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apnstub.exe

AskStub Application

Ask.com

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 apnstub.exe by Ask.com has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 2 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the APN Stub installer. Additionally, the file is typically installed by a number of programs including Quick Media Converter by Cocoon Software and Paltalk Messenger by AVM Software Inc..
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

Product:
AskStub Application

Version:
1.0.0.0

MD5:
23ee55d0c183cc6e85c8fb97fb5973e8

SHA-1:
1a99d3266ce87fb2164e1153b4fd5815ac71dedc

SHA-256:
1696415e21f97128683de57bc8e159b2c076577595416b50769a006c531007e5

Scanner detections:
2 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Analysis date:
4/16/2024 4:48:47 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Boost by Reason
Optional.Ask.H
188838

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.H
14.8.8.2

File size:
105.9 KB (108,424 bytes)

Product version:
1.0.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) Ask 2010

Original file name:
AskStub.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\temp\{random}.tmp\apnstub.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/17/2008 9:00:00 AM

Valid to:
6/18/2011 8:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Ask.com, OU=Distribution, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Ask.com, L=Oakland, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2004 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)04, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
286F8A30E2EAC6965B936F826A05305D

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/11/2010 4:14:08 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:h6c7HV5FCLc3wya+okd+Zoh5qqqqqqqqqqqqSQb7:tLVKLubEUqqqqqqqqqqqqB

Entry address:
0x2906

Entry point:
E8, 19, 28, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, 8B, FF, 55, 8B, EC, 81, EC, 28, 03, 00, 00, A3, C8, 30, 41, 00, 89, 0D, C4, 30, 41, 00, 89, 15, C0, 30, 41, 00, 89, 1D, BC, 30, 41, 00, 89, 35, B8, 30, 41, 00, 89, 3D, B4, 30, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 15, E0, 30, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 0D, D4, 30, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 1D, B0, 30, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 05, AC, 30, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 25, A8, 30, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 2D, A4, 30, 41, 00, 9C, 8F, 05, D8, 30, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 00, A3, CC, 30, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 04, A3, D0, 30, 41, 00, 8D, 45, 08, A3, DC, 30, 41...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.4610

Code size:
50 KB (51,200 bytes)

The file apnstub.exe has been discovered within the following programs.

Paltalk Messenger  by AVM Software Inc.
Paltalk is an instant messaging service that enables users to communicate via internet chat, voice and video chat. It offers chat rooms and the ability for users to create their own public virtual chat room.
www.paltalk.com
49% remove it
Quick Media Converter  by Cocoon Software
Quick Media Converter includes a branded version of the Ask.com Toolbar, a web browser extenstion that provides search advertising and results. Upon installation the user is presented with the option to install the Ask toolbar.
www.cocoonsoftware.com
About 9% of users remove it
 
Powered by Should I Remove It?

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

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a104-120-217-108.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (104.120.217.108:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-50-197-9.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.50.197.9:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 199.36.102.106.df.iacapn.com  (199.36.102.106:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 74.113.233.61.df.iaccap.com  (74.113.233.61:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-15-155-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.15.155.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-4-43-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.4.43.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a104-88-195-199.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (104.88.195.199:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-50-203-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.50.203.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-53-91-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.53.91.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-37-37-163.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.37.37.163:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-74-208-101.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.74.208.101:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-58-43-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.58.43.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-50-91-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.50.91.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-4-37-163.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.4.37.163:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-41-75-27.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.41.75.27:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-37-200-92.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.37.200.92:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a104-124-127-137.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (104.124.127.137:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 125.235.4.59.adsl.viettel.vn  (125.235.4.59:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a92-123-207-94.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (92.123.207.94:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a88-221-202-225.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (88.221.202.225:80)

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