GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
ash_inet2.dll threat report
GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection
Detected by GridinSoft before you download
The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as PUP.WinOptimizer. 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.WinOptimizer
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2026-05-14 02:01:00 (2 weeks ago)
- File hash
- 052c50e3bc5a0c20483d6d8ba92bc040
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.WinOptimizer, 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 2021-03-30 20:05:36 (5 years ago); latest analysis 2026-05-14 02:01:00 (2 weeks ago).
Company metadata: Ashampoo. Product metadata: Ashampoo Internet 3.
Signed by Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG. 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
ash_inet2.dll is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with Ashampoo Internet 3. The reported company name is Ashampoo. The current detection status is PUP.WinOptimizer, based on the latest analysis from 2026-05-14 02:01:00 (2 weeks ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If ash_inet2.dll 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.WinOptimizer.
File Details
| Product Name: | Ashampoo Internet 3 |
| Company Name: | Ashampoo |
| MD5: | 052c50e3bc5a0c20483d6d8ba92bc040 |
| Size: | 5 MB |
| First Published: | 2021-03-30 20:05:36 (5 years ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2026-05-14 02:01:00 (2 weeks ago) |
| Status: | PUP.WinOptimizer (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2026-05-14 02:01:00 (2 weeks 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: | Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on ash_inet2.dll 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%\ashampoo |
ThreatInfo has observed ash_inet2.dll 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 ash_inet2.dll across 37 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Germany with 16.5% 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 ash_inet2.dll is Windows 10 with 95.7% 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
ash_inet2.dll is identified as pe for 32-bit systems. The subsystem is Windows CUI. 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.
1e034ece547795601b989666fe334451
7c38228b7172d540aef7f9f188799450
81c7c791751af31c3e319dec2228dde9
e5ba08d91415a153f43c9a6aaeb18819
1f354d76203061bfdd5a53dae48d5435
9b4c95489b0c9b92b0e9c435a9bf2f37
69d6b34de13a92df0ef11b1c786b21d8
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.WinOptimizer
This report identifies ash_inet2.dll by MD5 052c50e3bc5a0c20483d6d8ba92bc040. 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.