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Someone sent you an EXE, or you downloaded one from a website. Every application you install on Windows, every game you launch, every tool you download is, or contains, an EXE file. It's also exactly what malware looks like. The difference between a legitimate program and a virus is trust, not technology.
An EXE contains compiled machine code — instructions your CPU executes directly. Unlike a script (which an interpreter reads line by line), an EXE runs at full speed with full access to whatever your user account can touch. Windows tries to help with SmartScreen warnings and code-signing checks, but ultimately, double-clicking an EXE is an act of faith. Unsigned executables from unknown sources are the single most common malware delivery mechanism on Windows.
Windows runs EXE files natively. macOS and Linux cannot (without Wine or a virtual machine). If you receive an unexpected EXE — especially via email, messaging, or a download you didn't initiate — do not open it. Scan it with your antivirus first. If in doubt, don't. This is the one file type where paranoia is a feature, not a bug.
* Compatibility layer