GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
FormatFactory.exe threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as General Threat. Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware to scan the device, confirm whether this file is present, and remove the detected object if it is found.
- Detection name
- General Threat
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2023-12-20 23:18:42 (2 years ago)
- File hash
- 20ad1b72b3f6302e5ecaff138f937d12
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as General Threat, part of the Adware threat category.
Programs that inject advertising, change browser behavior, or monetize traffic through bundled components. Related Adware reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.
First seen 2019-07-15 10:39:48 (6 years ago); latest analysis 2023-12-20 23:18:42 (2 years ago).
Company metadata: Free Time Co., Ltd.. Product metadata: Format Factory.
Signed by 暇光软件科技（上海）有限公司. The signature is reported as valid, but signed files can still be bundled or abused.
ThreatInfo has seen this file in user or system paths listed below. Unexpected locations increase the need for local verification.
Recommended action
What to do next
- Compare the MD5 above with the file found on the device.
- Check whether the file appears in the observed locations or under one of the alternate names.
- Run GridinSoft Anti-Malware to confirm the detection and remove the file if it is present. Review the Adware category for related samples and common context.
File context
FormatFactory.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Format Factory. The reported company name is Free Time Co., Ltd.. The current detection status is General Threat, based on the latest analysis from 2023-12-20 23:18:42 (2 years ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Adware reports for broader family-level investigation.
If FormatFactory.exe appears on your computer unexpectedly, treat it as suspicious. Check its location, digital signature, and recent system changes before allowing it to run. A full anti-malware scan is recommended when this file is detected as General Threat.
File Details
| Product Name: | Format Factory |
| Company Name: | Free Time Co., Ltd. |
| MD5: | 20ad1b72b3f6302e5ecaff138f937d12 |
| Size: | 4 MB |
| First Published: | 2019-07-15 10:39:48 (6 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2023-12-20 23:18:42 (2 years ago) |
| Status: | General Threat (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2023-12-20 23:18:42 (2 years ago) |
Detection screenshot
The screenshot is a visual record of a GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection for this sample. Use the hash and metadata above as the primary identifiers when comparing the file on your system.
Overview
| Signed By: | 暇光软件科技（上海）有限公司 |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on FormatFactory.exe is reported as valid. A valid signature helps confirm publisher identity, but it does not automatically make the file safe if the installer was bundled, abused, or downloaded from an untrusted source.
Common Places:
| %programfiles% |
| %programfiles%\freetime |
| %sysdrive%\$recycle.bin |
| %sysdrive%\installed programs |
| %sysdrive%\windows.old\program files (x86) |
| %sysdrive%\programme\nouveau dossier |
ThreatInfo has observed FormatFactory.exe in the locations listed above. Files found in temporary folders, user profile folders, startup locations, or unusual application directories should be reviewed more carefully than files installed under a known program directory.
Geographic signal
Observed country distribution
ThreatInfo has seen FormatFactory.exe across 39 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Brazil with 9.0% of observed hits. Geographic distribution can help identify targeted campaigns, regional software bundles, or where a file is most commonly reported.
OS Version:
The most common operating system signal for FormatFactory.exe is Windows 10 with 70.5% of observed hits. If your system differs from the common profile, check whether the file was introduced by a specific installer, archive, or removable device.
Analysis
FormatFactory.exe is identified as pe for 32-bit systems. The subsystem is Windows GUI. PE header values are useful for triage, especially when they do not match the expected publisher, product, or release timeline.
PE Sections:
Section layout highlights raw-size concentration, repeated names, packer markers, and hashes that can be compared across related samples.
4b1568d81b27b9783f4114d8fc84f773
454e3bb6b89d9a31b3a47b3cd6c34a7b
fa055fab83b535b4b89f004bc50bfe30
bc47e9f94c7ca67ed6528fd8c8de8c53
1f354d76203061bfdd5a53dae48d5435
e772f48ecbdf18275c099af83cc9461c
ba682cce16d6d61ac980ed1d8dcd4f1a
PE section names and hashes can reveal packing, injected resources, or unusual build artifacts. Sections with uncommon names, very large raw data, or hashes that differ from a trusted copy deserve additional review.
Report conclusion
GridinSoft detects this file as General Threat
This report identifies FormatFactory.exe by MD5 20ad1b72b3f6302e5ecaff138f937d12. It is part of the Adware report group. If the same file is present on your device, scan the system and remove the detected object after confirming the hash and location.