games.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 games.exe by InstallX has been detected as adware by 32 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the InstallIQ Installation Manager installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl.freeze.com and multiple other hosts.
Publisher:
InstallX, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.137.0.0

MD5:
9fadb5b0bb3af85186f6fe7a3ea33b58

SHA-1:
a4ec02e357d62181356986ec057d683db5f2d9df

SHA-256:
4b7a3a7f9d46a30a1e42cbf9cd873539acc6cfa5b66f05dcf101a15c64c8be22

Scanner detections:
32 / 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:
4/25/2024 11:30:02 PM UTC  (a few moments ago)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Adware.InstallIQ.G
515

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Downware
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.Installiq
2014.11.07

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/InstallIQ.Gen5
7.11.183.138

AVG
InstallIQ.F
2016.0.3029

Bitdefender
Adware.InstallIQ.G
1.0.20.1250

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6379

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.InstallIQ.B
17934

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.32
9.0.1.0214

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Adware.InstallIQ
8.15.09.07.01

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ (variant)
9.10682

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/InstallIQ
8/2/2015

G Data
Win32.Application.InstallIQ
15.8.25

herdProtect (fuzzy)
2015.9.7.13

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.SuspectCRC
t3scan.1.8.6.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.176.11451

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.NSIS.Agent
14.0.0.1641

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallIQ
v2015.08.02.06

McAfee
Artemis!F7ED23EEB258
5600.6685

MicroWorld eScan
Adware.InstallIQ.G
16.0.0.750

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Downware.cujxue
0.28.0.58394

nProtect
Adware.InstallIQ.G
14.01.30.01

Quick Heal
Downloader.NSIS.g28 (Not a Virus)
8.15.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallX.Installer (M)
15.8.2.18

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.InstallIQ!1.9E4F
23.00.65.15731

Sophos
InstallQ
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
PUP.InstallIQ/Variant
9715

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.R0CCC0OGP14
7.2.214

Trend Micro
TROJ_GEN.R0CCC0OGP14
10.465.02

Vba32 AntiVirus
Adware.InstallIQ.Downloader
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
InstallIQ Installer
34568

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.202215
2.0.0.1976

File size:
1.9 MB (2,038,864 bytes)

Product version:
2.137.0.0

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\games.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
DigiCert Inc

Valid from:
3/21/2013 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2014 7:00:00 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:
030985B5A39F75A13A497DAB8BF611F7

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
1/15/2014 5:02:13 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
49152:rAxzJ+YzkQ9EJER1wADchsnUJgYTckUUga:UKtJW1wkctJHr

Entry address:
0xF739

Entry point:
E8, B5, 88, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, 58, 44, 58, 00, E8, F1, 47, 00, 00, E8, B9, 6A, 00, 00, 0F, B7, F0, 6A, 02, E8, 48, 88, 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, D5, 64, 00, 00, 85, C0, 75, 08, 6A, 1C, E8, DC, 00, 00, 00, 59, E8...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.7721

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,291,776 bytes)

The file games.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 4 URLs.

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=034acb1c-d437-46f0-a553-3ecdf9e518d0&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=3e1209d4-2744-4356-8025-3f5290842d5f&shortname=games

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=621edebb-b81b-414d-8014-715257db5eef&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=a49cc42f-c200-40d4-ab8f-3c2c3bbf4d23&shortname=games

Remove games.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security