Should I block it?
No, this file is 100% safe to run.
Additional versions
(Note, Even Balance publishes each variation of this file with the same version, but the hashes are unique.)
Relationships
pnkbstra.exe
By Even Balance (Signed)
| MD5: | c183b7e8c4dd96af66d7ace48d2d9b05 |
| SHA1: | e344488c9f1f3aec1b9878ec30820cb99c56f129 |
| SHA256: | 8b9b0e4cfea6e006999b0c6c50d9da6a3c0fda5aece6e752c3ab5016637a6199 |
Overview
pnkbstra.exe runs as a service under the name PnkBstrA with extensive SYSTEM privileges (full administrator access). It has been configured with a firewall exception which allows both inbound and outbound network communication without being blocked. It is installed with a couple of know programs including Medal of Honor Airborne published by Electronic Arts, Need for Speed™ Undercover from Electronic Arts and Need for Speed™ Undercover by Electronic Arts. The file is digitally signed by Even Balance which was issued by the VeriSign certificate authority (CA).
Details
| File name: | pnkbstra.exe |
| Typical file path: | C:\windows\syswow64\pnkbstra.exe |
| Size: | 61.56 KB (63,040 bytes) |
| Build date: | 6/10/2007 9:37 PM |
| Certificate |
| Issued to: | Even Balance |
| Authority (CA): | VeriSign |
| Effective date: | Sunday, July 1, 2012 |
| Digital DNA |
| File packed: | No |
| .NET CLR: | No |
More details
Programs
The following programs will install this file
Medal of Honor Airborne is a video game distributed through EA's Origin digital distribution and digital rights management content delivery system.
Need for Speed: Undercover is the 12th installment of the popular racing video game series Need for Speed, developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts (EA). Undercover features a new open world map. The game's environment consists of four boroughs: Palm Harbor, Port Crescent, Gold Coast Mountains, and Sunset Hills (in the DS version the boroughs are Metropolis, North Port Crescent, South Port Crescent and Riverton).
Need for Speed ProStreet is a video game distributed through EA's Origin digital distribution and digital rights management content delivery system.
Medal of Honor Airborne is a video game distributed through EA's Origin digital distribution and digital rights management content delivery system.
Behaviors
Services
Runs under 'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services' by the Service Controller (services.exe)
Windows firewall allowed programs
Exceptions allow programs to access to the Internet through an outbound connections
- Firewall exception for 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrA.exe'
- Firewall exception for 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrA.exe'
Network connections
Access through an approved Windows firewall exception
[UDP] listens on port 44301
Resource utilization
(Note: statistics below are averages based on a minimum sample size of 200 unique participants)
Averages
| CPU |
| Total CPU: | 0.00016637% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00008319% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00008319% | |
| Kernel CPU time: | 46,875 ms/min | |
| Memory |
| Private memory: | 1.7 MB | |
| Private (maximum): | 2.48 MB | |
| Private (minimum): | 2.48 MB | |
| Non-paged memory: | 1.7 MB | |
| Virtual memory: | 25.24 MB | |
| Virtual memory (peak): | 28.7 MB | |
| Working set: | 2.48 MB | |
| Working set (peak): | 2.48 MB | |
| Resource allocations |
| Threads: | 2 | |
| Handles: | 48 | |
| GUI GDI count: | 4 | |
| GUI USER count: | 1 | |
Process properties
| Integrety level: | Undefined |
| Platform: | 32-bit |
| Command line: | C:\Windows\System32\pnkbstra.exe |
| Owner: | SYSTEM |
| Windows Service |
| Service name: | PnkBstrA |
| Description: | “PunkBuster Service Component [v1029] http://www.evenbalance.com” |
| Type: | Win32OwnProcess |
Distribution by Windows OS
| OS version | distribution |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
28.89% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
24.44% |
|
| Microsoft Windows XP |
12.78% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
7.78% |
|
| Windows 8 Pro |
5.00% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Basic |
3.89% |
|
| Windows Vista Home Premium |
3.89% |
|
| Windows 8 |
3.33% |
|
| Windows 8.1 Pro |
2.22% |
|
| Windows Vista Home Basic |
2.22% |
|
| Windows 8 Pro with Media Center |
1.67% |
|
| Windows Developer Preview |
1.11% |
|
| Windows Vista Business |
1.11% |
|
| Windows 8.1 |
0.56% |
|
| Windows 7 Enterprise |
0.56% |
|
| Windows Vista Ultimate |
0.56% |
|
Distribution by country
United States installs about 22.78% of pnkbstra.exe.
Distribution by PC manufacturer
| PC Manufacturer | distribution |
| ASUS |
16.42% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard |
12.69% |
|
| Acer |
11.94% |
|
| Dell |
10.45% |
|
| Lenovo |
10.45% |
|
| GIGABYTE |
8.21% |
|
| Toshiba |
7.46% |
|
| Sony |
5.97% |
|
| MSI |
5.97% |
|
| Samsung |
2.99% |
|
| Gateway |
2.99% |
|
| American Megatrends |
1.49% |
|
| Intel |
1.49% |
|
| Alienware |
1.49% |
|
