softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-security-essentials.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_microsoft-security-essentials.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 15 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:
1.41.8.10

MD5:
cba405e7086c9cacbfcc915f287c81e9

SHA-1:
53b0734ce4bb24caea784d62124a31caf3af597a

SHA-256:
e1d8e99c845e6d592f3da44772ade0f2e81a7909c59eda8961063630bc7aa5a2

Scanner detections:
15 / 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:
4/20/2024 2:18:36 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Dldr.Softonic.371032.1
7.11.189.16

AVG
BundleApp_r
2015.0.3279

Baidu Antivirus
Hacktool.Win32.Downloader
4.0.3.141126

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.498
9.0.1.05190

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader.G potentially unwanted application
7.0.302.0

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
14.11.24

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.183.13642

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
15.0.0.543

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2014.11.26.05

McAfee
Artemis!61E9349A656A
5600.6935

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.dfyzyn
0.28.2.62483

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.u
14.11.26.5

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
33862

File size:
362.4 KB (371,056 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.8.10

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_microsoft-security-essentials.exe

Digital Signature
Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/3/2013 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
10/3/2015 12:59:59 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:
11/5/2014 3:28:25 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:vYdVFmYJoHPJHGgWIfZ3BrIh4dG4f4lWPxdxYAvzoXw4ETBIByEcE/r+t7o644oc:a5oHPJHZWIB3uhUNny+EXtr+tx44oSQe

Entry address:
0xFA0A0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, B0, 4A, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 60, F5, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 3E, 89, 0F, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, 8F, F0, 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:
7.9614  (probably packed)

Code size:
320 KB (327,680 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-security-essentials.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.