home

mwsSetup.exe

My Web Search Bar Installer

Mindspark Interactive Network

This is the installer stub for the Mindspark (MyWebSearch.com/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 mwsSetup.exe by Mindspark Interactive Network has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 27 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Mindspark Custom Setup installer. This version of the installer will bundle a Mindspark/MyWebSearch Toolbar, a potentially unwanted web browser extension.
Publisher:
MyWebSearch.com  (signed by Mindspark Interactive Network)

Product:
My Web Search Bar Installer

Version:
2, 0, 0, 11

MD5:
86a70f8c1e90229c98c020d928e1f736

SHA-1:
ad8f1c775a070997e2b479159248063a7ec3be33

SHA-256:
dad0f2e074f2e4043b404f62aa0ebbc51685594f4a354a37946fe3bdb9e5264e

Scanner detections:
27 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles the Mindspark (MyWebSearch/Ask) toolbar, a web browser extension that will modify a user's search and home pages.

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:
4/23/2024 9:05:34 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

AegisLab AV Signature
AdWare.W32.FunWeb
2.1.4+

Agnitum Outpost
Adware.Agent
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.MyWebSearch
2013.06.27

avast!
Win32:FunWeb-K [PUP]
2014.9-140412

AVG
AdInstaller.FunWeb
2015.0.3507

Bkav FE
W32.Clodf1c.Trojan
1.3.0.4959

Clam AntiVirus
Suspect.Adware.MWS
0.98/18155

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.WebToolbar.MyWebSearch
16500

Dr.Web
Adware.MyWebSearch.29
9.0.1.0220

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Riskware.Garbage!IK
8.14.08.08.02

ESET NOD32
Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch (variant)
8.8494

Fortinet FortiGate
W32/Toolbar_fam.NB
4/12/2014

F-Prot
W32/Mywebsearch.A.gen
v6.4.6.2.117

IKARUS anti.virus
not-a-virus:Garbage
t3scan.1.1.104.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.106.4822

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win32.FunWeb
14.0.0.4030

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.Mywebsearch.dilzk
0.28.0.58491

Norman
W32/WebSearch.UU
11.20140808

nProtect
Joke/W32.Screensaver.3700152
14.03.21.01

Qihoo 360 Security
Win32/Trojan.Hoax.b17
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.MindsparkInteractiveNetwork.I
14.8.8.2

Rising Antivirus
PE:Trojan.Win32.Generic.1275703B!309686331
23.00.65.14806

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.MyWebSearch
10435

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.RCBB1LA
7.2.220

Vba32 AntiVirus
AdWare.FunWeb
3.12.22.2

VIPRE Antivirus
MyWebSearch.J
19072

ViRobot
Adware.Screensaver.3700152.A
2011.4.7.4223

File size:
4 MB (4,142,520 bytes)

Product version:
2, 0, 0, 11

Copyright:
Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Original file name:
mwsSetup.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Mindspark Custom Setup

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Mindspark Interactive Network

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
5/30/2010 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
5/6/2012 7:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Mindspark Interactive Network, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Mindspark Interactive Network, L=White Plains, S=NewYork, C=US

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2009-2 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)09, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
41730EB0E6D92A476E16628A0DBEFB36

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
1/21/2012 12:13:54 AM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
6.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
98304:0Fo4arQh1XKR+odf+qrCfcGsgmqH9yhe3cWS:Ko4arQh1acodf+qpGssH9y4PS

Entry address:
0x34AF

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, EC, 44, 53, 56, 6A, 00, FF, 15, 28, 51, 40, 00, A3, FC, 69, 40, 00, FF, 15, 8C, 50, 40, 00, 8B, 1D, 88, 50, 40, 00, 8B, F0, 85, F6, 75, 04, 6A, FF, FF, D3, 8A, 06, 57, 8B, 3D, 60, 51, 40, 00, 3C, 22, 75, 1B, 56, FF, D7, 8B, F0, 8A, 06, 3C, 22, 74, 04, 84, C0, 75, F1, 80, 3E, 22, 75, 15, 56, FF, D7, 8B, F0, EB, 0E, 3C, 20, 7E, 0A, 56, FF, D7, 8B, F0, 80, 3E, 20, 7F, F6, 8A, 06, 84, C0, 74, 04, 3C, 20, 7E, E1, 83, 65, E8, 00, 8D, 45, BC, 50, FF, 15, 84, 50, 40, 00, E8, 2D, 00, 00, 00, F6, 45...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9702

Developed / compiled with:
Microsoft Visual C++

Code size:
16 KB (16,384 bytes)

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

http://ak.exe.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/mindspark/.../CursorManiaSetup2.3.98.9.ZCchr999.exe

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

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to www187.mindspark.com  (74.113.233.187:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to anx.mindspark.com  (74.113.233.187:80)

Remove mwsSetup.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
herdProtect is a second line of defense malware removal platform powered by 68 anti-malware engines in the cloud. Since no single anti-malware program is perfect 100% of the time, herdProtect utilizes a 'herd' of multiple engines to guarantee the widest coverage and the earliest possible detection.