chrome.exe

Google Chrome

Air Software

Warning, this is not the legitimate setup program for Google Chrome. The setup is bootstrapped by the Air Installer 'download manager' (a pay-per-install monetization download manager) that bundles unwanted software (adware, toolbars, extensions) during setup while deciving the user into thinking they are downloading the stadard installation setup from Google Chrome. The application chrome.exe by Air Software has been detected as adware by 31 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the AirInstaller Download Manager installer. This program installs potentially unwanted software on your PC at the same time as the software you are trying to install, without adequate consent. With this installer, users are expecting to download Google's Chrome web browser but before that occurs they may be presented with additional offers, mostly potentially unwanted software or adware.
Publisher:
AirInstaller Inc.  (signed by Air Software)

Product:
Google Chrome

Version:
2.0.3.98

MD5:
838a1607085047a319f2a0b8cd1fd066

SHA-1:
4439dea1369469af163008d927cb4a4f6b0634f7

SHA-256:
ced0c13d94097c1aba73ae7cfffd70106d01c95f4b7effe5a18a2608e6727d12

Scanner detections:
31 / 68

Status:
Adware

Description:
This is also known as bundleware, or downloadware, which is an downloader designed to simply deliver ad-supported offers in the setup routine of an otherwise legitimate software.

Analysis date:
4/23/2024 12:01:29 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.4
5528522

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.AirAdInstaller
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
ADWARE/Adware.Gen7
7.11.140.88

avast!
Win32:Adware-CAH [PUP]
150423-1

AVG
Adware Generic_r.IU
2014.0.4311

Bitdefender
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.4
1.0.20.685

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6267

Clam AntiVirus
Win.Adware.Airadinstaller
0.98/19073

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.AirAdInstaller.A
18025

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.10718
9.0.1.05190

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller
10.0.0.5366

ESET NOD32
Win32/AirAdInstaller.A potentially unwanted application
9.7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/AirInstall.A.gen
4.6.5.141

F-Secure
Riskware.Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler
11.2015-17-05_1

G Data
Win32.Adware.Airadinstaller
15.5.24

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.AirInst
t3scan.2.2.29

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.176.11613

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.AirAdInstaller
15.0.0.543

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.AirInstaller
v2015.05.17.05

MicroWorld eScan
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.4
16.0.0.411

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.AirAdInstaller.cxsehk
0.28.0.60253

nProtect
Trojan-Clicker/W32.Agent.1114024
14.04.22.01

Panda Antivirus
Adware/AirInstaller
15.05.17.05

Qihoo 360 Security
Malware.QVM01.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Quick Heal
Adware.AirAdInstaller.C5
5.15.14.00

Reason Heuristics
DownloadManager.Bundler.Air Software
15.5.17.13

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.Airinstall!1.9C4C
23.00.65.15515

Sophos
PUA 'AirInstaller'
5.14

Vba32 AntiVirus
AdWare.AirAdInstaller
3.12.24.3

VIPRE Antivirus
AirInstaller
27892

Zillya! Antivirus
Adware.AirAdInstaller.Win32.102
2.0.0.1773

File size:
1.1 MB (1,125,288 bytes)

Product version:
2.0.3.98

Copyright:
(c) AirInstaller. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
AirInstaller.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
AirInstaller Download Manager

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/24/2013 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2015 7:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Air Software, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Air Software, L=Victoria, S=British Columbia, C=CA

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:
3AC786E09219DF82DA830E461D4FC39F

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/4/2013 12:22:07 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:nTrqpKT1U6LSINS6ejHIlgeXHAmf+FnKVVfRrqV46x:nacTuPjHIlgeXcIfRr4d

Entry address:
0x2543A0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 60, 54, 00, 8D, BE, 00, B0, EB, FF, 57, 83, CD, FF, EB, 10, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 8A, 06, 46, 88, 07, 47, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 72, ED, B8, 01, 00, 00, 00, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C0, 01, DB, 73, EF, 75, 09, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 73, E4, 31, C9, 83, E8, 03, 72, 0D, C1, E0, 08, 8A, 06, 46, 83, F0, FF, 74, 74, 89, C5, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C9, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C9, 75, 20, 41, 01, DB, 75...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.7653

Packer / compiler:
UPX 2.90LZMA

Code size:
1.1 MB (1,110,016 bytes)

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

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