softonicdownloader_for_vlc-media-player.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_vlc-media-player.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 21 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:
1.41.8.8

MD5:
39ee787e410a965ec56c23cf4fbaa7ed

SHA-1:
d770fecad2c4e3e21636dd894e510bf60b895de3

SHA-256:
0ff91565eaa5284006106ab138235bcef5ba399e943c5a82139d1b3949b9920c

Scanner detections:
21 / 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:
4/19/2024 8:00:06 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
2015.0.3282

Baidu Antivirus
Hacktool.Win32.Downloader
4.0.3.141123

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.498
9.0.1.0327

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
8.10742

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Agent
11/23/2014

F-Prot
W32/A-e1336866
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
14.11.24

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.SoftSonicDownloader
t3scan.1.7.8.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.185.14057

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.2903

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2014.11.23.10

McAfee
Artemis!0C5C013ECD56
5600.6938

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.divudw
0.28.6.63474

Qihoo 360 Security
Win32/Virus.Downloader.cf7
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.h
14.11.23.10

Sophos
Generic PUA CP
4.98

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
34896

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.225451
2.0.0.1976

File size:
362.3 KB (371,032 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.8.8

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_vlc-media-player.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 3:21:40 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:kEx61tVF/WN/7vAtvwyzMIMoce7IQ65UimRrlQcHWSMXDPtcqoSctfK0ZJGR:kJf/WN/7vAtvwyzMykQYWRQ2hMXDlcqx

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, 91, 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:
7.9613  (probably packed)

Code size:
320 KB (327,680 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_for_vlc-media-player.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 3 URLs.

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