GridinSoft Threat Intelligence

plink.exe threat report

Detected as Risk.CoinMiner File reputation report
MD5 a873014ed92f2b618d24a7dd6296e484
Latest seen 2026-05-16 03:00:42 (a week ago)
First seen 2018-08-06 22:10:15 (7 years ago)
Size 292 KB
Publisher Simon Tatham
Product PuTTY suite

GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection

Detected by GridinSoft before you download

The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as Risk.CoinMiner. 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
Risk.CoinMiner
Recommended action
Scan and remove
Last analysis
2026-05-16 03:00:42 (a week ago)
File hash
a873014ed92f2b618d24a7dd6296e484
Download Anti-Malware

Why it matters

Why GridinSoft flags this file

Detection

GridinSoft identifies the sample as Risk.CoinMiner, part of the Risk threat category.

Category context

Riskware and dual-use utilities that may be legitimate but require careful review. Related Risk reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.

Timeline

First seen 2018-08-06 22:10:15 (7 years ago); latest analysis 2026-05-16 03:00:42 (a week ago).

Publisher context

Company metadata: Simon Tatham. Product metadata: PuTTY suite.

Observed locations

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

  1. Compare the MD5 above with the file found on the device.
  2. Check whether the file appears in the observed locations or under one of the alternate names.
  3. Run GridinSoft Anti-Malware to confirm the detection and remove the file if it is present. Review the Risk category for related samples and common context.

plink.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with PuTTY suite. The reported company name is Simon Tatham. The current detection status is Risk.CoinMiner, based on the latest analysis from 2026-05-16 03:00:42 (a week ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Risk reports for broader family-level investigation.

If plink.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 Risk.CoinMiner.

Product Name: PuTTY suite
Company Name: Simon Tatham
MD5: a873014ed92f2b618d24a7dd6296e484
Size: 292 KB
First Published: 2018-08-06 22:10:15 (7 years ago)
Latest Published: 2026-05-16 03:00:42 (a week ago)
Status: Risk.CoinMiner (on last analysis)
Analysis Date: 2026-05-16 03:00:42 (a week ago)
plink.exe 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.

%programfiles%

ThreatInfo has observed plink.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.

Windows 10 75.0%
Windows 7 25.0%

The most common operating system signal for plink.exe is Windows 10 with 75.0% 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.

plink.exe is identified as pe for 32-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.

Format pe
Architecture 32-bit
Subsystem Windows CUI
Entry point 0x00001214
Image base 0x00400000

PE Sections:

Sections 6
Raw data 297984

Section layout highlights raw-size concentration, repeated names, packer markers, and hashes that can be compared across related samples.

.text 205312 bytes · 68.9% of section data
MD5 75e910c2a5ba467b9e8defb1613e009b
.data 1024 bytes · 0.3% of section data
MD5 ed89aee57f1c3c4f780486391bd566bc
.rdata 58880 bytes · 19.8% of section data
MD5 3769e98c8c38ab62764cd980b8707f5e
.bss 0 bytes · 0.0% of section data
MD5 00000000000000000000000000000000
.idata 4608 bytes · 1.5% of section data
MD5 33eb7d76dfa73a88dae5f2f445fe0de9
.rsrc 28160 bytes · 9.5% of section data
MD5 ae9214eff849b2c6f51f78e904ea2e7a

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 Risk.CoinMiner

This report identifies plink.exe by MD5 a873014ed92f2b618d24a7dd6296e484. It is part of the Risk 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.

Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan the device and confirm whether this exact hash is present. Check this hash on VirusTotal

Recommended next steps

  • Compare the local file MD5 with a873014ed92f2b618d24a7dd6296e484.
  • Check the file path, publisher, and signature against the details in this report.
  • Run a GridinSoft scan and remove the object if the same hash is found. Use the Risk category to compare similar reports.