GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
HostAppService.exe threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as Adware.SweetIM. 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
- Adware.SweetIM
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2026-05-14 03:00:19 (2 weeks ago)
- File hash
- 920ba7854f16b938fa9edb7437223b6e
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as Adware.SweetIM, part of the Adware threat category.
Programs that inject advertising, change browser behavior, or monetize traffic through bundled components. Related Adware reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.
First seen 2021-07-10 20:12:16 (4 years ago); latest analysis 2026-05-14 03:00:19 (2 weeks ago).
Company metadata: SweetLabs, Inc. Product metadata: Host App Service.
Signed by SweetLabs 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 Adware category for related samples and common context.
File context
HostAppService.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Host App Service. The reported company name is SweetLabs, Inc. The current detection status is Adware.SweetIM, based on the latest analysis from 2026-05-14 03:00:19 (2 weeks ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Adware reports for broader family-level investigation.
If HostAppService.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 Adware.SweetIM.
File Details
| Product Name: | Host App Service |
| Company Name: | SweetLabs, Inc |
| MD5: | 920ba7854f16b938fa9edb7437223b6e |
| Size: | 7 MB |
| First Published: | 2021-07-10 20:12:16 (4 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2026-05-14 03:00:19 (2 weeks ago) |
| Status: | Adware.SweetIM (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2026-05-14 03:00:19 (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: | SweetLabs Inc. |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on HostAppService.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:
| %localappdata%\host app service |
| %sysdrive%\windows.old\users\default\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\reportserver$sqlexpress\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\mssqlfdlauncher$sqlexpress\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\sqltelemetry$sqlexpress\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\mssqllaunchpad$sqlexpress\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\mssql$sqlexpress\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\localservice\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\networkservice\appdata\local\host app service |
| %windir%\serviceprofiles\ovrlibraryservice\appdata\local\host app service |
ThreatInfo has observed HostAppService.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 HostAppService.exe across 30 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Poland with 31.7% 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 HostAppService.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
HostAppService.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.
e52d87657b60d7d251c46ddddb61b2a2
0a19611ac7ee5eca809b4e40364fa92a
304e82616c8117a28a4708e701827e04
b2ddf2f512ef8185aa34b4ced15ab16e
e6803705618f4b1a80ff177f695a48b1
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 Adware.SweetIM
This report identifies HostAppService.exe by MD5 920ba7854f16b938fa9edb7437223b6e. It is part of the Adware 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.