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adobe-reader.exe

Max Setup

The installer utilizes the installCore download manager which may bundle additional offers for various ad-supported toolbars, extensions and utilities. The application adobe-reader.exe by Max Setup has been detected as adware by 12 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the installCore installer. The setup program uses the InstallCore engine which may bundle additional software offers including toolbars and browser extensions. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as Adobe's free Reader but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
Max Setup  (signed and verified)

MD5:
b4fbbd2fadd6e1fb79d322e1e0c8f673

SHA-1:
5200d9534bea9bfa75b68a26d3d728334e680b20

SHA-256:
b46ed79cf5bbcfeaaebdfef7e2f6238e60f590a9814368fe18724deb2717d305

Scanner detections:
12 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
Uses the InstallCore download manager to install additional potentially unwanted software which may include extensions such as DealPly and various toolbars.

Description:
This is an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
4/28/2024 2:14:13 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Avira AntiVirus
ADWARE/InstallCore.Gen9
7.11.183.172

AVG
InstallCore
2015.0.3297

Dr.Web
Trojan.Packed.24524
9.0.1.05190

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallCore.MJ potentially unwanted application
7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/A-6c5f2e7b
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Application.InstallCore
14.11.24

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.185.13943

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallCore
v2014.11.07.02

Reason Heuristics
PUP.MaxSetup.M
14.11.7.14

Sophos
Install Core Click run software
4.98

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downware.InstallCore
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Threat.4788237
34232

File size:
643.8 KB (659,264 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\adobe-reader.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Max Setup

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
3/10/2014 5:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/11/2015 4:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Max Setup, O=Max Setup, STREET=Lillienblam 28, L=Tel Aviv, S=Tel Aviv, PostalCode=651307, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=COMODO Code Signing CA 2, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
008F6F1294DBB38F9F80A7A06DE489DF45

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/19/1992 3:22:17 PM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:kTypxGrn05sFIoe4CSotNO1/dntHttRyVLVjHETUDlOvRefeJkaq:kTyryhFIZtNmtsVLVjH1DlOeN

Entry address:
0x9C40

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, C4, C4, 53, 56, 57, 33, C0, 89, 45, F0, 89, 45, DC, E8, 86, 94, FF, FF, E8, 8D, A6, FF, FF, E8, 1C, A9, FF, FF, E8, 53, C9, FF, FF, E8, 9A, C9, FF, FF, E8, C9, F2, FF, FF, E8, 30, F4, FF, FF, 33, C0, 55, 68, FC, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 30, 64, 89, 20, 33, D2, 55, 68, C5, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 32, 64, 89, 22, A1, 14, C0, 40, 00, E8, 96, FE, FF, FF, E8, C9, FA, FF, FF, 8D, 55, F0, 33, C0, E8, 83, CF, FF, FF, 8B, 55, F0, B8, 24, CE, 40, 00, E8, 32, 95, FF, FF, 6A, 02, 6A, 00, 6A, 01, 8B, 0D, 24, CE...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.8458

Packer / compiler:
Inno Setup v5.x - Installer Maker

Code size:
37 KB (37,888 bytes)

The file adobe-reader.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

http://www.freeload4u.net/en/downloads/.../Adobe-Reader.exe

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