GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
AdAwareService.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 16:57:17 (5 years ago)
- File hash
- a409ecba085d6dab454a021e2522eea5
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 22:53:26 (5 years ago); latest analysis 2021-02-01 16:57:17 (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
AdAwareService.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 16:57:17 (5 years ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If AdAwareService.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: | a409ecba085d6dab454a021e2522eea5 |
| Size: | 573 KB |
| First Published: | 2020-12-07 22:53:26 (5 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2021-02-01 16:57:17 (5 years ago) |
| Status: | PUP.Gen (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2021-02-01 16:57:17 (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 AdAwareService.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 AdAwareService.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 AdAwareService.exe across 8 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Japan with 18.8% 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 AdAwareService.exe is Windows 10 with 72.2% 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
AdAwareService.exe is identified as pe for 64-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.
PE Sections:
Section layout highlights raw-size concentration, repeated names, packer markers, and hashes that can be compared across related samples.
0c5a472773321907d96ac69c11f71b2c
355867e9f39d8a922fcb1992b7787415
3e50e1fcc06efccfb52a6b1a3452f6c7
8f89cf6d9a2f7b5100b24074e8f33c68
bb1a6ac69ff667eb3115eaa2df1a1991
1f354d76203061bfdd5a53dae48d5435
54f58f9b8b0a35d45d4a70726d3506e2
e6222d81cb7413c00c94917e231fd96f
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 AdAwareService.exe by MD5 a409ecba085d6dab454a021e2522eea5. 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.