GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
HostAppServiceUpdater.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
- 2026-05-13 19:01:43 (2 weeks ago)
- File hash
- c219129705cbf2e5b08e74c55e912887
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 2026-03-27 23:00:23 (2 months ago); latest analysis 2026-05-13 19:01:43 (2 weeks ago).
Company metadata: SweetLabs, Inc. Product metadata: Host App Service Updater.
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
HostAppServiceUpdater.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Host App Service Updater. The reported company name is SweetLabs, Inc. The current detection status is Adware.SweetIM, based on the latest analysis from 2026-05-13 19:01:43 (2 weeks ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Adware reports for broader family-level investigation.
If HostAppServiceUpdater.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 Updater |
| Company Name: | SweetLabs, Inc |
| MD5: | c219129705cbf2e5b08e74c55e912887 |
| Size: | 10 MB |
| First Published: | 2026-03-27 23:00:23 (2 months ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2026-05-13 19:01:43 (2 weeks ago) |
| Status: | Adware.SweetIM (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2026-05-13 19:01:43 (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 HostAppServiceUpdater.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 |
ThreatInfo has observed HostAppServiceUpdater.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 HostAppServiceUpdater.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 United States 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 HostAppServiceUpdater.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
HostAppServiceUpdater.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.
5f7c7b663f8cd6c0c3293675721da784
236de10081a16991e4b2fa36cd27c7b5
cdd6a7789b2ff1b358f6f24a168fe4c5
4fc087f74ac57712310cc50dada41f5e
91b4fba3388952f20abf617e33176e05
3dd9b1e970d8d9095bd0eda238f5b41a
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 HostAppServiceUpdater.exe by MD5 c219129705cbf2e5b08e74c55e912887. 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.