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search_protect.exe

StartNow Search Update

Zugo Ltd

The application search_protect.exe by Zugo 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 Nullsoft Install System installer. It is set to automatically start when a user logs into Windows via the current user run registry key under the display name ‘StartNow Search Protect’.
Publisher:
Zugo Ltd  (signed and verified)

Product:
StartNow Search Update

Version:
1.0

MD5:
174c7ce594f051ea1b0735095e93c86c

SHA-1:
7571fe147e5790814da70b9849f8c061a18be6ba

SHA-256:
c41281c44f5f1d47893744a09cf45edb855a049de745951b99970e5b212ea267

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:
4/24/2024 10:52:56 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Zugo (M)
16.9.9.10

File size:
727.9 KB (745,368 bytes)

Product version:
1.0

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
Nullsoft Install System

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\Program Files\startnow toolbar\search_protect.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Zugo Ltd

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
1/30/2013 4:00:00 PM

Valid to:
1/31/2016 3:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Zugo Ltd, O=Zugo Ltd, STREET=PO Box 36, STREET=1st Floor, STREET=37 Broad St., L=St Helier, S=Jersey, PostalCode=JE4 9NU, C=JE

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

Serial number:
00FA860DF2AC924FC31176C787706F3824

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/7/2011 6:34:40 PM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.56

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:Mur6DZL19RaVpqUdHO6zFVxwAabiBVCVGkZMmOo82krkxI1mPP9Ts:M1ZRYfJZzbUmO55Od2VHHls

Entry address:
0x4040

Entry point:
55, 89, E5, 57, 56, 53, 81, EC, AC, 01, 00, 00, E8, B3, 52, 00, 00, C7, 04, 24, 01, 80, 00, 00, E8, 5F, 4F, 00, 00, 56, C7, 04, 24, 00, 00, 00, 00, E8, C2, 52, 00, 00, 53, A3, 50, 5B, 42, 00, C7, 04, 24, 08, 00, 00, 00, E8, 3E, 32, 00, 00, A3, 00, 5C, 42, 00, 8D, 85, 84, FE, FF, FF, 51, C7, 44, 24, 10, 00, 00, 00, 00, C7, 44, 24, 0C, 60, 01, 00, 00, 89, 44, 24, 08, C7, 44, 24, 04, 00, 00, 00, 00, C7, 04, 24, A4, B2, 40, 00, E8, EC, 51, 00, 00, 83, EC, 14, C7, 44, 24, 04, A5, B2, 40, 00, C7, 04, 24, 30, 5C...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9112  (probably packed)

Code size:
33 KB (33,792 bytes)

Startup File (User Run)
Registry location:
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Name:
StartNow Search Protect

Command:
"C:\Program Files\startnow toolbar\search_protect.exe" \report \protect \relay


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