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softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-photo-story.exe

Softonic Downloader

Softonic International

This is the Download Manager 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_microsoft-photo-story.exe by Softonic International has been detected as adware by 16 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from sd-cf.en.softonic.com and multiple other hosts. While running, it connects to the Internet address static.sd.softonic.com on port 80 using the HTTP protocol.
Publisher:
Softonic  (signed by Softonic International)

Product:
Softonic Downloader

Version:
1.41.0.0

MD5:
b834d6b8fda9f0e0d58174b8bb3d8a73

SHA-1:
6747c162ace31df9e36f350ff8ed174ebe916da5

SHA-256:
ec26fb015f1b0b0ed26c0edd5a1ba017ec7a197aca697524190fb3bef6f1b270

Scanner detections:
16 / 68

Status:
Adware

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:
4/26/2024 3:36:47 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.1485

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Agent.SOFE
17962

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.4164
9.0.1.0217

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader.G potentially unwanted application
8.7.0.302.0

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Softonicdownloader
8/5/2014

F-Prot
W32/Softonic.C.gen
v6.4.7.1.166

herdProtect (fuzzy)
variant of softonicdownloader_pour_tvuplayer.exe (Adware)
2014.9.12.21

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.Softonic
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.178.12278

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic.A
v2014.08.05.07

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.m
14.8.5.19

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Heur!1.9E03
23.00.65.14803

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Softonic/Variant
10439

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0530
7.2.217

VIPRE Antivirus
Threat.4786139
29800

File size:
349.3 KB (357,720 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2014

Original file name:
SoftonicDownloader.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-photo-story.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:
5/21/2014 6:24:17 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:Nq/DXvPnQXWYyl8i3vi38Jg8gD8DeBw9qxoIM85YVAem0elVoSFIyLK0ZJG+:NqTnQVSvi3RD8Daw9bINe9elVoSFE8P

Entry address:
0xEED40

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 30, 4A, 00, 8D, BE, 00, E0, F5, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, ED, C8, 0E, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, 3D, BD, 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:
7.9606  (probably packed)

Code size:
308 KB (315,392 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-photo-story.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 3 URLs.

http://sd-cf.en.softonic.com/39000/39082/.../SoftonicDownloader_for_microsoft-photo-story.exe

http://dplus.en.softonic.com/ud-client/39000/.../SoftonicDownloader_for_microsoft-photo-story.exe

http://microsoft-photo-story.en.softonic.com/universaldownloader-launch

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

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to static.sd.softonic.com  (46.28.209.70:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to screenshots.com.sftcdn.net  (46.28.209.55:80)

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.