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. 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:
2.0.4.11

MD5:
801821906da6675dab909a7accadb6c8

SHA-1:
d4950346c578ca107cd265be0a691e241be3aa2b

SHA-256:
56a08024d554b3a3fd663b9709d7748bd1430314fefcb84024581ead1bf5cb94

Scanner detections:
31 / 68

Status:
Adware

Description:
This is an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
4/16/2024 3:21:13 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.4
362

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.AirAdInstaller
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
ADWARE/Adware.Gen7
7.11.140.88

avast!
PUP-gen [PUP]
2014.9-160208

AVG
Adware Generic_r
2017.0.2840

Bitdefender
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.4
1.0.20.195

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
Trojan.SMSSend.4204
9.0.1.039

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller
8.16.02.08.04

ESET NOD32
Win32/AirAdInstaller.A potentially unwanted application
10.7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/AirInstall.A.gen
v6.4.6.5.141

F-Secure
Riskware.Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler
11.2016-08-02_2

G Data
Win32.Adware.Airadinstaller
16.2.24

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.AirInst
t3scan.2.2.29

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.176.11613

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.AirAdInstaller
14.0.0.694

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.AirInstaller
v2016.02.08.04

MicroWorld eScan
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.4
17.0.0.117

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.AirAdInstaller.cxsehk
0.28.0.60253

nProtect
Trojan-Clicker/W32.Agent.1114024
14.04.22.01

Panda Antivirus
Adware/AirInstaller
16.02.08.04

Qihoo 360 Security
Malware.QVM01.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Quick Heal
Adware.AirAdInstaller.C5
2.16.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Air Software.AirSoftware.Bundler (M)
16.2.8.4

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.Airinstall!1.9C4C
23.00.65.16206

Sophos
AirInstaller
4.98

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 (1,117,096 bytes)

Product version:
2.0.4.11

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:
1/25/2013 3:00:00 AM

Valid to:
3/27/2015 2:59:59 AM

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:
7/15/2013 7:25:53 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:23n+dxJkJjwBGxw8ckyTiyMY1BE5v+fY7b/5u:5VyMBGxrc9MA4CY7bo

Entry address:
0x250260

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 40, 54, 00, 8D, BE, 00, D0, 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:
7.7630

Packer / compiler:
UPX 2.90LZMA

Code size:
1.1 MB (1,101,824 bytes)

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

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