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 19 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer. According to AVG, this software downloads additional adware offers during setup.
Publisher:
Softonic International  (signed and verified)

Product:
Application Installer

Version:
1.41.10.6

MD5:
e8511845f424b2e64a3a7c65f08bcb89

SHA-1:
dd3d74fc026a7691ab9f64de8c29076e4a3250f7

SHA-256:
c4c6d0dbf13c469ce2862c247c7fc85792a9b6abb0fbcf2834c755e8d384c84c

Scanner detections:
19 / 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:
4/25/2024 5:34:25 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Dldr.Softonic.373096
7.11.198.150

AVG
Potentially harmful program Downloader
2016.0.3231

Baidu Antivirus
Hacktool.Win32.Downloader
4.0.3.15112

Dr.Web
Trojan.Siggen6.26583
9.0.1.012

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
9.10938

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Agent
1/12/2015

F-Prot
W32/S-1281df00
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
15.1.24

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.188.14484

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.2651

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2015.01.12.07

McAfee
Artemis!E8511845F424
5600.6887

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.dlbbee
0.30.0.64448

Qihoo 360 Security
HEUR/QVM18.1.Malware.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.u
15.1.12.19

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
36184

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.231722
2.0.0.2021

File size:
364.4 KB (373,104 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.10.6

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:
7/2/2013 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
10/2/2015 7:59:59 PM

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:
12/16/2014 10:07:15 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:J4muAmRStto8gHBafdR3dSW6LyapvkJJIrXjL2opekgz6SpeoSYi3K0ZJGQ:JQAQSte/HOdRGmap8JATyrk5SgoSY18h

Entry address:
0xFD850

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, E0, 4A, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 30, F5, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 3E, B9, 0F, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, 43, F8, 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:
324 KB (331,776 bytes)

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