home

softonicdownloader_for_ares.exe

Application Installer

Softonic International

This is the Download Manager localized to Spanish that bundles the original software from the Softonic.com web site along with additional offers, mostly ad-supported browser extensions and utilities. While the original product is most likely clean, the Softonic Downloader is considered a PUP. The application softonicdownloader_for_ares.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 13 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer.
Publisher:
Softonic International  (signed and verified)

Product:
Application Installer

Version:
1.41.5.1

MD5:
7cd4fddc2f97ae2490a36727a73ca554

SHA-1:
6835319f3a12bd1eecd41e89f04dc2f498ea66a4

SHA-256:
5104f68eee015a36ca3c2f8e15d2f559f104691f2b3538f10083ffacb0e8f3d1

Scanner detections:
13 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Softonic Downloader is a download and install manager that provides users to the Softonic web site the ability to download 3rd-party software. During the installation the installer will show sponsored offers such as adware type toolbars and web browser extensions as well as other potentially unwanted applications. This type of software is typically known as an adware co-bundler. The downloader does not modify the original software.

Description:
This is also known as bundleware, or downloadware, which is an downloader designed to simply deliver ad-supported offers in the setup routine of an otherwise legitimate software.

Analysis date:
4/19/2024 7:46:21 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

AVG
Adware BundleApp_r
2015.0.3353

Baidu Antivirus
Hacktool.Win32.Downloader
4.0.3.14913

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader.G potentially unwanted application
8.7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/A-e1336866
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
14.9.24

herdProtect (fuzzy)
variant of softonicdownloader_for_funny-voice.exe (PUP)
2014.11.8.23

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.SoftSonicDownloader
t3scan.1.7.8.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.183.13358

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.3259

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2014.09.13.05

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.BB
14.9.13.4

VIPRE Antivirus
Threat.4786139
32938

File size:
359.1 KB (367,744 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.5.1

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2014

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Language:
Spanish (Spain, International Sort)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Softonic International

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/3/2013 3:00:00 AM

Valid to:
10/3/2015 2:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Softonic International, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Softonic International, L=Barcelona, S=Barcelona, C=ES

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:
67C1FF44C765ABDA26027A6DCA52BA11

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
9/10/2014 5:42:10 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:xRdwyZ+TWtnQGj5faiVoHORtZ3P1SlKxhr3N9aSuil7MC0rbQJHBoS9aIB2IaX:bl+IrVfavORr4lUd9aTtYJhoS9DY

Entry address:
0xF72C0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 90, 4A, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 80, F5, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 27, 59, 0F, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, BD, E2, 04, 00, 56, 83, C3, 04, 53, 50, C7, 03, 03, 00, 02, 00, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 55, 57, 56, 53, 83, EC, 7C, 8B, 94, 24, 90, 00, 00, 00, C7, 44, 24, 74, 00, 00, 00, 00, C6, 44, 24, 73, 00, 8B, AC, 24, 9C, 00, 00, 00, 8D, 42, 04, 89, 44, 24, 78, B8, 01, 00, 00, 00, 0F, B6, 4A, 02, 89, C3, D3, E3, 89, D9, 49, 89, 4C, 24, 6C, 0F, B6, 4A...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9615  (probably packed)

Code size:
316 KB (323,584 bytes)

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

http://ares.ar.softonic.com/.../3tjQyeLV3cjDp-Hw3sCixsiGa5-flZ-Mp6OfmJY=

Remove softonicdownloader_for_ares.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
herdProtect is a second line of defense malware removal platform powered by 68 anti-malware engines in the cloud. Since no single anti-malware program is perfect 100% of the time, herdProtect utilizes a 'herd' of multiple engines to guarantee the widest coverage and the earliest possible detection.