chrome_updater.exe

File Validated

This is the InstallMetrix bundle installer which bundles applications with offers for additional 3rd party software, mostly unwanted adware, and may be installed with minimal consent. The application chrome_updater.exe by File Validated 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 InstallMetrix Software 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:
File Validated  (signed and verified)

MD5:
367cbd7675494752f2c954840bae1608

SHA-1:
1f0ebc632c707c92c30045d54970c2461c425fd0

SHA-256:
f53962d58a8c775c69e71844dc730f5ce30049695564d2276a97b91a80edf47c

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 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:
5/7/2025 10:19:13 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallMetrix.FileValidated (M)
16.2.3.12

File size:
1.1 MB (1,146,608 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallMetrix Software

Language:
English (United Kingdom)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
thawte, Inc.

Valid from:
2/26/2015 4:00:00 PM

Valid to:
2/27/2016 3:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=File Validated, OU=File Validated, O=File Validated, L=San Francisco, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=thawte SHA256 Code Signing CA, O="thawte, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
1C96D72469336B0857534EE1D7E9701D

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/7/2015 3:02:07 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:Ftb20pkaCqT5TBWgNQ7aVQ8P/t0mjcl/qe1Fycn96AJ:2Vg5tQ7aVpP/t0mAjWc95J

Entry address:
0x25F74

Entry point:
E8, 6A, CE, 00, 00, E9, 7F, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, 57, 56, 8B, 74, 24, 10, 8B, 4C, 24, 14, 8B, 7C, 24, 0C, 8B, C1, 8B, D1, 03, C6, 3B, FE, 76, 08, 3B, F8, 0F, 82, 68, 03, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 01, 73, 07, F3, A4, E9, 17, 03, 00, 00, 81, F9, 80, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 82, CE, 01, 00, 00, 8B, C7, 33, C6, A9, 0F, 00, 00, 00, 75, 0E, 0F, BA, 25, 70, A3, 4B, 00, 01, 0F, 82, DA, 04, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 00, 0F, 83, A7, 01, 00, 00, F7, C7, 03, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 85, B8, 01, 00, 00, F7, C6, 03, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.0585

Code size:
557.5 KB (570,880 bytes)

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

Remove chrome_updater.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security