cottageawp.exe

InstallIQ Installation Utility

InstallX, LLC

The InstallIQ (InstallX) installation program is a co-bundle stub that devlivers software monetization offers during installation. These offers include web browser toolbars and extensions. The application cottageawp.exe by InstallX 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 InstallIQ Installation Manager installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl.installiq.com.
Publisher:
InstallX, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.139.0.0

MD5:
7776b6956912188856d59393d44e7028

SHA-1:
59c7169e39515b5d3b0d310020739667aac4554f

SHA-256:
f1ba741229842784b10898346bcfb57d2f69114247acbd905997fb0f2d14c159

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
InstallIQ is a bundled offer download and install manager that is designed to show sponsored offers during installation that typically includes adware type toolbars, browser extensions and plugin or other potentially unwanted software along with the promised application.

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:
4/24/2024 7:48:15 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallX (M)
17.3.10.1

File size:
2 MB (2,048,592 bytes)

Product version:
2.139.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright ©2013 InstallX, LLC. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
InstallIQ.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallIQ Installation Manager

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
DigiCert Inc

Valid from:
3/20/2014 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
4/8/2015 8:00:00 AM

Subject:
CN="InstallX, LLC", O="InstallX, LLC", L=Sartell, S=Minnesota, C=US

Issuer:
CN=DigiCert Assured ID Code Signing CA-1, OU=www.digicert.com, O=DigiCert Inc, C=US

Serial number:
0F4D188192318D28510FC886CBB855E6

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/3/2014 3:51:18 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

Entry address:
0xF929

Entry point:
E8, A5, A1, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, D0, 5F, 58, 00, E8, E1, 60, 00, 00, E8, A9, 83, 00, 00, 0F, B7, F0, 6A, 02, E8, 38, A1, 00, 00, 59, B8, 4D, 5A, 00, 00, 66, 39, 05, 00, 00, 40, 00, 74, 04, 33, DB, EB, 33, A1, 3C, 00, 40, 00, 81, B8, 00, 00, 40, 00, 50, 45, 00, 00, 75, EB, B9, 0B, 01, 00, 00, 66, 39, 88, 18, 00, 40, 00, 75, DD, 33, DB, 83, B8, 74, 00, 40, 00, 0E, 76, 09, 39, 98, E8, 00, 40, 00, 0F, 95, C3, 89, 5D, E4, E8, C5, 7D, 00, 00, 85, C0, 75, 08, 6A, 1C, E8, DC, 00, 00, 00, 59, E8...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.7711

Packer / compiler:
PEQuake V0.06

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,297,408 bytes)

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

http://dl.installiq.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=0c08852f-567b-41f9-a63e-dce92532df39&VersionId=-1&ProductId=1286&partnercode=&shortname=cottageawp&trafficsrctype=ICN

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