GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
HardwareProtectEx.sys threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as PUP.ChinAd. 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.ChinAd
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2025-04-28 23:01:31 (a year ago)
- File hash
- bc999ef2f36ff70d992fa3b67e514cfb
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.ChinAd, 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 2019-08-13 05:43:10 (6 years ago); latest analysis 2025-04-28 23:01:31 (a year ago).
Product metadata: 鲁大师.
Signed by Chengdu Qilu Technology Co. Ltd.;Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher. 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
HardwareProtectEx.sys is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with 鲁大师. The current detection status is PUP.ChinAd, based on the latest analysis from 2025-04-28 23:01:31 (a year ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If HardwareProtectEx.sys 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.ChinAd.
File Details
| Product Name: | 鲁大师 |
| MD5: | bc999ef2f36ff70d992fa3b67e514cfb |
| Size: | 717 KB |
| First Published: | 2019-08-13 05:43:10 (6 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2025-04-28 23:01:31 (a year ago) |
| Status: | PUP.ChinAd (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2025-04-28 23:01:31 (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: | Chengdu Qilu Technology Co. Ltd.;Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on HardwareProtectEx.sys 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% |
| %appdata%\birdwallpaper |
| %programfiles%\ldslite |
| %appdata%\360bizhi |
ThreatInfo has observed HardwareProtectEx.sys 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 HardwareProtectEx.sys across 11 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Taiwan with 29.9% 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 HardwareProtectEx.sys is Windows 10 with 92.5% 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
HardwareProtectEx.sys is identified as pe for 32-bit systems. The subsystem is Native. 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.
fa28762031c64d4740c191b4ce712443
2c948cbe59343e87bb7f5f22b55747ee
d73fe3f7d5a0318921189dd9738219c6
5ebb77788859b593bd5975e87f5e3419
77a1bcc30c80d90b8ad0ceef60128d97
268612ffce9ddacfe52f72725b55b175
e376313a510e537dc69ddfdc64a1e468
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.ChinAd
This report identifies HardwareProtectEx.sys by MD5 bc999ef2f36ff70d992fa3b67e514cfb. 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.