home

softonicdownloader_for_windows-live-messenger.exe

Softonic Downloader

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_windows-live-messenger.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 12 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, 38, 0, 0

MD5:
3154e36e374b92c07105941419f182e9

SHA-1:
88161b3b61817f83512c68bf0c05e24600de17a5

SHA-256:
b974f9f0594c97cd95b800b2d8192cdcffc17745968c5494625f0678d5fe2687

Scanner detections:
12 / 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:
4/24/2024 1:01:51 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Baidu Antivirus
Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.14521

Bkav FE
HW32.CDB
1.3.0.4246

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.1109
9.0.1.081

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
8.8325

Fortinet FortiGate
Adware/SoftonicDownloader
3/22/2014

herdProtect (fuzzy)
variant of softonicdownloader_for_hamachi.exe (PUP)
2014.5.21.5

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic.A
v2014.05.21.05

MicroWorld eScan
Win32/SoftonicDownloader.D
15.0.0.423

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.n
14.3.22.7

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Huer!1.9E03
23.00.65.14519

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0409
7.2.81

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic
22236

File size:
383.3 KB (392,544 bytes)

Product version:
1, 38, 0, 0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2012

Original file name:
SoftonicDownloader.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Softonic International

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
9/2/2011 3:00:00 AM

Valid to:
9/7/2013 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:
2A56CB1B389346B3ED08FF404A771E62

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
2/22/2013 3:08:56 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:F1n+A0pOMdduy6DgKkZvqHzO2Q8tMaZ7B63q+T7cXXw0ly8tbJFaoSH16K0ZJGg:FFyp5BSaZc3h75+/cnwT8tfaoSHf8x

Entry address:
0x155310

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 10, 50, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 00, F0, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 15, 39, 15, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, 0B, 43, 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:
7.9636  (probably packed)

Code size:
340 KB (348,160 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)

herdProtect is a second line of defense malware removal platform powered by 68 anti-malware engines in the cloud. Since no single anti-malware program is perfect 100% of the time, herdProtect utilizes a 'herd' of multiple engines to guarantee the widest coverage and the earliest possible detection.