GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
AdblockPlusEngine.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.WebCompanion. 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.WebCompanion
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2025-03-06 23:04:35 (a year ago)
- File hash
- a12ba39d6c7fc1357c9abeb17a777029
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.WebCompanion, 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 2020-05-05 23:52:21 (6 years ago); latest analysis 2025-03-06 23:04:35 (a year ago).
Company metadata: Lavasoft. Product metadata: Ad-Aware Adblock.
Signed by Lavasoft Limited. 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
AdblockPlusEngine.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Ad-Aware Adblock. The reported company name is Lavasoft. The current detection status is PUP.WebCompanion, based on the latest analysis from 2025-03-06 23:04:35 (a year ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If AdblockPlusEngine.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.WebCompanion.
File Details
| Product Name: | Ad-Aware Adblock |
| Company Name: | Lavasoft |
| MD5: | a12ba39d6c7fc1357c9abeb17a777029 |
| Size: | 4 MB |
| First Published: | 2020-05-05 23:52:21 (6 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2025-03-06 23:04:35 (a year ago) |
| Status: | PUP.WebCompanion (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2025-03-06 23:04:35 (a year 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: | Lavasoft Limited |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on AdblockPlusEngine.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:
| %appdata%\lavasoft\web companion |
ThreatInfo has observed AdblockPlusEngine.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 AdblockPlusEngine.exe across 23 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is India with 9.1% 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 AdblockPlusEngine.exe is Windows 10 with 74.5% 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
AdblockPlusEngine.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.
32586e1e8cc20f7dc75389526f43c1a5
c9f2a64f11e18b8ec13956ec879fc01c
71d2e8a149884593de49972aaf014027
c8af042b4815baa9b5b4faa91326d715
a048546181e53488fca2960992d4a6dc
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.WebCompanion
This report identifies AdblockPlusEngine.exe by MD5 a12ba39d6c7fc1357c9abeb17a777029. 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.