GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
notepadstarter.exe threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as Hijack.Explorer. 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
- Hijack.Explorer
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2025-06-20 23:01:23 (11 months ago)
- File hash
- 48824b5a672d9170627cc9e3c21bd44f
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as Hijack.Explorer, part of the Hijack threat category.
Browser, shortcut, proxy, or system-setting changes that redirect user activity. Related Hijack reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.
First seen 2020-08-05 11:40:56 (5 years ago); latest analysis 2025-06-20 23:01:23 (11 months ago).
Company metadata: Yonggang Luo. Product metadata: NotepadStarter.
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 Hijack category for related samples and common context.
File context
notepadstarter.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with NotepadStarter. The reported company name is Yonggang Luo. The current detection status is Hijack.Explorer, based on the latest analysis from 2025-06-20 23:01:23 (11 months ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Hijack reports for broader family-level investigation.
If notepadstarter.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 Hijack.Explorer.
File Details
| Product Name: | NotepadStarter |
| Company Name: | Yonggang Luo |
| MD5: | 48824b5a672d9170627cc9e3c21bd44f |
| Size: | 293 KB |
| First Published: | 2020-08-05 11:40:56 (5 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2025-06-20 23:01:23 (11 months ago) |
| Status: | Hijack.Explorer (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2025-06-20 23:01:23 (11 months 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:
| %windir% |
ThreatInfo has observed notepadstarter.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 notepadstarter.exe across 2 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Portugal with 85.7% 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 notepadstarter.exe 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
notepadstarter.exe is identified as pe for 64-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.
33e67c3c3f76eb3d7fb6a7f2eab73134
1544b3098396c58d9cc3d09c9c2f15f2
af732bf8563e99bae93aaacb05640f1f
7c2c990048fe5c4d1471fb307f925359
6374618d9e08adc35f2897288a2a558d
ea8d1d633aae6776668a0f758ab6d86c
c73e4f9d3f22a3ec9af76e1f472ed7c4
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 Hijack.Explorer
This report identifies notepadstarter.exe by MD5 48824b5a672d9170627cc9e3c21bd44f. It is part of the Hijack 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.