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softonicdownloader_for_windows-live-messenger.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_windows-live-messenger.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 23 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   (signed by Softonic International)

Product:
Softonic Downloader

Version:
1, 40, 1, 0

MD5:
d474898b700c79ace6fe5a3f86d8a137

SHA-1:
814f68bd994e0ed32568a3f8a4c98300c5f94299

SHA-256:
85ce80e98fd41003e8a9e3a0360db37c3263219945fdf186edda852b4013e093

Scanner detections:
23 / 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 8:21:22 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

AVG
Potentially harmful program Skodna.Downloader
2015.0.3330

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.14105

Clam AntiVirus
Win.Trojan.Agent-757477
0.98/19469

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Agent.SOFE
18047

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.1515
9.0.1.0278

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
8.9888

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Softonicdownloader
10/5/2014

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

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
14.10.24

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.Softonic
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.178.12292

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.3146

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic.A
v2014.10.05.06

McAfee
Artemis!D474898B700C
5600.6986

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Downware.csjwcr
0.28.0.60698

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.n
14.10.5.18

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Heur!1.9E03
23.00.65.141003

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Softonic/Variant
10317

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0531
7.2.278

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
29902

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.201301
2.0.0.1857

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)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\softonicdownloader_for_windows-live-messenger.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Softonic International

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:
8/26/2013 4:58:15 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:gyFR9FeRsKSNvJiUVuDk5K6DWUETlPhyLPYr43WAgfjVL+o9nJgoSYggK0ZJGB:gI9eSNvQxUExRrsZgbUo96oSYC8w

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_windows-live-messenger.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 3 URLs.

http://sd-cf.en.softonic.com/51000/51494/.../SoftonicDownloader_for_windows-live-messenger.exe

http://dplus.en.softonic.com/ud-client/51000/.../SoftonicDownloader_for_windows-live-messenger.exe

http://windows-live-messenger.en.softonic.com/universaldownloader-launch

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)

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