Should I block it?

No, this file is 100% safe to run.

VersionsAdditional versions

27f1b 40.00%
0e4c4 7.50%
1428e 17.50%
e2410 5.00%
1f438 2.50%
13721 2.50%
9a386 2.50%
0066c 2.50%
7c018 2.50%
8b3fc 2.50%
19fb4 2.50%
bb67d 2.50%
cab78 2.50%
ada0d 2.50%
43cb6 2.50%
49b76 2.50%
(Note, Even Balance publishes each variation of this file with the same version, but the hashes are unique.)

Relationships

Parent process
Related files

pnkbstrb.exe

By Even Balance (Signed)

Remove pnkbstrb.exe
MD5:   0e4c4fcae8646c62362fde5f1281245c
SHA1:   845b85ba901adf369839bdec876a6bf89936fbdf
SHA256:   114411f54a9a65d2adc8b181a43d06bfe793fef28e394c9a01da206178cf3ed2

Overview

pnkbstrb.exe runs as a service under the name PnkBstrB 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. The file is digitally signed by Even Balance which was issued by the VeriSign certificate authority (CA). Note, some antivirus scanners have flagged this file, however it is not necessarily considered malware (see below for details).

DetailsDetails

File name:pnkbstrb.exe
Typical file path:C:\windows\syswow64\pnkbstrb.exe
Size:275.49 KB (282,104 bytes)
Certificate
Issued to:Even Balance
Authority (CA):VeriSign
Digital DNA
File packed:No
.NET CLR:No
More details

BehaviorsBehaviors

Services
Runs under 'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services' by the Service Controller (services.exe)
  • 'PnkBstrB'
Windows firewall allowed programs
Exceptions allow programs to access to the Internet through an outbound connections
  • Firewall exception for 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrB.exe'
  • Firewall exception for 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrB.exe'
Network connections
Access through an approved Windows firewall exception
  • [UDP] listens on port 45301

  • ResourcesResource utilization

    (Note: statistics below are averages based on a minimum sample size of 200 unique participants)
    Averages
     
    CPU
    Total CPU:0.00271801%
    0.028634%
    Kernel CPU:0.00111577%
    0.013761%
    User CPU:0.00160224%
    0.014873%
    Kernel CPU time:15,266 ms/min
    100,923,805ms/min
    CPU cycles:18,334,748/sec
    17,470,203/sec
    Memory
    Private memory:3.38 MB
    21.59 MB
    Private (maximum):6.03 MB
    Private (minimum):5.38 MB
    Non-paged memory:3.38 MB
    21.59 MB
    Virtual memory:45.33 MB
    140.96 MB
    Virtual memory (peak):48.33 MB
    169.69 MB
    Working set:5.45 MB
    18.61 MB
    Working set (peak):6.05 MB
    37.95 MB
    Page faults:2,041/min
    2,039/min
    I/O
    I/O read transfer:2.35 KB/sec
    1.02 MB/min
    I/O read operations:1/sec
    343/min
    I/O write transfer:752 Bytes/sec
    274.99 KB/min
    I/O write operations:1/sec
    227/min
    I/O other transfer:59.99 MB/sec
    448.09 KB/min
    I/O other operations:15,360/sec
    1,671/min
    Resource allocations
    Threads:5
    12
    Handles:181
    600

    BehaviorsProcess properties

    Integrety level:System
    Platform:32-bit
    Command line:C:\Windows\System32\pnkbstrb.exe
    Owner:SYSTEM
    Windows Service
    Service name:PnkBstrB
    Description:“PunkBuster Service Component [v2.304 BFP4F] http://www.evenbalance.com”
    Type:Win32OwnProcess
    Parent process:services.exe (Services and Controller app by Microsoft)

    ResourcesThreads

    Averages
     
    sechost.dll
    Total CPU:1.60171065%
    0.272967%
    Kernel CPU:0.13609943%
    0.107585%
    User CPU:1.46561121%
    0.165382%
    CPU cycles:124,054,572/sec
    5,741,424/sec
    Context switches:364/sec
    79/sec
    Memory:100 KB
    1.16 MB
    PnkBstrB.exe (main module)
    Total CPU:0.00013930%
    Kernel CPU:0.00000000%
    User CPU:0.00013930%
    CPU cycles:1,943/sec
    Memory:272 KB

    Windows OS versionsDistribution by Windows OS

    OS versiondistribution
    Microsoft Windows XP 27.50%
    Windows 7 Home Premium 20.00%
    Windows 7 Ultimate 15.00%
    Windows 7 Professional 12.50%
    Windows 7 Home Basic 7.50%
    Windows Developer Preview 5.00%
    Windows Vista Home Premium 5.00%
    Windows Vista Home Basic 5.00%
    Windows 8 Pro 2.50%

    Distribution by countryDistribution by country

    United States installs about 30.00% of pnkbstrb.exe.

    OEM distributionDistribution by PC manufacturer

    PC Manufacturerdistribution
    Toshiba 20.00%
    GIGABYTE 20.00%
    ASUS 20.00%
    Acer 15.00%
    Lenovo 10.00%
    Dell 10.00%
    Hewlett-Packard 5.00%
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