GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
AdAwareDesktop.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.Gen. 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.Gen
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2021-02-01 16:53:31 (5 years ago)
- File hash
- b159d4d3cc2a11a22e0f230911e7eecd
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.Gen, 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 2020-12-07 22:52:11 (5 years ago); latest analysis 2021-02-01 16:53:31 (5 years ago).
Company metadata: adaware. Product metadata: adaware antivirus.
Signed by Adaware Software (Lavasoft Software Canada Inc.). The signature is reported as valid, but signed files can still be bundled or abused.
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
AdAwareDesktop.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with adaware antivirus. The reported company name is adaware. The current detection status is PUP.Gen, based on the latest analysis from 2021-02-01 16:53:31 (5 years ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If AdAwareDesktop.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.Gen.
File Details
| Product Name: | adaware antivirus |
| Company Name: | adaware |
| MD5: | b159d4d3cc2a11a22e0f230911e7eecd |
| Size: | 13 MB |
| First Published: | 2020-12-07 22:52:11 (5 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2021-02-01 16:53:31 (5 years ago) |
| Status: | PUP.Gen (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2021-02-01 16:53:31 (5 years 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: | Adaware Software (Lavasoft Software Canada Inc.) |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on AdAwareDesktop.exe is reported as valid. A valid signature helps confirm publisher identity, but it does not automatically make the file safe if the installer was bundled, abused, or downloaded from an untrusted source.
Common Places:
| %programfiles%\adaware\adaware antivirus\adaware antivirus |
ThreatInfo has observed AdAwareDesktop.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 AdAwareDesktop.exe across 5 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Sweden with 20.0% 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 AdAwareDesktop.exe is Windows 10 with 66.7% 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
AdAwareDesktop.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.
e6c57a7f0c0f1247a6e1a05c2ce42bc5
648b989206c71f4ac42ceae8c8832c7e
7ee41ec66b376da49d17ccd19ee56b1d
1a047b67c01c39fc4393adc57623fc94
0b5c345057cf60f8ba7dc23d5cd1d835
1f354d76203061bfdd5a53dae48d5435
8cd50439e926061b5eadeca4463a2936
5a4b04f9601c1b9d6ba0276b4c13913a
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.Gen
This report identifies AdAwareDesktop.exe by MD5 b159d4d3cc2a11a22e0f230911e7eecd. 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.