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Learn how to protect your Windows PC from malware and other threats.

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Control your PC apps and their behaviors.

What’s that .exe?

Is that executable safe, or a threat?

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Protect your Windows Registry from harm.

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Executable Directory

Our ultimate directory of Windows PC executables.

What’s Setup Capture.exe (Setup Capture)? Is it safe or a virus?

Setup Capture.exe by VMware, Inc. is a utility designed for creating ThinApp packages, a type of application virtualization. It captures the state of a system before and after an application installation, comparing differences to identify files, registry entries, and settings related to the application. The tool then encapsulates this information into a self-contained executable or package that can run without installation on the target system. This allows applications to operate independently of the host system's configuration, avoiding conflicts and enabling portability. It is typically used in environments requiring streamlined app deployment or testing without modifying system settings.

Below are 4 simple steps you can take to see if the Setup Capture.exe process is safe or malware.

  1. Scan the executable with Microsoft's built-in tech
  2. Find Setup Capture.exe's publisher
  3. Search the executable's hash with VirusTotal
  4. Monitor the executable's behavior

Researched by Laura @ SpyShelter Labs

Recently Detected Threats

A Trojan is a harmful software that pretends to be a legitimate program or file to deceive users into downloading it. It can steal personal information, damage files, or give hackers control over the infected device.

Download SpyShelter to see detailed safety information about every .exe on your PC.

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More about Setup Capture.exe on WINDOWS

Who makes Setup Capture.exe (Setup Capture)?

We’ve found VMware, Inc. should be the publisher of Setup Capture.exe.

How do we know? Our SpyShelter cybersecurity labs focuses on monitoring different types of Windows PC executables and their behaviors for our popular SpyShelter Antispyware software. Learn more about us, and how our cybersecurity team studies Windows PC executables/processes.

What does it mean if someone is the publisher of a PC .exe (executable or process)?

The publisher of an executable is the entity responsible for its distribution and authenticity. Most processes/executables on your PC should be signed. The signature on the executable should have been verified through a third party whose job it is to make sure the entity is who it says it is. Find an unsigned executable? You should consider scanning any completely unsigned .exe on your PC.

Last updated: July 26, 2025

Curious about other processes on your PC?
Try SpyShelter or search below.

Or browse the process directory by name:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ#

Why should you trust us?

Our team at SpyShelter has been studying Windows PC executables for over 15 years, to help fight against spyware, malware, and other threats. SpyShelter has been featured in publications like The Register, PC Magazine, and many others. Now we’re working to share free, actionable, and easy to understand information about Windows executables (processes) with the world, to help as many people as possible keep their devices safe. Learn more about us on our "About SpyShelter” page.

Have any questions? Please join our free public SpyShelter PC Security Forum and talk cybersecurity with our USA-based team. We love talking about PC Security and we’d like to get to know you.

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