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soundeffects.exe

InstallIQ Installation Utility

InstallX, LLC

The InstallIQ (InstallX) installation program is a co-bundle stub that devlivers software monetization offers during installation. These offers include web browser toolbars and extensions. The application soundeffects.exe by InstallX has been detected as adware by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. The program is a setup application that uses the InstallIQ Installation Manager installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl.installiq.com.
Publisher:
InstallX, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.130.0.0

MD5:
34b202695adb1e69993c03dd99289207

SHA-1:
92d406d13b083c53ae89e7b080551bd038c2f8c4

SHA-256:
513bf06ed8c2cbb4388bc6fa3d0d947609b9b4726402e6c544e8c624e4931d08

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
InstallIQ is a bundled offer download and install manager that is designed to show sponsored offers during installation that typically includes adware type toolbars, browser extensions and plugin or other potentially unwanted software along with the promised application.

Description:
This 'download manager' is also considered bundleware, a utility designed to download software (possibly legitimate or opensource) and bundle it with a number of optional offers including ad-supported utilities, toolbars, shopping comparison tools and browser extensions.

Analysis date:
4/25/2024 5:52:38 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallX.Installer (M)
16.7.6.9

File size:
1.8 MB (1,879,632 bytes)

Product version:
2.130.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright ©2013 InstallX, LLC. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
InstallIQ.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallIQ Installation Manager

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
InstallX, LLC

Authority:
DigiCert Inc

Valid from:
3/21/2013 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2014 7:00:00 AM

Subject:
CN="InstallX, LLC", O="InstallX, LLC", L=Sartell, S=Minnesota, C=US

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

Serial number:
030985B5A39F75A13A497DAB8BF611F7

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
5/21/2013 5:11:12 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:k5u+Kv16VeXk4uSXuJwJ4AS/Jyj/vVieqdikM3zGexYdEUysGPr08BHgClSAqTTC:k5nVyvgol2vOzGexYUP/BAUSAqTR0KK

Entry address:
0xEED9

Entry point:
E8, 65, 88, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, C8, 1F, 57, 00, E8, A1, 47, 00, 00, E8, 69, 6A, 00, 00, 0F, B7, F0, 6A, 02, E8, F8, 87, 00, 00, 59, B8, 4D, 5A, 00, 00, 66, 39, 05, 00, 00, 40, 00, 74, 04, 33, DB, EB, 33, A1, 3C, 00, 40, 00, 81, B8, 00, 00, 40, 00, 50, 45, 00, 00, 75, EB, B9, 0B, 01, 00, 00, 66, 39, 88, 18, 00, 40, 00, 75, DD, 33, DB, 83, B8, 74, 00, 40, 00, 0E, 76, 09, 39, 98, E8, 00, 40, 00, 0F, 95, C3, 89, 5D, E4, E8, 85, 64, 00, 00, 85, C0, 75, 08, 6A, 1C, E8, DC, 00, 00, 00, 59, E8...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.6930

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,234,944 bytes)

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

http://dl.installiq.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=6b574473-0a81-4656-a602-b24406828e32&VersionId=-1&ProductId=483&partnercode=&shortname=soundeffects&trafficsrctype=ICN

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