GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
MKernel.dll threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as Adware.DNSKeep (Heuristic). 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.DNSKeep (Heuristic)
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2026-04-29 23:01:12 (a month ago)
- File hash
- 98a71909605b7d088f82d66abc64d4c2
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as Adware.DNSKeep (Heuristic), 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 2024-06-02 23:01:40 (2 years ago); latest analysis 2026-04-29 23:01:12 (a month ago).
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
MKernel.dll is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with ICQ. The reported company name is ICQ, Inc.. The current detection status is Adware.DNSKeep (Heuristic), based on the latest analysis from 2026-04-29 23:01:12 (a month ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Adware reports for broader family-level investigation.
If MKernel.dll 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.DNSKeep (Heuristic).
File Details
| Product Name: | ICQ |
| Company Name: | ICQ, Inc. |
| MD5: | 98a71909605b7d088f82d66abc64d4c2 |
| Size: | 219 KB |
| First Published: | 2024-06-02 23:01:40 (2 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2026-04-29 23:01:12 (a month ago) |
| Status: | Adware.DNSKeep (Heuristic) (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2026-04-29 23:01:12 (a month 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.
Common Places:
| %appdata% |
| %commonappdata% |
ThreatInfo has observed MKernel.dll 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 MKernel.dll across 3 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Russia with 33.3% 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 MKernel.dll 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
MKernel.dll 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.
d9daf837cfa3b2814f886166473bacea
b883094370fe387abfa8de5a8bc93c1e
54d56fe6ea3cff2a1f33b791dcd28642
ae73b1b4c0c7841b84e000ceffdff835
c52af50cde938ea87ba104018edb2aff
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.DNSKeep (Heuristic)
This report identifies MKernel.dll by MD5 98a71909605b7d088f82d66abc64d4c2. 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.