GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
ProtobufContracts.dll file report
Why it matters
Evidence available for this file
No final classification is available yet.
First seen 2024-10-12 23:05:31 (2 years ago); latest analysis 2024-10-12 23:05:31 (2 years ago).
Company metadata: MacPaw Way LTD. Product metadata: ClearVPN.
Signed by MacPaw, Inc.. 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
- Use the hash and metadata below to verify the exact file identity.
- Review publisher, signature, paths, and PE details for inconsistencies.
- Run a local scan if the file appears unexpectedly or starts with Windows.
File context
ProtobufContracts.dll is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with ClearVPN. The reported company name is MacPaw Way LTD. The current detection status is Undefined, based on the latest analysis from 2024-10-12 23:05:31 (2 years ago).
ThreatInfo does not have a final classification for this file yet. Use the technical details below to compare the hash, size, signature, and observed locations with the copy found on your device.
File Details
| Product Name: | ClearVPN |
| Company Name: | MacPaw Way LTD |
| MD5: | 41e05ad91072fb1ab57c142c2a2cd78d |
| Size: | 379 KB |
| First Published: | 2024-10-12 23:05:31 (2 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2024-10-12 23:05:31 (2 years ago) |
| Status: | Undefined (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2024-10-12 23:05:31 (2 years ago) |
Overview
| Signed By: | MacPaw, Inc. |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on ProtobufContracts.dll 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% |
ThreatInfo has observed ProtobufContracts.dll 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 ProtobufContracts.dll across 1 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Spain with 100.0% 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 ProtobufContracts.dll is Windows 10 with 100.0% 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
ProtobufContracts.dll is identified as pe for 64-bit systems. The subsystem is Windows CUI. 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.
03860b118b61d7e7bc217694b0754818
4ddf99d159d10cf93347458c00544018
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
This file is still under review
ThreatInfo has not assigned a final verdict yet. Compare the file hash, location, signature, and publisher before trusting the file on a production system.