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APNMCP.exe

APN Updater

APN LLC

This installer is part of the Ask.com (APN) network which will install the Ask.com branded toolbar or browser extension which will take control of the web browser's search functions. The application APNMCP.exe by APN has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. The program is a setup application that uses the APN Stub installer. It runs as a separate (within the context of its own process) windows Service named “Ask Update Service”.
Publisher:
APN LLC.  (signed by APN LLC)

Product:
APN Updater

Version:
21.25.0.8489

MD5:
410d4e09f909a89d79c6eecbb0a90776

SHA-1:
d8a3289dccfa1b54faa171dc38a2cea6de0163cb

SHA-256:
88fbdacde6d400870e797be927b5330aa5c0600a81a1c9eb34bed5d4a0edc89c

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Note:
Our current pool of anti-malware engines have not currently detected this file, however based on our own detection heuristics we feel that this file is unwanted.

Analysis date:
5/3/2024 3:22:41 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask (M)
17.3.15.11

File size:
190.1 KB (194,632 bytes)

Product version:
21.25.0.8489

Copyright:
© 2017 APN, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Original file name:
APNMCP.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\Program Files\askpartnernetwork\toolbar\apnmcp.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
APN LLC

Authority:
Symantec Corporation

Valid from:
12/23/2016 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
5/31/2018 1:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=APN LLC, O=APN LLC, L=Oakland, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=Symantec Class 3 SHA256 Code Signing CA, OU=Symantec Trust Network, O=Symantec Corporation, C=US

Serial number:
643E1CE1B238C7969ABFC62773F3038C

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
2/22/2017 2:31:05 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

Entry address:
0x1169E

Entry point:
E8, E4, 74, 00, 00, E9, 89, FE, FF, FF, 8B, FF, 55, 8B, EC, 8B, 4D, 0C, 53, 33, DB, 3B, CB, 76, 1B, 6A, E0, 33, D2, 58, F7, F1, 3B, 45, 10, 73, 0F, E8, 2C, 03, 00, 00, C7, 00, 0C, 00, 00, 00, 33, C0, EB, 41, 0F, AF, 4D, 10, 56, 57, 8B, F1, 39, 5D, 08, 74, 0B, FF, 75, 08, E8, 27, 3A, 00, 00, 59, 8B, D8, 56, FF, 75, 08, E8, 2F, 75, 00, 00, 8B, F8, 59, 59, 85, FF, 74, 14, 3B, DE, 73, 10, 2B, F3, 56, 6A, 00, 03, DF, 53, E8, 34, E5, FF, FF, 83, C4, 0C, 8B, C7, 5F, 5E, 5B, 5D, C3, 6A, 0C, 68, 08, 8B, 42, 00, E8...
 
[+]

Code size:
127.5 KB (130,560 bytes)

Service
Display name:
Ask Update Service

Service name:
APNMCP

Description:
The Ask Update Service keeps your toolbar software powered by Ask up to date.

Type:
Win32OwnProcess


The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to www.search-results.com  (66.235.120.111:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to www.search.ask.com  (23.76.222.3:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to websearch.search-results.com  (199.36.100.106:80)

 
http://websearch.search-results.com/redirect?client=ff&src=kw&tb=GET-SRS&o=633467508&locale=us_ZZ&apn_uid=1900418226&apn_ptnrs=2R&apn_sauid=1266945484&apn_dtid=get001YYPT&q=

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ss.websearch.ask.com  (174.129.25.170:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to apnstatic.ask.com  (23.67.242.17:80)

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