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msnweather.gadget.exe

Somoto Ltd.

Somoto uses a monetization platform known as the 'Better Installer' to provide the ability of 3rd party developers to bundle various adware packages through an affiliate pay-per-install program. The application msnweather.gadget.exe, “Powered by BetterInstaller” by Somoto has been detected as adware by 45 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Somoto BetterInstaller installer. Includes the Somoto BetterInstaller, an adware installer that will bundle offers for additional third party applications, mostly adware toolbars, with legitimate softare and may be installed without adequate user consent.
Publisher:
Somoto Ltd.  (signed and verified)

Description:
Powered by BetterInstaller

Version:
2.1.0.0

MD5:
75b3e9d89b9aa77a54ac1aaedc1ba420

SHA-1:
c14d7375ebec56a2a4ddd4fe0d7455b86716a872

SHA-256:
030a3fc6092da53c0b0a5e9b596c907264518e380aa9d54f4ef6f7405d45cfb2

Scanner detections:
45 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
Uses the Somoto 'BetterInstaller' to bundle additional (unwanted) software during install without adequate consent.

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:
4/16/2024 3:31:03 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
919

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Somoto
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.BetterInstaller
2014.07.29

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Somoto.Gen2
7.11.164.86

avast!
Win32:Somoto-F [PUP]
2014.9-140731

AVG
AdInstaller.Somoto
2015.0.3397

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.Somoto
4.0.3.14731

Bitdefender
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
1.0.20.1060

Bkav FE
W32.Clodf92.Trojan
1.3.0.4959

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/21411

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Somoto.A
19012

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.1184
9.0.1.0212

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto
8.10170

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Somoto
7/31/2014

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Application.Bundler.Somoto
11.2014-31-07_5

G Data
Application.Bundler.Somoto
14.7.24

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.BetterInstaller
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.181.12872

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.NSIS.Agent
14.0.0.3479

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto
v2014.07.31.02

MicroWorld eScan
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
15.0.0.636

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.cruvhh
0.28.2.61148

Panda Antivirus
PUP/MultiToolbar.A
14.07.31.02

Qihoo 360 Security
Win32/Virus.Downloader.832
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
PUP.BetterInstaller.Somoto.Q
14.8.7.17

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto
10451

Trend Micro House Call
HV_INSTOOLBAR_CA2528AD.TOMC
7.2.212

Vba32 AntiVirus
Signed-AdWare.BetterInternet.SomotoLtd
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
BetterInstaller
31718

File size:
159.6 KB (163,392 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Somoto BetterInstaller

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\msnweather.gadget.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Somoto Ltd.

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
9/20/2011 8:00:00 AM

Valid to:
9/20/2014 7:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Somoto Ltd., O=Somoto Ltd., STREET=PO Box 58096, L=Tel Aviv, S=--, PostalCode=61580, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=COMODO Code Signing CA 2, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
00841D099D16B738F34172FEEFE1D2574F

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/17/2010 5:14:12 PM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.56

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:+22ihA0m3BJf0AI5c6lLULlk7gNo7uPf7OD0PHK8dhYmmV8z5vH0:xA0m3T0AJ6lYBG3abOiHHdOV8dvU

Entry address:
0x39AC

Entry point:
55, 89, E5, 57, 56, 53, 81, EC, 7C, 01, 00, 00, E8, 97, 46, 00, 00, 83, EC, 0C, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, E8, 42, 43, 00, 00, 6A, 00, E8, AB, 46, 00, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 88, 4C, 42, 00, E8, B1, 28, 00, 00, 6A, 00, 68, 60, 01, 00, 00, A3, 38, 4D, 42, 00, 8D, 85, 90, FE, FF, FF, 50, 6A, 00, 68, A4, A2, 40, 00, E8, F0, 45, 00, 00, 83, EC, 0C, 68, A5, A2, 40, 00, 68, 68, 4D, 42, 00, E8, EF, 2A, 00, 00, 83, C4, 18, E8, FE, 42, 00, 00, 52, 52, 50, 68, 00, D0, 42, 00, E8, DA, 2A, 00, 00, 57, 6A, 00, E8, 39, 42, 00, 00, 83...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.5880

Code size:
28.5 KB (29,184 bytes)

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

http://www.thoosje.com/Windows-7-gadgets/.../MSNWeather.gadget.exe

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