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 17 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer. This file is typically installed with the program Ares 2.2.5 by Seekar Ltd. 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:
29cff9e858a54099bb42f9d05d93db03

SHA-1:
96c53b6cb65f62ee96630a9588ea603841c7c2bb

SHA-256:
d847d99a63a18bf1feda6595128feec95c3ac4613422989fb0837170e13444c1

Scanner detections:
17 / 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:
4/19/2024 8:46:01 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

AVG
Skodna.Downloader
2015.0.3389

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.1487

Bkav FE
HW32.CDB
1.3.0.4246

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.1515
9.0.1.0219

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
8.9092

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Softonicdownloader
8/7/2014

IKARUS anti.virus
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.177.11997

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.3441

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic.A
v2014.08.07.07

McAfee
Artemis!0FC0982E2C91
5600.7045

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.CC
14.8.7.19

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Heur!1.9E03
23.00.65.14805

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V1108
7.2.219

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
23710

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

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

Digital Signature
Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/3/2013 2:00:00 AM

Valid to:
10/3/2015 1:59:59 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:
67C1FF44C765ABDA26027A6DCA52BA11

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
8/26/2013 10:58:15 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:CyFR9FeRsKSNvJiUVuDk5K6DWUETlPhyLPYr43WAgfjVL+o9nJgoSYgLK0ZJGX:CI9eSNvQxUExRrsZgbUo96oSYR80

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...
 
[+]

Code size:
348 KB (356,352 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_para_ares.exe has been discovered within the following program.

Ares 2.2.5  by Seekar Ltd
Publisher's description - “Ares is a free open source bittorent and chat program that enables users to share any digital file including images, audio, video, software, documents, etc. You may now easily publish your files through the Ares peer to peer network.”
aresgalaxy.sourceforge.net
About 1% of users remove it
 
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The file softonicdownloader_para_ares.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

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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