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softonicdownloader_para_ares.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_para_ares.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 28 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:
01c9d834be46deea872109082c3a2a5d

SHA-1:
1ac6b1fc0f6bc331c58e67759ede1871bd2a78b6

SHA-256:
6fcde03ab49afa1f737cee9a44f162c093253eb4b523baf8e7e93d5a8984773e

Scanner detections:
28 / 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:
4/25/2024 8:11:51 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/SoftonicDldr.bxib
7.11.178.32

AVG
Skodna.Downloader
2017.0.2863

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.16115

Bkav FE
HW32.CDB
1.3.0.4246

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Agent.SOFE
17995

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.6706
9.0.1.015

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
10.10207

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Softonicdownloader
1/15/2016

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

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
16.1.24

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.Softonic
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.182.12959

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.812

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic.A
v2016.01.15.03

McAfee
Artemis!38F1754D88C6
5600.6519

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.dbhmbv
0.28.2.62151

Panda Antivirus
Trj/Chgt.D
16.01.15.03

Qihoo 360 Security
Win32/Virus.Downloader.cf7
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softonic.Bundler (M)
16.1.15.15

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Heur!1.9E03
23.00.65.16113

SUPERAntiSpyware
PUP.SoftonicDownloader/Variant
9384

Total Defense
Win32/Tnega.NDWeQOD
37.0.11194

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0912
7.2.15

Trend Micro
TROJ_SPNR.08KI14
10.465.15

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
31944

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.198121
2.0.0.1929

File size:
391.3 KB (400,712 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_para_ares.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Softonic International

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/2/2013 7:30:00 PM

Valid to:
10/2/2015 7:29:59 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 4:28:15 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:jyFR9FeRsKSNvJiUVuDk5K6DWUETlPhyLPYr43WAgfjVL+o9nJgoSYgLK0ZJG9H:jI9eSNvQxUExRrsZgbUo96oSYR8u

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:
7.9643  (probably packed)

Code size:
348 KB (356,352 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_para_ares.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

http://ares.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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