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asktoolbar.exe

Offercast - APN Install Manager

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 asktoolbar.exe has been detected as adware 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 Offercast APN Install Manager installer, however the file is not signed with an authenticode signature from a trusted source. The file has been seen being downloaded from ak.pipoffers.apnpartners.com.
Publisher:
Ask.com

Product:
Offercast - APN Install Manager

Version:
3.4.4.12645

MD5:
f29262b3e64396f1a622ea5b1da9b738

SHA-1:
ad043ded91e5119d624aded1235b77fce3f49f0c

SHA-256:
407d22e459d83d3d9c4b4e76daaa241eaa440b96e1bd0929bce566f2daafc731

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
This is the APN Offercast install manager which will offer the user to opt-out of installing the Ask.com Toolbar as part of the setup routine.

Analysis date:
4/25/2024 10:12:25 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
Win32.Generic
16.8.6.20

File size:
875.3 KB (896,308 bytes)

Product version:
3.4.4.12645

Copyright:
2010: (c) Ask.com. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
APNInstaller.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
Offercast APN Install Manager

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\asktoolbar.exe

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
10/5/2014 7:28:06 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:EwoT6vpYEc/gBNTy2zq9xZebTMwozYGSVYixFzm+G9t8nu3x+eWx0fPx0NEU1:EwoUjcswXZwyZ4Yg69scQTx0fSND1

Entry address:
0xDDB38

Entry point:
60, E8, E6, 19, 00, 00, 8B, 74, 24, 20, E8, 08, 00, 00, 00, 61, 68, FE, 95, 40, 00, C3, E9, 59, E8, 01, 16, 00, 00, 81, E6, 00, F0, FF, FF, 81, EE, 00, 10, 00, 00, 66, 81, 3E, 4D, 5A, 75, F3, 0F, B7, 7E, 3C, 03, FE, 8B, 6F, 78, 03, EE, 8B, 5D, 20, 03, DE, 33, C0, 8B, D6, 83, C3, 04, 40, 8B, 3B, 03, FA, E8, 0F, 00, 00, 00, 47, 65, 74, 50, 72, 6F, 63, 41, 64, 64, 72, 65, 73, 73, 00, 5E, 33, C9, B1, 0F, FC, F3, A6, 75, DA, 8B, F2, 8B, 5D, 24, 03, DE, 0F, B7, 0C, 43, 8B, 5D, 1C, 03, DE, 8B, 1C, 8B, 03, DE, 81...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.5462

Packer / compiler:
ASPack v1.08.04

Code size:
83.5 KB (85,504 bytes)

The file asktoolbar.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

http://ak.pipoffers.apnpartners.com/static/partners//.../AskToolbar.exe

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