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precache.exe

Ask.com

This installer is part of the Ask.com (APN) network which will install the Ask.com branded toolbar or browser extension which will take control of the web browser's search functions. The application precache.exe by Ask.com 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 APN Stub installer. This file is typically installed with the program Ask Toolbar by Ask.com which is a potentially unwanted software program.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

MD5:
2365fcf094c3f5ac0ffef66d87c97193

SHA-1:
d6949666bb804d439c6ea8023bacedd7e28548ff

SHA-256:
5736770428d9dbd13368f6162e573b949baee262e809c1177f55b4b1e6c90a59

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:
4/26/2024 7:31:08 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.Installer (M)
16.2.5.15

File size:
69.2 KB (70,824 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Common path:
C:\Program Files\ask.com\precache.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/20/2011 2:00:00 AM

Valid to:
6/19/2014 1:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Ask.com, OU=Distribution, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Ask.com, L=Oakland, S=California, 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:
0965F2AC7236C7E1BDCA44ED139B273A

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
9/8/2011 11:53:20 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
768:PFls5kKPkMZuGhJsdyroIL8o9+dxPvIUzr1Pnz1x61LAg8W6WVUd58liRhs7DLmx:PF2QMZnjkILyZHZ1xC+dpRhmvmGibj

Entry address:
0x26D3

Entry point:
E8, 77, 28, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, CC, 8B, 54, 24, 0C, 8B, 4C, 24, 04, 85, D2, 74, 69, 33, C0, 8A, 44, 24, 08, 84, C0, 75, 16, 81, FA, 00, 01, 00, 00, 72, 0E, 83, 3D, C8, FD, 40, 00, 00, 74, 05, E9, FD, 2D, 00, 00, 57, 8B, F9, 83, FA, 04, 72, 31, F7, D9, 83, E1, 03, 74, 0C, 2B, D1, 88, 07, 83, C7, 01, 83, E9, 01, 75, F6, 8B, C8, C1, E0, 08, 03, C1, 8B, C8, C1, E0, 10, 03, C1, 8B, CA, 83, E2, 03, C1, E9, 02, 74, 06, F3, AB, 85, D2, 74, 0A, 88, 07, 83, C7, 01, 83, EA, 01, 75, F6, 8B, 44, 24, 08...
 
[+]

Code size:
35 KB (35,840 bytes)

The file precache.exe has been discovered within the following program.

Ask Toolbar  by Ask.com
The Ask Toolbar is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. Ask.
help.ask.com/link/portal/30015/30018/Article/1/How-do-I-remove-the-Ask-com-Toolbar
81% remove it
 
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