GridinSoft Threat Intelligence
updater.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
- 0886b9352be06dc463e8c6b5d093bc23
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 23:06:05 (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
updater.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 updater.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: | 0886b9352be06dc463e8c6b5d093bc23 |
| Size: | 1 MB |
| First Published: | 2026-01-05 23:06:05 (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 updater.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 updater.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 updater.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 United States with 28.6% 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 updater.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
updater.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.
858fee14e0f469b7e453a030b4b4ed72
188931830e83c9ab51781f6372d3b1d1
2f0291580242a9660946c64edd6ffe88
f42f8ec86745008d51e5e18562a8655c
4de6527275e7537136642c95f4f5bd24
2cdc1173ed8a9e8089faba2435bd54c3
07997a3b0f07ddfb2362623f4407c557
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 updater.dll by MD5 0886b9352be06dc463e8c6b5d093bc23. 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.