softonicdownloader_for_vlc-media-player.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_vlc-media-player.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 22 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:
1.41.10.4

MD5:
b4e56bcaca92c7b00c02f95783e93ff8

SHA-1:
abeff7c2d83010f2e48869ffe4483be890353506

SHA-256:
5142ae0b41276e6ccb518b5f878358c5c4c22165bed623997d30220eebf48eec

Scanner detections:
22 / 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:
4/23/2024 2:20:30 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
SPR/Dldr.Agent.bxib.11
7.11.175.218

AVG
Downloader
2015.0.3254

Dr.Web
Trojan.Siggen6.26583
9.0.1.05190

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader.G potentially unwanted application
7.0.302.0

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Agent
12/21/2014

F-Prot
W32/A-e1336866
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
14.12.24

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.SoftSonicDownloader
t3scan.1.7.8.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.186.14225

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

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2014.12.21.11

McAfee
Artemis!DB993CE9B51A
5600.6910

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.djiefr
0.28.6.63850

Panda Antivirus
Trj/Chgt.G
14.12.21.11

Qihoo 360 Security
Win32/Virus.Downloader.cf7
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.h
14.12.21.11

Sophos
Generic PUA CP
4.98

Trend Micro House Call
Suspicious_GEN.F47V1204
7.2.355

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
35406

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.225451
2.0.0.1976

File size:
364.1 KB (372,888 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.10.4

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2014

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\softonicdownloader_for_vlc-media-player.exe

Digital Signature
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:
12/16/2014 5:00:30 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:PlxwD7Jxztn+EKSb0DodDx+TJgKjXVSfKGpKEdLUlQfJq6DuvJ5nemkvUboS4iO/:txuJiBDcDmPrVCKGUXlQh3D6Jo2oS49/

Entry address:
0xFD830

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, 22, 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...
 
[+]

Code size:
324 KB (331,776 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_for_vlc-media-player.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

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