GridinSoft Threat Intelligence

activation-service.exe threat report

Detected as PUP.Gen File reputation report
MD5 d6e14fd0a986c01284f05857ce3096db
Latest seen 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago)
First seen 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago)
Size 2 MB
Publisher Avanquest Software

GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection

Detected by GridinSoft before you download

The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as PUP.Gen. 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.Gen
Recommended action
Scan and remove
Last analysis
2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago)
File hash
d6e14fd0a986c01284f05857ce3096db
Download Anti-Malware

Why it matters

Why GridinSoft flags this file

Detection

GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.Gen, part of the PUP threat category.

Category context

Potentially unwanted programs, bundlers, installers, and utilities with intrusive behavior. Related PUP reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.

Timeline

First seen 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago); latest analysis 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago).

Publisher context

Company metadata: Avanquest Software. Product metadata: Soda PDF Desktop 14.

Digital signature

Signed by Avanquest Software (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. Review the PUP category for related samples and common 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 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (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.

Product Name: Soda PDF Desktop 14
Company Name: Avanquest Software
MD5: d6e14fd0a986c01284f05857ce3096db
Size: 2 MB
First Published: 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago)
Latest Published: 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago)
Status: PUP.Gen (on last analysis)
Analysis Date: 2022-08-27 23:41:37 (3 years ago)
activation-service.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: 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.

%programfiles%

ThreatInfo has observed activation-service.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 10 100.0%

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.

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.

Format pe
Architecture 64-bit
Subsystem Windows GUI
Entry point 0x001907c8
Image base 0x0000000140000000

PE Sections:

Sections 6
Raw data 2934272

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

.text 1858560 bytes · 63.3% of section data
MD5 a87939ed93299411396788640576203d
.rdata 769536 bytes · 26.2% of section data
MD5 cac85fdb7b3697ab2c6910132f381d1a
.data 161792 bytes · 5.5% of section data
MD5 22fe0f22710927e3fe087ee57654e255
.pdata 70144 bytes · 2.4% of section data
MD5 c516286e15157cae2e30ef7fbef040fa
.rsrc 34816 bytes · 1.2% of section data
MD5 925a6e40f4c70d684b6c32c154035fa7
.reloc 39424 bytes · 1.3% of section data
MD5 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 d6e14fd0a986c01284f05857ce3096db. 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.

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 d6e14fd0a986c01284f05857ce3096db.
  • 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. Use the PUP category to compare similar reports.