softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-visual-basic.exe

Softonic Downloader

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-visual-basic.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 18 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer.
Publisher:
Softonic   (signed by Softonic International)

Product:
Softonic Downloader

Version:
1, 40, 1, 0

MD5:
a4edcba26e74891183d39a2870ecdf0e

SHA-1:
de3c619634c483ca6ddf835fd47e011d86e80ed8

SHA-256:
9c7f1f3ac6e578f19f60c8f2b91a6ca76bd04b2d1a01fd95523a4775af5ac7e3

Scanner detections:
18 / 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:
4/26/2024 4:26:15 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.14818

Bkav FE
W32.Clod9a3.Trojan
1.3.0.4261

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Agent.SOFE
17893

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.1515
9.0.1.0230

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
8.8970

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Softonicdownloader
8/18/2014

F-Prot
W32/Softonic.C2.gen
v6.4.7.1.166

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.Softonic
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.181.12898

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.3388

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic.A
v2014.08.18.09

McAfee
Artemis!A4EDCBA26E74
5600.7035

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.dbipmw
0.28.0.60253

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.n
14.8.18.8

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Heur!1.9E03
23.00.65.14816

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V1115
7.2.230

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
22750

File size:
391.3 KB (400,736 bytes)

Product version:
1, 40, 1, 0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2013

Original file name:
SoftonicDownloader.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Language:
Spanish (Spain, International Sort)

Digital Signature
Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/3/2013 4:00:00 AM

Valid to:
10/3/2015 3:59:59 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:
8/26/2013 12:58:15 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:AyFR9FeRsKSNvJiUVuDk5K6DWUETlPhyLPYr43WAgfjVL+o9nJgoSYgIK0ZJGp:AI9eSNvQxUExRrsZgbUo96oSYS8I

Entry address:
0x15E2D0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 80, 50, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 90, EF, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 71, C9, 15, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, C4, 62, 05, 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:
7.9644  (probably packed)

Code size:
348 KB (356,352 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_for_microsoft-visual-basic.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

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)