home

softonicdownloader_para_ares.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_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:
1.41.5.3

MD5:
5b2abf2bd72e82f350b22e0d559151f4

SHA-1:
8ea51beae300e807686148f6bc410bcf184ad8e3

SHA-256:
844c4715b6a2dfe1caa58bfd8c459c820c7efe3c325af4832e0eaaf7500eaade

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:
4/26/2024 8:52:06 PM 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
2017.0.2865

Baidu Antivirus
PUA.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.16114

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6379

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.SoftonicDownloader.A
20594

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.8646
9.0.1.014

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader.G potentially unwanted application
10.7.0.302.0

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Agent
1/14/2016

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

F-Secure
Riskware.Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler
11.2016-14-01_5

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
16.1.24

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.183.13642

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.819

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2016.01.14.04

McAfee
Artemis!3C163848731B
5600.6521

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.dfxnbt
0.28.2.62483

Panda Antivirus
Trj/Chgt.G
16.01.14.04

Qihoo 360 Security
Malware.QVM18.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softonic.Bundler (M)
16.1.14.4

Trend Micro House Call
Suspicious_GEN.F47V1226
7.2.14

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:
358.8 KB (367,440 bytes)

Product version:
1.41.5.3

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2014

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Language:
Spanish

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\softonicdownloader_para_ares.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Softonic International

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:
9/10/2014 11:48:52 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:XvY3wIwCj3RKCmDe2zlOUr/M3xRP4nDh7rzcDQEv0GP2Is9oS9atK0ZJGp:/Y3wIPj358blOq/Mz2h7rA0GP2IUoS9p

Entry address:
0xF7280

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 90, 4A, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 80, F5, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 27, 59, 0F, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, 6F, E2, 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:
316 KB (323,584 bytes)

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

http://ares.softonic.com/universaldownloader-launch

Remove softonicdownloader_para_ares.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
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.