searchprotector.exe

Conduit Ltd.

The file belongs to the Conduit API platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and web browser extensions. The application searchprotector.exe by Conduit 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 Conduit Setup Manager installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from d2df952917ef46b39b5b8fc017e3eb02.integration.download.conduit-services.com. While running, it connects to the Internet address cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com on port 80 using the HTTP protocol.
Publisher:
Conduit Ltd.  (signed and verified)

MD5:
008463d672b21cb378e1a6652949be64

SHA-1:
c4118a65fdfe6881fcb017fa061235d2aa2464c1

SHA-256:
76b3cd9f0baff729e330a84301c8136040c1703f4c7a200d129e5b116a868734

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles the Conduit Toolbar and/or Conduit Search Protect.

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:
4/18/2024 6:20:50 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Conduit.P
14.8.7.22

File size:
1 MB (1,092,808 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Conduit Setup Manager (using Nullsoft Install System)

Language:
Language Neutral

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/3/2013 2:00:00 AM

Valid to:
4/4/2016 2:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Conduit Ltd., OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Conduit Ltd., L=Ness Ziona, S=Israel, C=IL

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:
3A82654719D8F75B59134F7B66465210

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
2/24/2012 9:19:59 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:oCUTSudPwwHkqEeruBxq5N4MYoDxjZuxQhUKN4HQ2TFQugMLx1uapR/K4:GThuwHpENkcM/1jZ0CN4w2SulnK4

Entry address:
0x39E3

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, D8, 91, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B8, 80, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, C0, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, B8, 2E, 47, 00, E8, 37, 2A, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, D0, 2D, 47, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 1C, 93, 40, 00, FF, 15, 84, 81, 40, 00, 68, 04, 93, 40, 00, 68, C0, AD, 46, 00, E8, 19, 27, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 80, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, 30, 4C, 00, 57, E8, 07, 27, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9799

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
28 KB (28,672 bytes)

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

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

TCP (HTTP):

 
http://offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com/DecisionEngine.ashx

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (54.243.251.51:80)

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