GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
ASC.exe threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as PUP.SystemOptimizer. 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
- PUP.SystemOptimizer
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2026-05-13 19:01:41 (2 weeks ago)
- File hash
- 22d68d98923dcb4d82a29f436b05f701
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.SystemOptimizer, part of the PUP threat category.
Potentially unwanted programs, bundlers, installers, and utilities with intrusive behavior. Related PUP reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.
First seen 2024-12-19 23:02:38 (a year ago); latest analysis 2026-05-13 19:01:41 (2 weeks ago).
Company metadata: IObit. Product metadata: Advanced SystemCare.
Signed by IObit CO., LTD. The signature is not reported as trusted and valid, which can indicate tampering, repackaging, or copied publisher data.
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 PUP category for related samples and common context.
File context
ASC.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Advanced SystemCare. The reported company name is IObit. The current detection status is PUP.SystemOptimizer, based on the latest analysis from 2026-05-13 19:01:41 (2 weeks ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If ASC.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 PUP.SystemOptimizer.
File Details
| Product Name: | Advanced SystemCare |
| Company Name: | IObit |
| MD5: | 22d68d98923dcb4d82a29f436b05f701 |
| Size: | 10 MB |
| First Published: | 2024-12-19 23:02:38 (a year ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2026-05-13 19:01:41 (2 weeks ago) |
| Status: | PUP.SystemOptimizer (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2026-05-13 19:01:41 (2 weeks 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.
Overview
| Signed By: | IObit CO., LTD |
| Status: | Invalid (digital signature could be stolen or file could be patched) |
The signature on ASC.exe is not reported as trusted and valid. Invalid or suspicious signature data can indicate tampering, repackaging, or an unrelated file using copied publisher information.
Common Places:
| %sysdrive%\stalker shadow of chernobyl by igruha |
| %desktop%\utilities\++++[portable] advanced systemcare pro 18.0.1.158 multilingual\app |
ThreatInfo has observed ASC.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 ASC.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 Belarus with 50.0% 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 ASC.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
ASC.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.
cbd44cf3ece6487f9c78d1a32185a8da
8bfa975ad631e69b6834524563cc6bf0
c96cf0b282655add0f6a3a4dcccd072a
d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e
1f57b41c937e08a29dd2bd32cd7eee42
2ed46be73db7ac473eb4f58c0afbb9ed
d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e
f59a355ae3ce3d3da7b536a77069f3c3
060ddc99409652e90fabef9c5d256e69
147c5789611ab38be28a2921fb1a9be2
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 PUP.SystemOptimizer
This report identifies ASC.exe by MD5 22d68d98923dcb4d82a29f436b05f701. It is part of the PUP 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.