softonicdownloader_per_vlc-media-player.exe

Softonic Downloader

Softonic International

This is the Download Manager localized to Spagnolo 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_per_vlc-media-player.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 20 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer. With this installer, users are expecting to download the VideoLAN VLC media player but before that occurs they may be presented with additional offers, mostly potentially unwanted software or adware.
Publisher:
Softonic   (signed by Softonic International)

Product:
Softonic Downloader

Version:
1, 38, 0, 0

MD5:
52f130110d0a534b3f9e3ba74f3360ca

SHA-1:
d24f4ffdf723443d482854cd7bd492147ea3f97d

SHA-256:
0eea89975bc2a1c92ab020dfcb9ad63bf625393d697ba2d2e3377337fa6f8ee0

Scanner detections:
20 / 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 9:57:50 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.14827

Bkav FE
HW32.CDB
1.3.0.4246

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Agent.SOFE
17978

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.1486
9.0.1.0239

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
8.8839

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Softonicdownloader
8/27/2014

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

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.Softonic
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.183.13054

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.3343

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic
v2014.08.27.11

McAfee
Artemis!52EEF023B3DE
5600.7026

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.ddwieh
0.28.2.61721

Panda Antivirus
Trj/Chgt.D
14.08.27.11

Reason Heuristics
Bundler.PPI.Softonic.h
14.8.27.11

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Heur!1.9E03
23.00.65.14825

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0919
7.2.239

Vba32 AntiVirus
BScope.Malware-Cryptor.Fareit.2913
3.12.24.2

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
21788

File size:
391.4 KB (400,744 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

Language:
Spagnolo (Spagna, ordinamento internazionale)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\softonicdownloader_per_vlc-media-player.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:
9/17/2013 12:12:12 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:w9kCmlyhjMN0iXlevTj4V4XD5uRKsoS7k8J:dJlIelEbVIkw

Entry address:
0x1533C0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, D0, 4F, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 40, F0, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 1A, 19, 15, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, AF, 63, 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_per_vlc-media-player.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 3 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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