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santaclaus.exe

InstallIQ Installation Utility

InstallX, LLC

The InstallIQ (InstallX) installation program is a co-bundle stub that devlivers software monetization offers during installation. These offers include web browser toolbars and extensions. The application santaclaus.exe by InstallX 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 InstallIQ Installation Manager installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl5.iq9download.com.
Publisher:
InstallX, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.136.8.0

MD5:
d9d12572dddf0418dcfba95d6fcd5d9a

SHA-1:
da5bf763726f75e63cf53cb9f8b8f3293012d0f3

SHA-256:
ddc824e53d4ee4a38837829c251723326092b240d324ca731aebb568ed3ee439

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
InstallIQ is a bundled offer download and install manager that is designed to show sponsored offers during installation that typically includes adware type toolbars, browser extensions and plugin or other potentially unwanted software along with the promised application.

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 3:58:20 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallX (M)
16.8.7.7

File size:
1.9 MB (2,037,328 bytes)

Product version:
2.136.8.0

Copyright:
Copyright ©2013 InstallX, LLC. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
InstallIQ.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallIQ Installation Manager

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
InstallX, LLC

Authority:
DigiCert Inc

Valid from:
3/21/2013 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2014 7:00:00 AM

Subject:
CN="InstallX, LLC", O="InstallX, LLC", L=Sartell, S=Minnesota, C=US

Issuer:
CN=DigiCert Assured ID Code Signing CA-1, OU=www.digicert.com, O=DigiCert Inc, C=US

Serial number:
030985B5A39F75A13A497DAB8BF611F7

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/19/2013 10:55:34 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:ivUyaWISSDYmLg3hQw4SBxZEPnPYTXNTdsOF9QTKpKgtIMxk4pK+6ffATukTFg0k:ivEhoDoITXtWK9QTkIN4QvffATpXXUgM

Entry address:
0xF739

Entry point:
E8, B5, 88, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, 08, 43, 58, 00, E8, F1, 47, 00, 00, E8, B9, 6A, 00, 00, 0F, B7, F0, 6A, 02, E8, 48, 88, 00, 00, 59, B8, 4D, 5A, 00, 00, 66, 39, 05, 00, 00, 40, 00, 74, 04, 33, DB, EB, 33, A1, 3C, 00, 40, 00, 81, B8, 00, 00, 40, 00, 50, 45, 00, 00, 75, EB, B9, 0B, 01, 00, 00, 66, 39, 88, 18, 00, 40, 00, 75, DD, 33, DB, 83, B8, 74, 00, 40, 00, 0E, 76, 09, 39, 98, E8, 00, 40, 00, 0F, 95, C3, 89, 5D, E4, E8, D5, 64, 00, 00, 85, C0, 75, 08, 6A, 1C, E8, DC, 00, 00, 00, 59, E8...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.7722

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,290,752 bytes)

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

http://dl5.iq9download.com/lm/.../santaclaus.exe

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