NL	whitelisted
6544	svchost.exe	2.17.190.73:80	ocsp.digicert.com	AKAMAI-AS	DE	whitelisted

DNS requests

Domain	IP	Reputation
settings-win.data.microsoft.com	4.231.128.59 51.104.136.2	whitelisted
crl.microsoft.com	23.48.23.184 23.48.23.135 23.48.23.183 23.48.23.194 23.48.23.188 23.48.23.175 23.48.23.190 23.48.23.192 23.48.23.193	whitelisted
www.microsoft.com	23.35.229.160	whitelisted
google.com	172.217.18.14	whitelisted
app.fortect.com	172.67.75.40 104.26.3.16 104.26.2.16	unknown
c.pki.goog	172.217.16.195	whitelisted
client.wns.windows.com	172.211.123.250	whitelisted
login.live.com	40.126.32.138 20.190.160.3 40.126.32.72 20.190.160.4 20.190.160.130 40.126.32.76 20.190.160.65 40.126.32.133	whitelisted
ocsp.digicert.com	2.17.190.73	whitelisted
slscr.update.microsoft.com	20.109.210.53	whitelisted

Threats

PID	Process	Class	Message
—	—	Possibly Unwanted Program Detected	ET ADWARE_PUP Observed DNS Query to PC Optimizer Software Domain (fortect .com)
—	—	Possibly Unwanted Program Detected	ET ADWARE_PUP Observed PC Optimizer Software Domain (fortect .com in TLS SNI)

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No debug info

General Info

Fortect.exe

5A41CC32C5850525EED30B45517A1A24

DE8FB0BA058B520FBE24409634473D912AA19A3C

1E73585D9296635760C25DD2A76830226615E59FD8F18736A589792B1B8B5A73

24576:sJ8m9NhX4gzEhSCy4JP9ifykBT6nQmaWb/21:sJ8mfhX4gEhSCy4JP9ifykBT6n1aWbe1

Software environment set and analysis options

Launch configuration

Software preset

Hotfixes

Behavior activities

MALICIOUS

ADWARE has been detected (SURICATA)

SUSPICIOUS

Reads security settings of Internet Explorer

Executable content was dropped or overwritten

The process creates files with name similar to system file names

Application launched itself

Access to an unwanted program domain was detected

There is functionality for taking screenshot (YARA)

INFO

Create files in a temporary directory

The sample compiled with english language support

Reads the computer name

Checks supported languages

Process checks computer location settings

Reads Environment values

Reads the machine GUID from the registry

Checks proxy server information

Reads the software policy settings

Creates files or folders in the user directory

Malware configuration

Static information

TRiD

EXIF

EXE

Video and screenshots

Processes

Behavior graph

Specs description

Process information

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Registry activity

Modification events

Files activity

Dropped files

Network activity

HTTP requests

Connections

DNS requests

Threats

Debug output strings