Generic PUA AC (PUA)
Matthew Alvarez
Updated on March 26, 2026
What is Generic PUA AC (PUA) infection?
In this article you will find about the meaning of Generic PUA AC (PUA) and its unfavorable impact on your computer system. Such ransomware are a type of malware that is specified by online scams to demand paying the ransom money by a sufferer.
In the majority of the situations, Generic PUA AC (PUA) infection will instruct its targets to launch funds transfer for the objective of counteracting the modifications that the Trojan infection has introduced to the victim’s gadget.
Generic PUA AC (PUA) Summary
These adjustments can be as follows:
- Executable code extraction. Cybercriminals often use binary packers to hinder the malicious code from reverse-engineered by malware analysts. A packer is a tool that compresses, encrypts, and modifies a malicious file’s format. Sometimes packers can be used for legitimate ends, for example, to protect a program against cracking or copying.
- Creates RWX memory. There is a security trick with memory regions that allows an attacker to fill a buffer with a shellcode and then execute it. Filling a buffer with shellcode isn’t a big deal, it’s just data. The problem arises when the attacker is able to control the instruction pointer (EIP), usually by corrupting a function’s stack frame using a stack-based buffer overflow, and then changing the flow of execution by assigning this pointer to the address of the shellcode.
- Unconventionial binary language: Russian;
- Unconventionial language used in binary resources: Russian;
- Anomalous binary characteristics. This is a way of hiding virus’ code from antiviruses and virus’ analysts.
- Ciphering the papers situated on the target’s hard disk drive — so the target can no longer utilize the data;
- Preventing routine access to the sufferer’s workstation;
Generic PUA AC (PUA)
The most normal networks whereby Generic PUA AC (PUA) are injected are:
- By ways of phishing emails;
- As a consequence of customer ending up on a source that holds a harmful software;
As soon as the Trojan is effectively infused, it will certainly either cipher the information on the target’s computer or protect against the tool from operating in an appropriate fashion – while also placing a ransom money note that mentions the need for the victims to effect the payment for the purpose of decrypting the papers or bring back the file system back to the initial problem. In many circumstances, the ransom money note will show up when the client restarts the COMPUTER after the system has actually already been damaged.
Generic PUA AC (PUA) distribution channels.
In different corners of the world, Generic PUA AC (PUA) grows by leaps as well as bounds. Nonetheless, the ransom notes and techniques of obtaining the ransom money quantity may differ depending upon particular local (regional) settings. The ransom money notes and techniques of extorting the ransom money quantity might differ depending on specific regional (local) setups.
For instance:
Faulty alerts concerning unlicensed software program.
In specific locations, the Trojans often wrongfully report having spotted some unlicensed applications enabled on the target’s device. The alert then requires the individual to pay the ransom.
Faulty statements concerning unlawful web content.
In countries where software piracy is less prominent, this method is not as reliable for the cyber frauds. Conversely, the Generic PUA AC (PUA) popup alert may falsely declare to be deriving from a law enforcement institution and will certainly report having located child porn or various other prohibited data on the device.
Generic PUA AC (PUA) popup alert may wrongly declare to be deriving from a legislation enforcement establishment and also will certainly report having situated child pornography or various other illegal information on the tool. The alert will similarly consist of a need for the individual to pay the ransom.
