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hotspot_shield.exe

Conduit Ltd.

The file belongs to the Conduit API platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and web browser extensions. The application hotspot_shield.exe by Conduit has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 5 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Conduit Setup Manager installer. It is also typically executed from an Internet Explorer cache folder. The file has been seen being downloaded from fft.conduit-download.com. While running, it connects to the Internet address cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com on port 80 using the HTTP protocol.
Publisher:
Conduit  (signed by Conduit Ltd.)

Description:
1.8.0.14

Version:
10.21.1.7

MD5:
115c87ddd3c209c02b88a85094958c33

SHA-1:
73d2db2d0c91064a119b8b794d82e44cb5665d0d

SHA-256:
0f3e3b8d15dadbf8288b6be7f0f78f6b2fa6b3deb4da11d4cb29a2dad98a6291

Scanner detections:
5 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles the Conduit Toolbar and/or Conduit Search Protect.

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:
5/5/2024 1:13:49 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Dr.Web
Adware.Conduit.6
9.0.1.0358

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Conduit.A
v2013.12.24.05

Reason Heuristics
PUP.18014.Conduit.O
14.8.7.22

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0814
7.2.358

VIPRE Antivirus
Conduit
23046

File size:
2.4 MB (2,541,896 bytes)

Copyright:
Conduit Ltd.

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Conduit Setup Manager (using Nullsoft Install System)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\hotspot_shield.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Conduit Ltd.

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/2/2013 4:00:00 PM

Valid to:
4/3/2016 4:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Conduit Ltd., OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Conduit Ltd., L=Ness Ziona, S=Israel, C=IL

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:
3A82654719D8F75B59134F7B66465210

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/10/2010 5:19:31 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
49152:UgCRhcOlRc2i3Cno0xFeyEGjVk6p0iVtWgeNCOkHPS5pp7yti9K7:UgCRKODl7eyEGjVXiibWgeNCvuvyoE7

Entry address:
0x354B

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, D8, 84, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B8, 80, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, B0, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 98, 06, 47, 00, E8, 67, 27, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, B0, 05, 47, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 1C, 86, 40, 00, FF, 15, 80, 81, 40, 00, 68, 04, 86, 40, 00, 68, A0, 85, 46, 00, E8, 35, 26, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 80, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, 10, 4C, 00, 57, E8, 23, 26, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9981

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
25 KB (25,600 bytes)

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

http://fft.conduit-download.com/52/156/CT1561552/Downloads/Firefox/Releases/10.21.1.7/.../hotspot_shield.exe

The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ude.conduit-data.com  (195.78.120.173:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (199.101.114.147:80)

 
http://offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com/DecisionEngine.ashx

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (54.243.251.51:80)

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