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pdfreadersetup.exe

Spigot, Inc.

This component is part of the Spigot browser add-on, a web browser addition that is designed to modify the core search provider in order to redirect search queries through partner portals. The application pdfreadersetup.exe by Spigot has been detected as adware 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 Spigot Setup installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from download.cnet.com.
Publisher:
Spigot, Inc.  (signed and verified)

MD5:
1c414fe1583477692d56edccc6495265

SHA-1:
62e588c177a0424d6b1045d1b0fae26916b605a5

SHA-256:
feb7f60bb855b3c272b7972b32a9a8d2e76697c0af40b0301aba7d11c4e937e0

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

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:
6/29/2025 6:11:56 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Spigot (M)
17.2.21.23

File size:
225.7 KB (231,072 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
Spigot Setup

Language:
Language Neutral

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Spigot, Inc.

Authority:
Starfield Technologies, Inc.

Valid from:
11/25/2014 11:12:04 AM

Valid to:
11/15/2015 1:47:06 AM

Subject:
CN="Spigot, Inc.", O="Spigot, Inc.", L=Incline Village, S=Nevada, C=US

Issuer:
CN=Starfield Secure Certificate Authority - G2, OU=http://certs.starfieldtech.com/repository/, O="Starfield Technologies, Inc.", L=Scottsdale, S=Arizona, C=US

Serial number:
69F457F75D81

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/6/2009 12:50:46 AM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
6.0

Entry address:
0x323C

Entry point:
81, EC, 80, 01, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 33, DB, 57, 89, 5C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, 30, 91, 40, 00, 33, F6, C6, 44, 24, 14, 20, FF, 15, 30, 70, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 70, 40, 00, 53, FF, 15, 7C, 72, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 58, 3F, 42, 00, E8, 09, 2C, 00, 00, A3, A4, 3E, 42, 00, 53, 8D, 44, 24, 34, 68, 60, 01, 00, 00, 50, 53, 68, 58, F4, 41, 00, FF, 15, 58, 71, 40, 00, 68, B8, 91, 40, 00, 68, A0, 36, 42, 00, E8, BC, 28, 00, 00, FF, 15, B0, 70, 40, 00, BF, 00, 90, 42, 00, 50, 57, E8, AA, 28, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.0441

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
23 KB (23,552 bytes)

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

http://download.cnet.com/.../?appid=75012479

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