GridinSoft Threat Intelligence

Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.exe threat report

Detected as PUP.WebCompanion File reputation report
MD5 a507d0060eeb23b89e76e08c240b5e99
Latest seen 2023-04-12 23:52:00 (3 years ago)
First seen 2017-06-22 04:00:24 (8 years ago)
Size 16 KB
Signed by Lavasoft Limited

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
2023-04-12 23:52:00 (3 years ago)
File hash
a507d0060eeb23b89e76e08c240b5e99
Download Anti-Malware

Why it matters

Why GridinSoft flags this file

Detection

GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.WebCompanion, part of the PUP threat category.

Category context

Potentially unwanted programs, bundlers, installers, and utilities with intrusive behavior. Related PUP reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.

Timeline

First seen 2017-06-22 04:00:24 (8 years ago); latest analysis 2023-04-12 23:52:00 (3 years ago).

Publisher context

Product metadata: SPWindowsService.

Digital signature

Signed by Lavasoft Limited. The signature is reported as valid, but signed files can still be bundled or abused.

Observed locations

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

  1. Compare the MD5 above with the file found on the device.
  2. Check whether the file appears in the observed locations or under one of the alternate names.
  3. 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.

Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with SPWindowsService. The current detection status is PUP.WebCompanion, based on the latest analysis from 2023-04-12 23:52:00 (3 years ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.

If Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.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.

Product Name: SPWindowsService
MD5: a507d0060eeb23b89e76e08c240b5e99
Size: 16 KB
First Published: 2017-06-22 04:00:24 (8 years ago)
Latest Published: 2023-04-12 23:52:00 (3 years ago)
Status: PUP.WebCompanion (on last analysis)
Analysis Date: 2023-04-12 23:52:00 (3 years ago)
Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.exe 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.

Signed By: Lavasoft Limited
Status: Valid

The signature on Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.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.

%programfiles%\lavasoft\web companion

ThreatInfo has observed Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.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.

Windows 10 73.3%
Windows 7 26.7%

The most common operating system signal for Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.exe is Windows 10 with 73.3% 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.

Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.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.

Format pe
Architecture 32-bit
Subsystem Windows GUI
Entry point 0x00004a1e
Image base 0x00400000

.NET Info:

MVID: 63b211fd-6759-46e8-8c88-e575b967dda9
Typelib ID: a091888b-ce1e-47b2-ae28-1ce27c9f69b3

PE Sections:

Sections 3
Raw data 13312

Section layout highlights raw-size concentration, repeated names, packer markers, and hashes that can be compared across related samples.

.text 11264 bytes · 84.6% of section data
MD5 dc08889dac41d0f5e65a7d5b985d7bff
.rsrc 1536 bytes · 11.5% of section data
MD5 4153191a336bde05df195f71904993b7
.reloc 512 bytes · 3.8% of section data
MD5 e39ce676e25d35b43961c7c8659545d2

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 Lavasoft.SearchProtect.WinService.exe by MD5 a507d0060eeb23b89e76e08c240b5e99. 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.

Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan the device and confirm whether this exact hash is present. Check this hash on VirusTotal

Recommended next steps

  • Compare the local file MD5 with a507d0060eeb23b89e76e08c240b5e99.
  • Check the file path, publisher, and signature against the details in this report.
  • Run a GridinSoft scan and remove the object if the same hash is found. Use the PUP category to compare similar reports.