GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
manage_startup.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.Avanquest. 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.Avanquest
- Recommended action
- Scan and remove
- Last analysis
- 2026-03-28 23:00:46 (2 months ago)
- File hash
- 7b3f03c515211c2d4b5918677c03005b
Why it matters
Why GridinSoft flags this file
GridinSoft identifies the sample as PUP.Avanquest, 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 2026-01-05 23:06:07 (4 months ago); latest analysis 2026-03-28 23:00:46 (2 months ago).
Company metadata: Avanquest. Product metadata: PC HelpSoft Driver Updater.
Signed by PC Helpsoft (7270356 Canada Inc). 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
manage_startup.dll is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with PC HelpSoft Driver Updater. The reported company name is Avanquest. The current detection status is PUP.Avanquest, based on the latest analysis from 2026-03-28 23:00:46 (2 months ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with PUP reports for broader family-level investigation.
If manage_startup.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.Avanquest.
File Details
| Product Name: | PC HelpSoft Driver Updater |
| Company Name: | Avanquest |
| MD5: | 7b3f03c515211c2d4b5918677c03005b |
| Size: | 903 KB |
| First Published: | 2026-01-05 23:06:07 (4 months ago) |
| Latest Published: | 2026-03-28 23:00:46 (2 months ago) |
| Status: | PUP.Avanquest (on last analysis) | |
| Analysis Date: | 2026-03-28 23:00:46 (2 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: | PC Helpsoft (7270356 Canada Inc) |
| Status: | Valid |
The signature on manage_startup.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%\avanquest\driver updater\application |
ThreatInfo has observed manage_startup.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 manage_startup.dll across 6 countries. Use this signal to compare local evidence with where the sample is most often reported.
The strongest geographic signal for this file is Malaysia with 16.7% 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 manage_startup.dll 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
manage_startup.dll 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.
4293dd34ef241b661a7ddee3c631efb9
b2562daa609c606e6983e9323a5c4637
f33cc658c16f10b0b481b1e87e93c26b
248db4964934a64fe88286231f2cec52
23c0cfd6293e577dbc6433282d031137
b5edb10466108c54b2ec697815c6cad0
ea9d5be11633a33e4d3e178af80a8d33
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.Avanquest
This report identifies manage_startup.dll by MD5 7b3f03c515211c2d4b5918677c03005b. 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.