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

PE structurePE file structure
Show functions
Import table
advapi32.dll
CloseServiceHandle, RegQueryValueExA, RegOpenKeyExA, DeleteService, ControlService, OpenServiceA, OpenSCManagerA, StartServiceA, CreateServiceA, StartServiceCtrlDispatcherA, RegisterServiceCtrlHandlerA, RegCreateKeyExA, RegSetValueExA, SetServiceStatus, RegCloseKey
crypt32.dll
CryptDecodeObject, CertFreeCertificateContext, CryptMsgClose, CertCloseStore, CertVerifyTimeValidity, CertFindCertificateInStore, CryptMsgGetParam, CertGetNameStringA, CryptQueryObject
kernel32.dll
lstrcmpA, FileTimeToLocalFileTime, SystemTimeToFileTime, GetFileAttributesA, SetFileAttributesA, FileTimeToSystemTime, MultiByteToWideChar, FormatMessageA, lstrlenA, LocalAlloc, LocalFree, LoadLibraryA, GetProcAddress, DeviceIoControl, GetPriorityClass, GetCurrentThread, GetThreadPriority, CloseHandle, CreateFileA, GetTickCount, SetEnvironmentVariableA, CompareStringW, CompareStringA, HeapSize, SetEndOfFile, SetStdHandle, IsBadCodePtr, IsBadReadPtr, SetUnhandledExceptionFilter, InitializeCriticalSection, VirtualProtect, GetOEMCP, GetACP, GetSystemDirectoryA, CopyFileA, Sleep, GetVersionExA, GetSystemInfo, GetCurrentProcess, GetLastError, FreeLibrary, lstrcpyW, GetCurrentProcessId, ExitProcess, HeapAlloc, HeapFree, RtlUnwind, DeleteFileA, GetSystemTimeAsFileTime, WideCharToMultiByte, GetModuleHandleA, GetCommandLineA, QueryPerformanceCounter, GetCurrentThreadId, GetModuleFileNameA, TlsAlloc, SetLastError, TlsFree, TlsSetValue, TlsGetValue, LCMapStringA, LCMapStringW, DeleteCriticalSection, LeaveCriticalSection, EnterCriticalSection, HeapDestroy, HeapCreate, VirtualFree, VirtualAlloc, HeapReAlloc, IsBadWritePtr, ReadFile, SetHandleCount, GetStdHandle, GetFileType, GetStartupInfoA, SetFilePointer, InterlockedExchange, VirtualQuery, WriteFile, FlushFileBuffers, GetTimeZoneInformation, TerminateProcess, UnhandledExceptionFilter, FreeEnvironmentStringsA, GetEnvironmentStrings, FreeEnvironmentStringsW, GetEnvironmentStringsW, GetStringTypeA, GetStringTypeW, GetCPInfo, GetLocaleInfoA, CreateDirectoryA
shell32.dll
SHGetFolderPathA
user32.dll
wsprintfA
wintrust.dll
WinVerifyTrust

pnkbstrb.exe

By Even Balance (Signed)

Remove pnkbstrb.exe
MD5:   1f438c2cb609cd58980ccf30355b97cd
SHA1:   a2b9e1ada73c894359fd2b07318228663a5d3d49
SHA256:   f73ccca895dc44743d1a0585b21264495ee195c595f1e2495330673d671ac6bf

Overview

pnkbstrb.exe runs as a service under the name PnkBstrB within the local user context. 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:274.32 KB (280,904 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:0.00020150%
    0.028634%
    Kernel CPU:0.00006717%
    0.013761%
    User CPU:0.00013433%
    0.014873%
    Kernel CPU time:312,002 ms/min
    100,923,805ms/min
    Memory
    Private memory:2.75 MB
    21.59 MB
    Private (maximum):5.07 MB
    Private (minimum):4.98 MB
    Non-paged memory:2.75 MB
    21.59 MB
    Virtual memory:49.45 MB
    140.96 MB
    Virtual memory (peak):51.95 MB
    169.69 MB
    Working set:4.98 MB
    18.61 MB
    Working set (peak):5.07 MB
    37.95 MB
    Resource allocations
    Threads:4
    12
    Handles:86
    600

    BehaviorsProcess properties

    Integrety level:System
    Platform:64-bit
    Command line:C:\windows\syswow64\pnkbstrb.exe
    Owner:User
    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)

    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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