GridinSoft Threat Intelligence

PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.exe threat report

Detected as PUP.Avanquest File reputation report
MD5 f2c35e89f2345b98566fd3940dddaece
Latest seen 2026-01-31 23:00:56 (4 months ago)
First seen 2024-11-14 23:00:53 (a year ago)
Size 8 MB
Publisher PC HelpSoft

GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection

Detected by GridinSoft before you download

The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as PUP.Avanquest. 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.Avanquest
Recommended action
Scan and remove
Last analysis
2026-01-31 23:00:56 (4 months ago)
File hash
f2c35e89f2345b98566fd3940dddaece
Download Anti-Malware

Why it matters

Why GridinSoft flags this file

Detection

GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.Avanquest.

Timeline

First seen 2024-11-14 23:00:53 (a year ago); latest analysis 2026-01-31 23:00:56 (4 months ago).

Publisher context

Company metadata: PC HelpSoft. Product metadata: PC HelpSoft Driver Updater.

Digital signature

Signed by PC Helpsoft (7270356 Canada Inc). 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.

PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with PC HelpSoft Driver Updater. The reported company name is PC HelpSoft. The current detection status is PUP.Avanquest, based on the latest analysis from 2026-01-31 23:00:56 (4 months ago).

If PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.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.Avanquest.

Product Name: PC HelpSoft Driver Updater
Company Name: PC HelpSoft
MD5: f2c35e89f2345b98566fd3940dddaece
Size: 8 MB
First Published: 2024-11-14 23:00:53 (a year ago)
Latest Published: 2026-01-31 23:00:56 (4 months ago)
Status: PUP.Avanquest (on last analysis)
Analysis Date: 2026-01-31 23:00:56 (4 months ago)
PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.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: PC Helpsoft (7270356 Canada Inc)
Status: Valid

The signature on PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.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%
%temp%

ThreatInfo has observed PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.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 94.4%
Windows 7 5.6%

The most common operating system signal for PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.exe is Windows 10 with 94.4% 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.

PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.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 0x00672b78
Image base 0x00400000

PE Sections:

Sections 11
Raw data 9091072

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

.text 6733824 bytes · 74.1% of section data
Large raw data
MD5 34d5b2cca080d244bff64f0a4b959a8d
.itext 24064 bytes · 0.3% of section data
Uncommon name
MD5 d2249bc8807d60bf5dfd21647085b121
.data 61952 bytes · 0.7% of section data
MD5 b5dd76fc3ab54d2842f4bbf7f9e31e18
.bss 0 bytes · 0.0% of section data
MD5 d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e
.idata 23552 bytes · 0.3% of section data
MD5 85ab473c8cd825ea70e069382084fe70
.didata 6144 bytes · 0.1% of section data
Uncommon name
MD5 21138a66a4f1472fb5f9242e648a5bea
.edata 512 bytes · 0.0% of section data
MD5 f751ec54ff44ab3fd07adb1481813a2d
.tls 0 bytes · 0.0% of section data
MD5 d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e
.rdata 512 bytes · 0.0% of section data
MD5 9d2d716677c13fabde27c83f532b4133
.reloc 580608 bytes · 6.4% of section data
MD5 dfc35a59dfdc063209a99841ebd76137
.rsrc 1659904 bytes · 18.3% of section data
MD5 15a14f30da9400adb34e17fe1453aa61

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.Avanquest

This report identifies PCHelpSoftDriverUpdater.exe by MD5 f2c35e89f2345b98566fd3940dddaece. 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 f2c35e89f2345b98566fd3940dddaece.
  • 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.