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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 4 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the APN Stub installer. This version of the installer will bundle the Ask.com Toolbar, a potentially unwanted web browser extension. It is also typically executed from the user's temporary directory.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

Product:
AskStub Application

Version:
4.0.0.0

MD5:
00b5e0c05db71501de8f68ee85177fd2

SHA-1:
f6ca3552aa306b3be001044e9b1a56068755c7f2

SHA-256:
a602c6d95c2d557ba80cf4ce4f08054f2b89ecb87e5496f87eb5f040854a2ec7

Scanner detections:
4 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles that Ask.com toolbar as a third-party offer, a web browser extension that may modify a user's search and home pages.

Analysis date:
2/7/2026 7:33:29 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Dr.Web
Trojan.DownLoader7.16675
9.0.1.050

ESET NOD32
Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask (variant)
10.8488

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.Installer (M)
16.2.19.5

XVirus List
Win.Detected
2.3.31

File size:
139.9 KB (143,240 bytes)

Product version:
4.0.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) Ask 2010

Original file name:
AskStub.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Language:
English (United States)

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 5:30:00 AM

Valid to:
6/18/2011 5:29:59 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:
5/4/2011 1:31:24 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:8chfXbup04LnomgmlgV5sUjbW/+lt5qqqqqqqqqqqqBYFpbO:ZPbue4LP+V5f6U7qqqqqqqqqqqqH

Entry address:
0x4448

Entry point:
E8, A9, 39, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, 8B, FF, 55, 8B, EC, 81, EC, 28, 03, 00, 00, A3, 08, B4, 41, 00, 89, 0D, 04, B4, 41, 00, 89, 15, 00, B4, 41, 00, 89, 1D, FC, B3, 41, 00, 89, 35, F8, B3, 41, 00, 89, 3D, F4, B3, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 15, 20, B4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 0D, 14, B4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 1D, F0, B3, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 05, EC, B3, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 25, E8, B3, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 2D, E4, B3, 41, 00, 9C, 8F, 05, 18, B4, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 00, A3, 0C, B4, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 04, A3, 10, B4, 41, 00, 8D, 45, 08, A3, 1C, B4, 41...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.4860

Code size:
74 KB (75,776 bytes)

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