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softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-security-essentials.exe

Application Installer

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-security-essentials.exe by Softonic International 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 Softonic Downloader installer.
Publisher:
Softonic International  (signed and verified)

Product:
Application Installer

Version:
1.41.9.5

MD5:
68e38057f3e24a28b1cc1c5d73b0b2d6

SHA-1:
f8f5ef3c8592a9665e22ea19c778704e1ccdff43

SHA-256:
3e6cd90958a344e62f2026f4b0a3dd2066d3f4dda66e25776750f7c481ad0767

Scanner detections:
1 / 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:
4/16/2024 4:33:12 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softonic.Bundler (M)
16.6.25.2

File size:
364.7 KB (373,424 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.9.5

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2014

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-security-essentials.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:
12/3/2014 6:05:28 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:ZOOgLCSE22YQcOuwt4xRb7obMvp5lAbSxZMOqAXEJVoSqiFB2IaF:cLGSE2f178MvKbDOQVoSqG+

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, 40, 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:
7.9609  (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 URL.

http://microsoft-security-essentials.ar.softonic.com/.../3tjQyeLV3cjDp-Hw3sCixsiGa5-flaeKpqChlJk=

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