Technical details
File Info:
crc32: AEA12886md5: 38a3663a29e0e471e016cc4e0bffa5a1name: 38A3663A29E0E471E016CC4E0BFFA5A1.mlwsha1: 02c42c1524f7fad4ca03285909d9aa5e35f06915sha256: 7f7af219828fcafba4b46f6f9923c01896dd85ffc4ac28625e119b0a6fee7300sha512: c7e293eefca5f5012b25b8f287a42bb1ae7287e9f9921a730319636e31e1c6322e8c1f861a5ad41f6c0a1e597540d809d0fd404adaecf0a5ef56bb605d93b936ssdeep: 24576:diqJrcnE+Udjk/rs464CkFV5lri5r2Ddu:FTsrARkFV5fdutype: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS WindowsVersion Info:
LegalCopyright: Copyright (C) 2018FileVersion: 1.0.0.1CompanyName: TODO: ProductName: TODO: ProductVersion: 1.0.0.1FileDescription: TODO: Translation: 0x0419 0x04b0
Generic PUA AC (PUA) also known as:
| GridinSoft | Trojan.Ransom.Gen |
| Bkav | W32.AIDetect.malware1 |
| K7AntiVirus | Trojan ( 00528e801 ) |
| Elastic | malicious (high confidence) |
| DrWeb | Trojan.Vittalia.14640 |
| Cynet | Malicious (score: 100) |
| CAT-QuickHeal | SWB.Prepscram.JK6 |
| ALYac | Gen:Variant.Ransom.GandCrab.1787 |
| Cylance | Unsafe |
| Zillya | Adware.Generic.Win32.78376 |
| Sangfor | Trojan.Win32.Save.a |
| CrowdStrike | win/malicious_confidence_80% (D) |
| Alibaba | Trojan:Win32/Kryptik.7e46b66b |
| K7GW | Trojan ( 005267551 ) |
| Cybereason | malicious.a29e0e |
| Cyren | W32/S-ec8ab2eb!Eldorado |
| Symantec | Adware.IstartSurf |
| ESET-NOD32 | a variant of Win32/Kryptik.GCWT |
| APEX | Malicious |
| Avast | FileRepMetagen [Malware] |
| Kaspersky | not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.Generic |
| BitDefender | Gen:Variant.Ransom.GandCrab.1787 |
| NANO-Antivirus | Riskware.Win32.Vittalia.eydebj |
| SUPERAntiSpyware | |
| MicroWorld-eScan | Gen:Variant.Ransom.GandCrab.1787 |
| Tencent | Win32.Adware.Generic.Llrf |
| Ad-Aware | Gen:Variant.Ransom.GandCrab.1787 |
| Sophos | Generic PUA AC (PUA) |
| Comodo | Application.Win32.IStartSurf.BS@7lng48 |
| BitDefenderTheta | Gen:NN.ZexaF.34628.pz0@aSKZhHbk |
| VIPRE | Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT |
| McAfee-GW-Edition | BehavesLike.Win32.Generic.tt |
| FireEye | Generic.mg.38a3663a29e0e471 |
| Emsisoft | Gen:Variant.Ransom.GandCrab.1787 (B) |
| SentinelOne | Static AI – Malicious PE |
| Jiangmin | AdWare.Generic.mdax |
| Avira | HEUR/AGEN.1103309 |
| eGambit | Unsafe.AI_Score_100% |
| Microsoft | SoftwareBundler:Win32/Prepscram |
| Arcabit | Trojan.Ransom.GandCrab.D6FB |
| AegisLab | Trojan.Win32.Generic.4!c |
| GData | Gen:Variant.Ransom.GandCrab.1787 |
| AhnLab-V3 | PUP/Win32.IStartSurf.R220101 |
| Acronis | suspicious |
| McAfee | Packed-ZA!38A3663A29E0 |
| MAX | malware (ai score=81) |
| VBA32 | Trojan.Vittalia |
| Malwarebytes | Adware.IStartSurf |
| Panda | Trj/Genetic.gen |
| Rising | Trojan.Kryptik!1.B032 (CLOUD) |
| Yandex | Trojan.GenAsa!FWPhcEJUJ/g |
| Ikarus | Trojan.Kryptik |
| Fortinet | W32/Kryptik.FXGV!tr |
| AVG | FileRepMetagen [Malware] |
| Qihoo-360 | Win32/Trojan.177 |
How to remove Generic PUA AC (PUA) virus?
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent PC threats than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft">2.
Download GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Download GridinSoft Anti-MalwareRun the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your system.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your system for Generic PUA AC (PUA) files and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
Are Your Protected?
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will scan and clean your PC for free in the trial period. The free version offer real-time protection for first 2 days. If you want to be fully protected at all times – I can recommended you to purchase a full version:
Full version of GridinSoft Anti-Malware
If the guide doesn’t help you to remove Generic PUA AC (PUA) you can always ask me in the comments for getting help.
References
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site:
- More information about GridinSoft products:
