Due to global supply shortages and the sudden transition to remote learning and working, millions of families repurposed older HP Pavilion and ProBook laptops.

During 2021, cybercriminals used several tactics to distribute malicious .exe files like "sp64825.exe":

The file is a specific HP SoftPaq containing the Mediatek/Ralink RT3290 Wireless LAN Driver (Version 5.0.37.0). This driver is a common fix for older HP laptops (like the Pavilion G6, G7, and CQ58) that struggle with Wi-Fi connectivity after upgrading to Windows 10. Guide to Using sp64825.exe (2021 Update)