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 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. The program is a setup application that uses the AirInstaller Download Manager installer. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as Google's Chrome web browser but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
AirInstaller Inc.  (signed by Air Software)

Product:
Google Chrome

Version:
2.0.3.98

MD5:
1a359138096824f1e2f7a358ce16669a

SHA-1:
766cfdffcf686f8825ce717a6d57d214b428c194

SHA-256:
810c7b2a935b9e5575e18b2358c626efb9c502119e9f463e2ed957f4bc46dd4f

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

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.

Description:
This 'download manager' is also considered bundleware, a utility designed to download software (possibly legitimate or opensource) and bundle it with a number of optional offers including ad-supported utilities, toolbars, shopping comparison tools and browser extensions.

Analysis date:
4/26/2024 12:18:17 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Air Software.AirSoftw.Bundler (M)
16.5.10.8

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:OTrqpKT1U6LSINS6ejHIlgeXHAmf+FnKVVfR266+:OacTuPjHIlgeXcIfR7

Entry address:
0x254390

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:
7.7652

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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