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hotspot_shield.exe

Toolbar

ClientConnect LTD

The file belongs to the ClientConnect (Conduit/Perion) platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and browser add-ons. The application hotspot_shield.exe, “Hotspot_Shield Toolbar” by ClientConnect has been detected as adware by 22 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from iet.tbccint.com. While running, it connects to the Internet address cms.dmccint.com on port 80 using the HTTP protocol.
Publisher:
ClientConnect Ltd.  (signed by ClientConnect LTD)

Product:
Toolbar

Description:
Hotspot_Shield Toolbar

Version:
6.20.0.10

MD5:
efac1d61a23cfc4ef0fc274e030a7022

SHA-1:
ee99a322480bebef9de1f447f02ef2e9bf97fba1

SHA-256:
caf614447ff508a16fa5a27d3246fe15843b3013bc77e1fc6880a1d49c374e4f

Scanner detections:
22 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
This component is distributed and installed with the Conduit/Perion Toolbar platform.

Analysis date:
4/23/2024 5:57:06 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
Riskware.Agent
7.1.1

AVG
Toolbar.Conduit
2015.0.3247

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.Conduit
4.0.3.141227

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Conduit.~A
19879

Dr.Web
Adware.Conduit.45
9.0.1.0361

ESET NOD32
Win32/ClientConnect (variant)
8.10607

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Agent
12/27/2014

G Data
Win32.Adware.Conduit
14.12.24

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.Toolbar.Conduit
t3scan.1.7.8.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.184.13741

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.2732

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.ClientConnect
v2014.12.27.01

McAfee
Artemis!DB041698F851
5600.6903

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Nsis.Downloader.ddbdbi
0.28.2.62841

Panda Antivirus
PUP/Conduit.A
14.12.27.01

Qihoo 360 Security
HEUR/QVM42.0.Malware.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Quick Heal
Downloader.NSIS.r5 (Not a Virus)
12.14.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Toolbar.ClientConnect.O
14.12.27.13

Sophos
Conduit Search Protect
4.98

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GE.4DCE9EB6
7.2.361

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.0

VIPRE Antivirus
Conduit
34172

File size:
3.2 MB (3,381,856 bytes)

Product version:
6.20.0.10

Copyright:
© 2014 ClientConnect Ltd.

Original file name:
Toolbar

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System)

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\inetcache\content.ie5\fyugz5rl\hotspot_shield.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
ClientConnect LTD

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
2/3/2014 3:00:00 AM

Valid to:
2/5/2016 2:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=ClientConnect LTD, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, OU=Trovi TB, O=ClientConnect 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:
43E7738E282F77369A5A4C0ED31A3C9F

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/10/2010 3:19:31 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
49152:RQT4R13fbIfwxlD9VhfePa1ezXfAEVHFKOcVWmj66vR2/2JpiymnIxBWG/:Ri4RRfbI4xnGYerfAEJQVzsuJbj/

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:
7.9989

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://iet.tbccint.com/52/156/CT1561552/Downloads/IE/Releases/6.20.0.10/.../Hotspot_Shield.exe

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

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to cms.dmccint.com  (23.67.242.80:80)

 
http://cms.dmccint.com/DynamicOffer/15503670/15524793/?mainofferId=15500236&CurrentStep=2&TotalSteps=4&DownloadBrowser=IE&CType=-1&UserMode=-1&DMVersion=1.3.5.55.15523659.01&Language=US-EN

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