howtosimplified.cffa1fc6aafe48fea87b273c773ca0ec.exe

HowToSimplified

Mindspark Interactive Network

This is the installer stub for the Mindspark (Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc./Ask) browser toolbar which provides the offer to the end user to install the toolbar and set the browser's search, home page and new tab to an Ask.com search destination. The application howtosimplified.cffa1fc6aafe48fea87b273c773ca0ec.exe, “HowToSimplified Setup” by Mindspark Interactive Network has been detected as a potentially unwanted program 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 NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) installer.
Publisher:
Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc.  (signed by Mindspark Interactive Network)

Product:
HowToSimplified

Description:
HowToSimplified Setup

Version:
2.7.1.1000

MD5:
7423a81d29b7770a4d6fdc701f786f96

SHA-1:
0fa81ec5bdfa3a5506d72e69b1bf8b91e1a643a1

SHA-256:
5d1b2110a1634dffe9df59e1b10836f45477a1f7962d5123b8740c749b582f96

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

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.

Analysis date:
4/25/2024 10:34:15 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Mindspark (M)
16.10.24.19

File size:
366.4 KB (375,216 bytes)

Product version:
2.7.1.1000

Copyright:
© 2015 Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. An IAC Company. All rights reserved.

Trademarks:
® & ™ Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. An IAC Company. All rights reserved.

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\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\howtosimplified.cffa1fc6aafe48fea87b273c773ca0ec.exe

Digital Signature
Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
4/19/2015 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
6/18/2018 6:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Mindspark Interactive Network, O=Mindspark Interactive Network, L=Yonkers, S=New York, C=US

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:
438D4291E43C2DFFEEAAAEE5B6C070B5

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/24/2013 11:01:44 PM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
6.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:1bUTp1+eF6jdM+/87wBeat1RAAx94DqoJ/ijjXPRSDJikrHLAPS7EQRMuOBfA7m:1IOeW87wBe2Rf4DqosPRSDskrHMBQRHy

Entry address:
0x3229

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 14, C7, 44, 24, 10, D8, A2, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 1C, FF, 15, 34, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, 34, 81, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, AC, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 58, 4F, 43, 00, E8, 9F, 2E, 00, 00, A3, A4, 4E, 43, 00, 55, 8D, 44, 24, 34, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, 50, 55, 68, B8, B1, 42, 00, FF, 15, 7C, 81, 40, 00, 68, C0, A2, 40, 00, 68, A0, 3E, 43, 00, E8, 0A, 2B, 00, 00, FF, 15, 38, 81, 40, 00, BB, 00, F0, 43, 00, 50, 53, E8, F8, 2A, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9220

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
24.5 KB (25,088 bytes)

The file howtosimplified.cffa1fc6aafe48fea87b273c773ca0ec.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 50 URLs.

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.5d8b3d612a1c4d269d16b6e3f381a5e1.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.edea4bdbf5624812968fd5bad2dd7e1b.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.75d2ebd8a4944fa39959db446e459282.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.a9fc909667054e0b8cda7c2a9057d247.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.d0eaf1e642e447aba378061194c65eb2.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.b61afa83feb8436ca612dc717899ec33.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.5e913f900cfb440cb92de3d5ab16342f.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.91967a438da544bf8a8f9f0475dd7ea0.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.b50382c2df0449e79c569228b5e99703.exe

http://z.gametop.com/.../Cat-on-a-Diet.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.364989849ef249a4b2714065c620a67e.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.bdd67049c7bd423f8fa0684493d8ea4c.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.7a257d2e23044c00be8e2204ec80887b.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.1eef42fb688a460a85d64aac9f69cc4c.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.aee2a7192c254d40bcf57bac51d462da.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.ab01c6351c3545288ab74cee87acac68.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.70a048ebf6574829ac3ee0924beead38.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.f8104ef8ef4d4e1fbd6eda9f442a8227.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.09f385c007ca4b9980d5bf970b4cfc2b.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.8dc66b977b8644b1bf6d44664d8dd196.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.6adb4ea3e5a44258993e16cbce93efce.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.bdc9d3d69b754134a43ad523156fda6b.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.b06be3cbe4004c3aaf7530b25270b761.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.c11af869b44540fea2494c07991e0a3d.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.6d1207d4d8904bd9a4d416499bbd4181.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.691c8365d1d647fba1f72ff4900d44f5.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.e6921d3a26ae47aabd706376aa8e674b.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.ec76b87e834643dc9a925568be725028.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.34f15565cec248028d06fcd35b8d135d.exe

http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/vicinio/installers/v2/211736991.TTAB02.1/nsis/693280-TTAB02.1/161019121944924/.../HowToSimplified.42af6c0f76004b5fb974241b08bbe52a.exe

Latest 30 of 504 download URLs

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

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to 74.113.237.180.lv.iaccap.com  (74.113.237.180:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to 74.113.233.180.df.iaccap.com  (74.113.233.180:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to a23-217-197-120.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.217.197.120:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to 74.113.235.138.dub.iaccap.com  (74.113.235.138:443)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 74.113.233.192.df.iaccap.com  (74.113.233.192:80)

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to a23-34-216-244.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.34.216.244:443)

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to a23-45-196-186.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.45.196.186:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to a95-101-18-100.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (95.101.18.100:443)

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP):

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to a23-205-211-95.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.205.211.95:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to a23-198-78-3.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.198.78.3:443)

TCP (HTTP):