GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
cleanup.exe threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as Ransom.Wacatac. 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
- Ransom.Wacatac
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2025-01-13 23:01:09 (a year ago)
- File hash
- ea89a9318342a267df7a06b1168353b7
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as Ransom.Wacatac, part of the Ransom threat category.
Ransomware families and files associated with encryption or extortion workflows. Related Ransom reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.
First seen 2017-07-04 21:09:46 (8 years ago); latest analysis 2025-01-13 23:01:09 (a year ago).
Company metadata: Steven R. Gould. Product metadata: Windows CleanUp!.
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 Ransom category for related samples and common context.
File context
cleanup.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Windows CleanUp!. The reported company name is Steven R. Gould. The current detection status is Ransom.Wacatac, based on the latest analysis from 2025-01-13 23:01:09 (a year ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Ransom reports for broader family-level investigation.
If cleanup.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 Ransom.Wacatac.
File Details
| Product Name: | Windows CleanUp! |
| Company Name: | Steven R. Gould |
| MD5: | ea89a9318342a267df7a06b1168353b7 |
| Size: | 316 KB |
| First Published: | 2017-07-04 21:09:46 (8 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2025-01-13 23:01:09 (a year ago) |
| Status: | Ransom.Wacatac (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2025-01-13 23:01:09 (a year 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.
Common Places:
| %profile%\desktop |
| %desktop% |
| %sysdrive% |
ThreatInfo has observed cleanup.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 cleanup.exe across 5 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Peru with 68.8% 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 cleanup.exe is Windows 7 with 56.3% 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
cleanup.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.
81d9d1131f778fc492f93c2b73c3361c
1ab8bd8f74250da1239ceb4acc158390
74b5fd35c7edf01f92d01e345253d3ee
7246c4bca3aeb28161fac9e9792b6ebc
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 Ransom.Wacatac
This report identifies cleanup.exe by MD5 ea89a9318342a267df7a06b1168353b7. It is part of the Ransom 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.