hss-3.35-install-hss-409-conduit.exe

Hotspot Shield

AnchorFree Inc

This is the downloadable installer to AnchorFree's Hotsopt Shield, an ad-supported VPN client that integrates with the browser. The free version injects ads in the web browser. The installer includes a bundle of various unwanted software including the Conduit web extension and Search Protect which will modify the browser's search pages. The application hss-3.35-install-hss-409-conduit.exe by AnchorFree Inc 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 HotspotShield installer.
Publisher:
AnchorFree Inc  (signed and verified)

Product:
Hotspot Shield

Version:
3.35.0.23717

MD5:
c84124a532e4f8ca7b2d51e0af0ddb4d

SHA-1:
e50e36b07c184d3223f5c6582658def407434110

SHA-256:
b4db07e874be51bff05c5c98ea062c53c0575f685dd44766476437b767bb2a86

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Description:
This 'download manager' is also considered bundleware, a utility designed to download software (possibly legitimate or opensource) and bundle it with a number of optional offers including ad-supported utilities, toolbars, shopping comparison tools and browser extensions.

Analysis date:
4/26/2024 5:34:29 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.AnchorFree.Bundler.Meta (L)
16.6.10.9

File size:
8.6 MB (9,053,384 bytes)

Product version:
3.35.0.23717

File type:
Executable application (Win64 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
HotspotShield (using Nullsoft Install System)

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Subject:
CN=AnchorFree Inc, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=AnchorFree Inc, L=Sunnyvale, S=California, C=US

Serial number:
68A4A0CC448443C288A22A91D7F82126

File PE Metadata
OS bitness:
Win64

CTPH (ssdeep):
196608:YvbPfRep25H5RTciKoJySPHnlN5NRJbSgQinUzoK4jjcxR7K4E:YvbJep25HzgiNJySHnlJjbS5cjWKJ

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, 70, 85, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 80, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, B0, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, B8, EE, 7E, 00, E8, 67, 27, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, D0, ED, 7E, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 6C, 85, 40, 00, FF, 15, 80, 81, 40, 00, 68, 54, 85, 40, 00, 68, C0, 6D, 7E, 00, E8, 35, 26, 00, 00, FF, 15, B0, 80, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, F0, 83, 00, 57, E8, 23, 26, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

The file hss-3.35-install-hss-409-conduit.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 4 URLs.

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