PUA.Win32.PCHelpSoft.A
Windows
Threat Type: Potentially Unwanted Application
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
It does not have any propagation routine.
It does not have any backdoor routine.
It does not have any information-stealing capability.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Arrival Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This Potentially Unwanted Application drops the following files:
- %User Temp%\{GUID}\sciter.zip
- %User Temp%\{GUID}\sciter.dll
- %ProgramData%\PCHelpSoft\Driver Updater\logs\2026.02.10_22.43.20_{Malware Filename}_pid={Process ID}.txt
(Note: %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).. %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.)
It creates the following folders:
- %ProgramData%\PCHelpSoft\Driver Updater\logs
- %User Temp%\{GUID}
(Note: %ProgramData% is a version of the Program Files folder where any user on a multi-user computer can make changes to programs. This contains application data for all users. This is usually C:\ProgramData on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit), or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users on Windows Server 2003(32-bit), 2000(32-bit) and XP.. %User Temp% is the current user's Temp folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000(32-bit), XP, and Server 2003(32-bit), or C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 2008(64-bit), 2012(64-bit) and 10(64-bit).)
Other System Modifications
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PCHELPSOFT
UniqueUserId = {randomly generated identifier}
Propagation
This Potentially Unwanted Application does not have any propagation routine.
Backdoor Routine
This Potentially Unwanted Application does not have any backdoor routine.
Rootkit Capabilities
This Potentially Unwanted Application does not have rootkit capabilities.
Information Theft
This Potentially Unwanted Application does not have any information-stealing capability.
Other Details
This Potentially Unwanted Application adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PCHELPSOFT
It connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- https://analytic.{BLOCKED}soft.com/api/v1/event
- https://stage-analytic.{BLOCKED}soft.com/api/v1/event
- https://cloud.{BLOCKED}soft.com/desktop/install_complete
- https://du-builds.{BLOCKED}soft.com
- https://du-builds.stage.{BLOCKED}soft.com
- https://featureflags.{BLOCKED}soft.com
- https://featureflags.{BLOCKED}soft.ca
- https://sandbox-featureflags-api.{BLOCKED}soft.com
- https://partner-tracking.{BLOCKED}soft.com/api/tracking
- https://license.{BLOCKED}e.com
- https://stage-license.{BLOCKED}e.com
- https://paygw.{BLOCKED}e.com/redirect/custom/pch-driver-updater
- https://stage-paygw.{BLOCKED}e.com/redirect/custom/pch-driver-updater
- https://geoip.bluebeach-9a0f96b5.northeurope.{BLOCKED}ontainerapps.io/myip
It does the following:
- Requires Windows 10 or later versions to proceed with its intended routine; displays an OS compatibility error and exits on unsupported operating systems
It does not exploit any vulnerability.
SOLUTION
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Note that not all files, folders, and registry keys and entries are installed on your computer during this malware's/spyware's/grayware's execution. This may be due to incomplete installation or other operating system conditions. If you do not find the same files/folders/registry information, please proceed to the next step.
Step 3
Delete this registry key
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\
- PCHELPSOFT
- PCHELPSOFT
Step 4
Search and delete this file
- %User Temp%\{GUID}\sciter.zip
- %User Temp%\{GUID}\sciter.dll
- %ProgramData%\PCHelpSoft\Driver Updater\logs\2026.02.10_22.43.20_{Malware Filename}_pid={Process ID}.txt
Step 5
Search and delete these folders
- %ProgramData%\PCHelpSoft\Driver Updater\logs
- %User Temp%\{GUID}
Step 6
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as PUA.Win32.PCHelpSoft.A. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check the following Trend Micro Support pages for more information:
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