home

bootstrap.exe

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 bootstrap.exe by Ask.com 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 is also typically executed from an Internet Explorer cache folder. The file has been seen being downloaded from ak.pipoffers.apnpartners.com.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

MD5:
1c304e770164b93ff94d5a65783606d9

SHA-1:
4c4b60cca7b81864d7f0c20e589987c387645b12

SHA-256:
6562d952a386af2ce45610633ac0eb3a98ad84f3e2ff61acb3926028e21880d3

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:
4/19/2024 4:43:06 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.J
14.8.8.2

File size:
18.5 KB (18,896 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\bootstrap.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/23/2014 12:00:00 AM

Valid to:
6/19/2014 12:59:59 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 2010 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)10, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
0E92120309E5E292CD4FFE132C48D3D8

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
3/27/2014 1:01:13 AM

OS version:
6.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
192:kBlid+OzK/YWYnYe+PjPqrxQg+QgX+vLbr9ZCspE+TMwrwTy:kBliw0K/YWYnYPL3g+QgQmeMw

Entry address:
0x13AF

Entry point:
83, EC, 48, 53, 56, 6A, 00, FF, 15, 40, 20, 40, 00, 8B, D8, 89, 5C, 24, 08, FF, 15, 28, 20, 40, 00, 8B, F0, 85, F6, 75, 08, 6A, FF, FF, 15, 38, 20, 40, 00, 0F, B7, 06, 55, 57, 8B, 3D, 84, 20, 40, 00, 6A, 20, 59, 6A, 22, 5D, 66, 3B, C5, 75, 1E, 56, FF, D7, 8B, F0, 0F, B7, 06, 66, 3B, C5, 74, 0A, 66, 85, C0, 75, EE, 66, 39, 2E, 75, 1D, 56, FF, D7, 8B, F0, EB, 16, 66, 3B, C1, 76, 11, 6A, 20, 5B, 56, FF, D7, 8B, F0, 66, 39, 1E, 77, F6, 8B, 5C, 24, 10, 0F, B7, 06, 66, 85, C0, 74, 19, 6A, 20, 5B, 66, 3B, C3, 77...
 
[+]

Code size:
2.5 KB (2,560 bytes)

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

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

Remove bootstrap.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
herdProtect is a second line of defense malware removal platform powered by 68 anti-malware engines in the cloud. Since no single anti-malware program is perfect 100% of the time, herdProtect utilizes a 'herd' of multiple engines to guarantee the widest coverage and the earliest possible detection.