PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor (Microsoft Defender Antivirus)

PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor is a detection name used by Microsoft Windows Defender to identify potentially unwanted software (PUP) or potentially unwanted applications (PUA). In this case, it specifically refers to a category of software that may be considered undesirable or unwanted by users due to its behavior or the way it operates.

What is PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor infection?

“PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor” suggests that the detected program has characteristics associated with potentially unwanted behavior related to downloading or sponsoring other software. It could be adware, a browser toolbar, or another type of software that might display unwanted advertisements, track user activities, or have other features that users may find undesirable.

Most of the cases, PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor virus will instruct its victims to initiate funds transfer for the objective of neutralizing the changes that the Trojan infection has presented to the target’s tool.

PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor Summary

These modifications can be as complies with:

  • Anomalous binary characteristics. This is a way of hiding virus code from antiviruses and virus analysts.
  • Ciphering the records situated on the victim’s disk drive — so the victim can no more use the information;
  • Preventing normal access to the victim’s workstation. This is the typical behavior of a virus called locker. It blocks access to the computer until the victim pays the ransom.

PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor

The most typical channels whereby PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor Trojans are infused are:

  • By means of phishing e-mails;
  • As a repercussion of user winding up on a resource that holds a malicious software program;

As quickly as the Trojan is successfully injected, it will certainly either cipher the information on the target’s PC or protect against the gadget from working correctly – while also positioning a ransom money note that points out the requirement for the sufferers to effect the repayment for the function of decrypting the records or recovering the documents system back to the preliminary condition. In most instances, the ransom note will turn up when the client reboots the PC after the system has been damaged.

PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor circulation channels.

In various edges of the globe, PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor expands by leaps and bounds. Nevertheless, the ransom notes and methods of extorting the ransom amount might vary depending on neighborhood (local) settings. The ransom notes and methods of extorting the ransom money quantity may vary depending on particular regional (regional) settings.

Ransomware injection

For instance:

    Faulty notifies concerning unlicensed software.

    In certain areas, the Trojans often wrongfully report having identified some unlicensed applications allowed on the victim’s tool. The alert after that requires the individual to pay the ransom money.

    Faulty declarations regarding prohibited content.

    In nations where software piracy is much less prominent, this approach is not as effective for cyber scams. Additionally, the PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor popup alert may wrongly claim to be originating from a police organization and also will report having situated kid pornography or various other illegal data on the gadget.

    PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor popup alert might falsely assert to be deriving from a regulation enforcement institution and also will report having situated child porn or various other prohibited information on the gadget. The alert will likewise consist of a demand for the customer to pay the ransom money.

Technical details

File Info:

crc32: 01CE3D8Amd5: 3d9dd5341be2290c1be19eb310b592fcname: 3D9DD5341BE2290C1BE19EB310B592FC.mlwsha1: bb8ff73b4c388abe98efd90d8c844118c46cb97fsha256: d2dd6616c5110010e4e4834504e37a217dd26b1197e9efecba2689e2ffed866dsha512: ee36e241772e3d9b75a0c244d16b3ee998ca87d00aeb3eaa0ebd64c136835ee1418b71f487ec3c8aaad8cc7f31374de037d60bf9be27e474c7a5173471e2a73essdeep: 24576:ajgPdLE+dsw+4BIuovMpxK31XyLg3w3h3VuQ5PMtbE:7zswTI3aPMtbEtype: PE32 executable (console) Intel 80386, for MS Windows

Version Info:

0: [No Data]

PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor also known as:

Cynet Malicious (score: 85)
ALYac Trojan.GenericKD.4878353
Cylance Unsafe
Sangfor Trojan.Win32.SchoolGirl.8
CrowdStrike win/malicious_confidence_70% (W)
Alibaba Trojan:Win32/SchoolGirl.eb5424cf
Cybereason malicious.41be22
Symantec ML.Attribute.HighConfidence
APEX Malicious
Avast Win32:Malware-gen
Kaspersky Trojan.Win32.SchoolGirl.ayu
BitDefender Trojan.GenericKD.4878353
NANO-Antivirus Trojan.Win32.SchoolGirl.enzwsj
MicroWorld-eScan Trojan.GenericKD.4878353
Tencent Win32.Trojan.Schoolgirl.Lnez
Ad-Aware Trojan.GenericKD.4878353
Sophos Generic PUA LL (PUA)
Comodo Malware@#3eseh44cq0gt2
TrendMicro TROJ_GEN.R002C0WAK21
FireEye Trojan.GenericKD.4878353
Emsisoft Trojan.GenericKD.4878353 (B)
SentinelOne Static AI – Suspicious PE
Jiangmin Trojan.SchoolGirl.jk
Webroot W32.Ransomware.Ryuk
Avira TR/SchoolGirl.fexqb
Microsoft PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor
Arcabit Trojan.Generic.D4A7011
AegisLab Trojan.Win32.SchoolGirl.4!c
GData Trojan.GenericKD.4878353
McAfee Artemis!3D9DD5341BE2
MAX malware (ai score=81)
VBA32 Trojan.SchoolGirl
Panda Trj/GdSda.A
TrendMicro-HouseCall TROJ_GEN.R002C0WAK21
Rising Trojan.SchoolGirl!8.A421 (CLOUD)
Ikarus Trojan.SchoolGirl
Fortinet W32/SchoolGirl.AYU!tr
AVG Win32:Malware-gen
Qihoo-360 Win32/Trojan.Generic.HgIASOMA

How to remove PUA:Win32/DownloadSponsor virus?

Unwanted applications have ofter come with other viruses and spyware. This threat can steal account credentials, or crypt your documents for ransom.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft1

Run the setup file.

Run Setup.exe
GridinSoft Anti-Malware Setup

Press the “Install” button.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Install

Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Splash-Screen

Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scanning

Click on “Clean Now”.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware Scan Result

Are Your Protected?

Full version of GridinSoft

If the guide doesn’t help you to remove PUA: Win32/DownloadSponsor you can always ask me in the comments to get help.

References

    About the author

    Robert Bailey

    Security engineer focused on malware behavior, removal workflows, and Windows hardening. Robert reviews threat articles for practical accuracy, checking detection names, symptoms, and cleanup steps before publication.

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