GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
activation-service.exe threat report
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.Gen, 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 2022-07-04 23:50:50 (3 years ago); latest analysis 2022-07-04 23:50:50 (3 years ago).
Company metadata: Avanquest Software. Product metadata: Soda PDF Desktop 14.
Signed by Avanquest Software (7270356 Canada Inc). The signature is reported as valid, but signed files can still be bundled or abused.
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
activation-service.exe is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Soda PDF Desktop 14. The reported company name is Avanquest Software. The current detection status is PUP.Gen, based on the latest analysis from 2022-07-04 23:50:50 (3 years ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If activation-service.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.Gen.
File Details
| Product Name: | Soda PDF Desktop 14 |
| Company Name: | Avanquest Software |
| MD5: | bbe8b1a561ae877880291afb77e313fd |
| Size: | 2 MB |
| First Published: | 2022-07-04 23:50:50 (3 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2022-07-04 23:50:50 (3 years ago) |
| Status: | PUP.Gen (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2022-07-04 23:50:50 (3 years 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: | Avanquest Software (7270356 Canada Inc) |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on activation-service.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.
Geographic signal
Observed country distribution
ThreatInfo has seen activation-service.exe across 1 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Netherlands with 100.0% 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 activation-service.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
activation-service.exe is identified as pe for 64-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.
7988b3a1955ed894a8352e648e6b45a2
6395fbe069ad85b1e24d4d6fbda382f6
22fe0f22710927e3fe087ee57654e255
c516286e15157cae2e30ef7fbef040fa
cc40ba12d0cffddb91d9d0bda544984f
dbfe3b119d1bdf77b7967497bb4cbde8
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.Gen
This report identifies activation-service.exe by MD5 bbe8b1a561ae877880291afb77e313fd. 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.