GridinSoft Threat Intelligence

qex.dll threat report

Detected as Adware.ELEX (Heuristic) File reputation report
MD5 5b004aef7ce0eed4abd0ec0239f2c3b9
Latest seen 2023-02-06 23:26:30 (3 years ago)
First seen 2017-05-31 04:06:21 (8 years ago)
Size 1 MB

GridinSoft Anti-Malware detection

Detected by GridinSoft before you download

The current ThreatInfo record shows this exact file hash detected as Adware.ELEX (Heuristic). 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
Adware.ELEX (Heuristic)
Recommended action
Scan and remove
Last analysis
2023-02-06 23:26:30 (3 years ago)
File hash
5b004aef7ce0eed4abd0ec0239f2c3b9
Download Anti-Malware

Why it matters

Why GridinSoft flags this file

Detection

GridinSoft identifies the sample as Adware.ELEX (Heuristic), part of the Adware threat category.

Category context

Programs that inject advertising, change browser behavior, or monetize traffic through bundled components. Related Adware reports help compare this file with nearby detections, publishers, and hashes.

Timeline

First seen 2017-05-31 04:06:21 (8 years ago); latest analysis 2023-02-06 23:26:30 (3 years ago).

Publisher context

Company metadata: Qihu 360 Software Co., Ltd.. Product metadata: 360 Internet Security 2015.

Digital signature

Signed by Qihoo 360 Software (Beijing) 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. Review the Adware category for related samples and common context.

qex.dll is a Windows file recorded in the ThreatInfo database. It is associated with 360 Internet Security 2015. The reported company name is Qihu 360 Software Co., Ltd.. The current detection status is Adware.ELEX (Heuristic), based on the latest analysis from 2023-02-06 23:26:30 (3 years ago). ThreatInfo groups this verdict with Adware reports for broader family-level investigation.

If qex.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 Adware.ELEX (Heuristic).

Product Name: 360 Internet Security 2015
Company Name: Qihu 360 Software Co., Ltd.
MD5: 5b004aef7ce0eed4abd0ec0239f2c3b9
Size: 1 MB
First Published: 2017-05-31 04:06:21 (8 years ago)
Latest Published: 2023-02-06 23:26:30 (3 years ago)
Status: Adware.ELEX (Heuristic) (on last analysis)
Analysis Date: 2023-02-06 23:26:30 (3 years ago)
qex.dll 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.

The signature on qex.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.

%programfiles%\psafe\total\deepscan\qex
%programfiles%\psafe\total\deepscan

ThreatInfo has observed qex.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.

Windows 7 88.0%
Windows 10 8.0%
Windows 8.1 4.0%

The most common operating system signal for qex.dll is Windows 7 with 88.0% 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.

qex.dll is identified as pe for 32-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 32-bit
Subsystem Windows GUI
Entry point 0x001008e4
Image base 0x10000000

PE Sections:

Sections 5
Raw data 1620480

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

.text 1187840 bytes · 73.3% of section data
MD5 474e7f38c6c88ad37f08c1e02ee83629
.rdata 281088 bytes · 17.3% of section data
MD5 bcf7d42d1c6124dd5d5323d81f042733
.data 43520 bytes · 2.7% of section data
MD5 0e77ef7b41bf531037e060c5425165b8
.rsrc 2560 bytes · 0.2% of section data
MD5 e98f341ee7e96f0447c3e691967a6aa6
.reloc 105472 bytes · 6.5% of section data
MD5 b9b5418b26ed906d50848891dee98f71

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 Adware.ELEX (Heuristic)

This report identifies qex.dll by MD5 5b004aef7ce0eed4abd0ec0239f2c3b9. It is part of the Adware 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 5b004aef7ce0eed4abd0ec0239f2c3b9.
  • 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 Adware category to compare similar reports.