GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
ScanGuard.exe threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as PUP.PCProtect. 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.PCProtect
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2025-12-03 23:03:16 (5 months ago)
- File hash
- b72b1a0d98a1b10d83184ece6530234b
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.PCProtect, part of the PUP threat category.
Potentially unwanted programs, bundlers, installers, and utilities with intrusive behavior. Related PUP reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.
First seen 2024-01-09 23:37:28 (2 years ago); latest analysis 2025-12-03 23:03:16 (5 months ago).
Company metadata: ScanGuard. Product metadata: ScanGuard Ultimate Antivirus.
Signed by Protected Antivirus Limited. 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 PUP category for related samples and common context.
File context
ScanGuard.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with ScanGuard Ultimate Antivirus. The reported company name is ScanGuard. The current detection status is PUP.PCProtect, based on the latest analysis from 2025-12-03 23:03:16 (5 months ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If ScanGuard.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.PCProtect.
File Details
| Product Name: | ScanGuard Ultimate Antivirus |
| Company Name: | ScanGuard |
| MD5: | b72b1a0d98a1b10d83184ece6530234b |
| Size: | 4 MB |
| First Published: | 2024-01-09 23:37:28 (2 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2025-12-03 23:03:16 (5 months ago) |
| Status: | PUP.PCProtect (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2025-12-03 23:03:16 (5 months 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: | Protected Antivirus Limited |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on ScanGuard.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:
| %programfiles% |
ThreatInfo has observed ScanGuard.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 ScanGuard.exe across 11 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 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 ScanGuard.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
ScanGuard.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.
2a5bee979c3a6f76965fd450d42e61dc
8e2e168368331d0180ccdf625a6f5cfa
283a59fa037e00c8e415f0fabbbc0b4a
f52f1cf8b8e6314a189ee14ff1587054
50267e0405f058a58327a2e640dc881d
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.PCProtect
This report identifies ScanGuard.exe by MD5 b72b1a0d98a1b10d83184ece6530234b. 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.