softonicdownloader_para_ares.exe

Application Installer

Softonic International

This is the Download Manager localized to Espanhol 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 25 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer. This program installs potentially unwanted software on your PC at the same time as the software you are trying to install, without adequate consent.
Publisher:
Softonic International  (signed and verified)

Product:
Application Installer

Version:
1.41.10.11

MD5:
2e9f8080d631ae026d5c9797a5891d88

SHA-1:
2a9bd39b903fcf912a4a2a0ea7b3f740915d553e

SHA-256:
59e2becd32cb5d8bad8312fbc56a4bf3e535eb919f10ec76e103128a8b79be19

Scanner detections:
25 / 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 7:03:04 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.SoftPulse
2015.01.05

Avira AntiVirus
TR/Dropper.Gen
7.11.30.172

AVG
Adware BundleApp_r
2017.0.2855

Baidu Antivirus
PUA.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.16124

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6379

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.SoftonicDownloader.A
20594

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.8646
9.0.1.024

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader.G potentially unwanted application
10.7.0.302.0

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Agent
1/24/2016

F-Prot
W32/Agent.ABU.gen
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Riskware.Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler
11.2016-24-01_1

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
16.1.24

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.183.13642

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.768

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2016.01.24.10

McAfee
Artemis!3C163848731B
5600.6511

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.dfxnbt
0.28.2.62483

Panda Antivirus
Trj/Chgt.G
16.01.24.10

Qihoo 360 Security
Malware.QVM18.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softonic.Bundler (M)
16.1.24.10

Trend Micro House Call
Suspicious_GEN.F47V1226
7.2.24

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Threat.4150696
33706

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.223795
2.0.0.1952

File size:
363.8 KB (372,544 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.10.11

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2014

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Language:
Espanhol (Espanha, internacional)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\inetcache\ie\{random}\softonicdownloader_para_ares.exe

Digital Signature
Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/2/2013 9:00:00 PM

Valid to:
10/2/2015 8:59:59 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:
12/16/2014 1:24:14 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:1Lq0Y8T7mmnySd0qQy37HkTzbrMsj2pjeRTEKhI3k4Wk3NGkH42LwwpeoS3E5K0Z:17YaXySmq7rCIvpULhQp0kRsmeoS3T8L

Entry address:
0xFD820

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, 1E, 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_para_ares.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

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