TAOKernel.sys threat report

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• File Details
• Overview
• Analysis

Analyst brief

What this report says

GridinSoft Anti-Malware detects TAOKernel.sys as PUP.Tencent. The sample was last observed on 2022-01-14 21:35:30 (4 years ago) and reports publisher metadata associated with Tencent Technology(Shenzhen) Company Limited.

This page combines the detection verdict with file identity, publisher metadata, alternate names, observed paths, geography, OS signals, and PE details so the report reads as a triage record rather than a standalone download page.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection

Detected by GridinSoft before you download

The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as PUP.Tencent. 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.Tencent

Recommended action

Scan and remove

Last analysis

2022-01-14 21:35:30 (4 years ago)

File hash

bab4e657f74d97a08ead73f31b85d951

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Why it matters

Why GridinSoft flags this file

Detection

GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.Tencent.

Timeline

First seen 2022-01-14 21:35:30 (4 years ago); latest analysis 2022-01-14 21:35:30 (4 years ago).

Publisher context

Company metadata: Tencent Technology(Shenzhen) Company Limited.

Digital signature

Signed by Tencent Technology(Shenzhen) Company 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.

TAOKernel.sys is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. The reported company name is Tencent Technology(Shenzhen) Company Limited. The current detection status is PUP.Tencent, based on the latest analysis from 2022-01-14 21:35:30 (4 years ago).

If TAOKernel.sys 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.Tencent.

File Details

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

The signature on TAOKernel.sys 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.

ThreatInfo has observed TAOKernel.sys 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.

The most common operating system signal for TAOKernel.sys 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

TAOKernel.sys is identified as pe for 32 systems. The subsystem is Native. PE header values are useful for triage, especially when they do not match the expected publisher, product, or release timeline.

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.