vlc.exe

App Secure LLC

This is the Softpulse installer which bundles applications with offers for additional 3rd party software, mostly unwanted adware, and may be installed with minimal consent. The application vlc.exe by App Secure 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 Softpulse SoftwareBundler installer. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as the VideoLAN VLC media player but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
App Secure LLC  (signed and verified)

MD5:
99132fb25daef22091456cbc3b6139d8

SHA-1:
5b0987fae28d198e8a045da7c6ec7e24d3efb9c3

SHA-256:
65521621bc26fb66f30c47c6a336cbf34ca784096fbb433af1e08d891a3c8f41

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Note:
Our current pool of anti-malware engines have not currently detected this file, however based on our own detection heuristics we feel that this file is unwanted.

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:
5/14/2024 9:30:12 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softpulse.AppSecure.Bundler (M)
16.3.4.16

File size:
545.6 KB (558,688 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softpulse SoftwareBundler

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
2/6/2015 7:00:00 AM

Valid to:
2/7/2016 6:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=App Secure LLC, O=App Secure LLC, STREET="501 Silverside Road, Suite 105", L=Wilmington, S=Delaware, PostalCode=19809, C=US

Issuer:
CN=COMODO RSA Code Signing CA, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
00868B073DB5F27781658C4A94E3A93D23

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/6/2015 6:52:28 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:cz9oONBDVugl28m4NBY3B3UFaTO3G9iXbDky8GGsrVOUrtW9HmVvuku:fwGHF4jxsz9qbDky8GGsrVOUrEUvuN

Entry address:
0x198630

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, B0, 51, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 60, EE, FF, 57, EB, 0B, 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, C5, EB, 0B, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
UPX v0.89.6 - v1.02 / v1.05 -v1.24

Code size:
504 KB (516,096 bytes)

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

Remove vlc.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security