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softwareupdate.exe

Software Updater

Install Manager

This adware bundler is distributed through Adknowledge's advertising supported software managers. The application softwareupdate.exe, “Software Updater ” by Install Manager has been detected as adware by 38 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Adknowledge Fusion 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. The file has been seen being downloaded from download.pcfilehelp.com.
Publisher:
Install Manager   (signed by Install Manager)

Product:
Software Updater

Description:
Software Updater

Version:
2.0.84.0

MD5:
9d3b1816250f2f7a768b9f1026c88d98

SHA-1:
654238e08842010b71afb6c5ca51fec54450793e

SHA-256:
846f8dfd23df5ec7df138746e311535bf9aa1aa6339dd54d5c6555679d7812cc

Scanner detections:
38 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
This installer bundles various adware prorgams that may include toolbars and web browser advertising injectors/extensions.

Description:
This is an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
4/25/2024 7:26:20 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Gen:Variant.Adware.Graftor.153852
538

AegisLab AV Signature
AdWare.W32.AirAdInstaller
2.1.4+

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.AirAd
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.Installer
2014.10.13

Avira AntiVirus
TR/Rogue.11848176
7.11.177.204

Arcabit
Trojan.Application.Bundler.Graftor.D260FC
1.0.0.425

avast!
Adware-gen [Adw]
2014.9-150815

AVG
Adware BundleApp_r
2016.0.3016

Bitdefender
Gen:Variant.Adware.Graftor.153852
1.0.20.1135

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6379

Clam AntiVirus
Win.Adware.Airadinstaller-225
0.98/20560

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.AirInstaller.CEBE
19953

Dr.Web
Trojan.SMSSend.5502
9.0.1.0227

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Gen:Variant.Adware.Graftor.153852
8.15.08.15.09

ESET NOD32
Win32/AirAdInstaller.A potentially unwanted application
9.7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/A-ad198980
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Riskware.Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler
11.2015-15-08_7

G Data
Gen:Variant.Adware.Graftor.153852
15.8.24

herdProtect (fuzzy)
variant of setup.exe (Adware)
2015.9.29.12

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.AirAdInstaller
t3scan.1.7.8.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.183.13257

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.AirAdInstaller
14.0.0.1576

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.AirAdInstaller
v2015.08.15.09

McAfee
Trojan.Artemis!D5E91201901F
5600.6672

MicroWorld eScan
Gen:Variant.Adware.Graftor.153852
16.0.0.681

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.AirAdInstaller.ddtklu
0.28.2.61942

Norman
Gen:Variant.Application.Bundler.Graftor.155900
11.20150815

nProtect
Trojan-Clicker/W32.AirAdInstaller.918936
14.10.02.01

Panda Antivirus
Trj/Genetic.gen
15.08.15.09

Quick Heal
Adware.AirAdInstaller.I3
8.15.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Adknowledge.InstallManager.Installer (M)
15.8.15.21

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.Airinstall!1.9C4C
23.00.65.15813

Sophos
PUA 'AirInstaller'
5.15

SUPERAntiSpyware
Trojan.Agent/Gen-Nullo[Short]
9689

Total Defense
Win32/Tnega.UVJOZfB
37.0.11220

Vba32 AntiVirus
AdWare.AirAdInstaller
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Threat.4150696
32938

Zillya! Antivirus
Adware.AirAdInstaller.Win32.391
2.0.0.1917

File size:
912.4 KB (934,296 bytes)

Product version:
2.0.84.0

Copyright:
(c) Install Manager

Original file name:
setup.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Adknowledge Fusion

Language:
English (United States)

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Install Manager

Authority:
DigiCert Inc

Valid from:
8/6/2013 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
8/11/2015 8:00:00 AM

Subject:
CN=Install Manager, O=Install Manager, L=Victoria, S=British Columbia, C=CA

Issuer:
CN=DigiCert Assured ID Code Signing CA-1, OU=www.digicert.com, O=DigiCert Inc, C=US

Serial number:
06C0BBB90999729C33560EC18A203261

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
9/22/2014 6:32:57 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:3tzhhy8kTuovdZkeXHv1C7kNJSsf/UUXj1PxuK:TPk1keHtlSs3Fj1Zf

Entry address:
0x2A25D0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, F0, 5C, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 20, E3, FF, 57, 83, CD, FF, EB, 10, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 8A, 06, 46, 88, 07, 47, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 72, ED, B8, 01, 00, 00, 00, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C0, 01, DB, 73, 0B, 75, 28, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 72, 1F, 48, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C0, EB, D4, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C9, EB, 52, 31, C9, 83, E8, 03, 72, 11, C1, E0, 08, 8A, 06, 46, 83, F0, FF, 74, 75, D1, F8, 89...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.8736

Packer / compiler:
UPX 2.90LZMA

Code size:
848 KB (868,352 bytes)

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

http://download.pcfilehelp.com/get/click/.../?uid=Ym89MSZzbGlkPTAmc3ViaWQ9MTAyNCZzbz0xJmNpY21wPTI1ODI5OCZwdWJpZD05NzAwJmNpcGlkPTE1MDkwMDAmY2lzaWQ9NTdGRTg0MERDMTA4MzQ3NTI5NzU3MDQwNSZjaXJpZD01N0ZFODQwREMxMDgzNDc2MTMwNzUxNzIzOCZjaXVpZD0tNDExMzY2MDI4MjE3ODkwMjIwMiZjcmlkPTIwODIzMTgmZXhjaWQ9MjImbW10PS0xJmNudHJ5PTIyNw==&sid=xx&filename=SoftwareUpdate

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