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spsetup.exe

Search Protect

Conduit Ltd.

The file belongs to the Conduit API platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and web browser extensions. The application spsetup.exe, “Search Protect by Conduit” by Conduit has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 13 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Conduit Setup Manager installer. It is also typically executed from an Internet Explorer cache folder. The file has been seen being downloaded from sp-storage.conduit-services.com and multiple other hosts. While running, it connects to the Internet address cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com on port 80 using the HTTP protocol.
Publisher:
Conduit  (signed by Conduit Ltd.)

Product:
Search Protect

Description:
Search Protect by Conduit

Version:
2.9.11.0

MD5:
f3b340f6a5b800062ef214d05ebe7e9c

SHA-1:
0da1cef7114f96bd11ac2c42d737e2b37486abef

SHA-256:
4f844cdd6df68ac6483ee857434aee75dec1fafa65842abad616f623a68c3db4

Scanner detections:
13 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles the Conduit Toolbar and/or Conduit Search Protect.

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:
4/23/2024 1:00:10 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

avast!
Win32:SearchProtect-C [Adw]
2014.9-140104

Bkav FE
W32.Clod710.Trojan
1.3.0.4613

Boost by Reason
PUP.SearchProtect.Conduit.H
13.11.25.19

Dr.Web
Adware.Conduit.6
9.0.1.04

ESET NOD32
Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect (variant)
8.9494

G Data
Win32.Trojan.Agent.8O9SV1
14.1.22

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Conduit.A
v2014.01.04.09

McAfee
Artemis!BBDB342CCDEA
5600.7045

Panda Antivirus
Adware/Conduit
14.01.19.03

Reason Heuristics
PUP.SearchProtect.Conduit.H
14.8.7.22

SUPERAntiSpyware
Trojan.Agent/Gen-Nullo[Short]
10435

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V1128
7.2.4

VIPRE Antivirus
Conduit
24282

File size:
5.7 MB (5,960,448 bytes)

Product version:
2.9.11.0

Copyright:
2012 (c) Conduit. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
SearchProtect (R)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Conduit Setup Manager (using Nullsoft Install System)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\spsetup.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Conduit Ltd.

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/3/2013 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
4/4/2016 1:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Conduit Ltd., OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Conduit Ltd., L=Ness Ziona, S=Israel, C=IL

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:
3A82654719D8F75B59134F7B66465210

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
7/6/2011 4:31:20 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
98304:CTct+E1tbQyQCaG2WNfeq2NHIQn+noiLiQD43DJh7eyDo2UdZ6/j6wHqAU:CTS++tcAUI+giQD43VEyDoM7jbU

Entry address:
0x354B

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, D8, 84, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B8, 80, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, B0, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 98, 06, 47, 00, E8, 67, 27, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, B0, 05, 47, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 1C, 86, 40, 00, FF, 15, 80, 81, 40, 00, 68, 04, 86, 40, 00, 68, A0, 85, 46, 00, E8, 35, 26, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 80, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, 10, 4C, 00, 57, E8, 23, 26, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
25 KB (25,600 bytes)

The file spsetup.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

http://sp-storage.conduit-services.com/Installer/.../SPSetup.exe

http://sp-storage.spccint.com/Installer/.../SPSetup.exe

The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (199.101.114.147:80)

 
http://offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com/DecisionEngine.ashx

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (54.243.251.51:80)

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