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 16 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.spccint.com. 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:
2.9.60.20

MD5:
8998bfb6e9eba543292adae4c3717d06

SHA-1:
d134620909646c026597edaed6c66d3330121b23

SHA-256:
5de2387c01ec379f134885384f5cbcda575eddabc5770a656cc29aec1a42ea84

Scanner detections:
16 / 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:
5/10/2024 4:27:26 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

avast!
Win32:PUP-gen [PUP]
2014.9-140807

Baidu Antivirus
Trojan.Win32.Conduit.SearchProtect
4.0.3.1487

Dr.Web
Adware.Conduit.6
9.0.1.025

ESET NOD32
Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect (variant)
8.9353

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Conduit_SearchProtect
8/7/2014

G Data
Win32.Application.SearchProtect
14.1.22

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.SearchProtect
t3scan.2.2.29

K7 AntiVirus
Trojan
13.176.11566

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:WebToolbar.NSIS.Agent
14.0.0.3440

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Conduit.A
v2014.01.25.10

McAfee
Artemis!C0E23C6F8F25
5600.7045

Panda Antivirus
Adware/Conduit
14.01.25.10

Reason Heuristics
PUP.SearchProtect.Conduit.H
14.8.7.22

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0108
7.2.25

VIPRE Antivirus
Conduit
25360

XVirus List
Win.Detected
2.3.31

File size:
5.7 MB (5,954,864 bytes)

Product version:
2.9.60.20

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

Original file name:
SearchProtect

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

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

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

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

Valid to:
4/4/2016 2:59:59 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 5:31:20 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
98304:cxwdigS53XUXNDSESS9ccqpiDx8MjUegoc/c+Q9vGj92la8fLOfG3V:coaX293giZUe1cU+AGjYlNLOiV

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...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9908

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 URL.

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

TCP (HTTP):

 
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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