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vlc_setup.exe

VLC Media Player

Air Software

Warning, this is not the legitimate setup program for VLC Media Player. The setup is bootstrapped by the Air Installer 'download manager' (a pay-per-install monetization download manager) that bundles unwanted software (adware, toolbars, extensions) during setup while deciving the user into thinking they are downloading the stadard installation setup from VLC Media Player. The application vlc_setup.exe, “VLC Media Player ” by Air Software 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 AirInstaller Download Manager installer. With this installer, users are expecting to download the VideoLAN VLC media player but before that occurs they may be presented with additional offers, mostly potentially unwanted software or adware.
Publisher:
AirInstaller   (signed by Air Software)

Product:
VLC Media Player

Description:
VLC Media Player

Version:
2.0.6.5

MD5:
3d3a60791e89e8f020fcb04efab2537e

SHA-1:
203b425f8b8a847d71c0685d80c292e302146281

SHA-256:
64ae3b17c6f819f5e3953a91e4c007121780e074b3f2acef24bd260c5c8370c1

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 is also known as bundleware, or downloadware, which is an downloader designed to simply deliver ad-supported offers in the setup routine of an otherwise legitimate software.

Analysis date:
5/18/2024 4:42:36 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Air Software (M)
16.7.19.6

File size:
752.4 KB (770,472 bytes)

Product version:
2.0.6.5

Copyright:
(c) AirInstaller

Original file name:
setup.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
AirInstaller Download Manager

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Air Software

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/24/2013 4:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2015 4:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Air Software, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Air Software, L=Victoria, S=British Columbia, C=CA

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:
3AC786E09219DF82DA830E461D4FC39F

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/17/2014 9:27:40 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:zFpM10esYAJVNvhopPaxYXos+ve2I1ErPGQKE28S6i8hbGC7UIoa7d6KGs:DPaAJfqSmpx2I17QKE2YGC4I5Qzs

Entry address:
0x25A418

Entry point:
60, E8, 00, 00, 00, 00, 58, 05, 5A, 0B, 00, 00, 8B, 30, 03, F0, 2B, C0, 8B, FE, 66, AD, C1, E0, 0C, 8B, C8, 50, AD, 2B, C8, 03, F1, 8B, C8, 57, 51, 49, 8A, 44, 39, 06, 88, 04, 31, 75, F6, 2B, C0, AC, 8B, C8, 80, E1, F0, 24, 0F, C1, E1, 0C, 8A, E8, AC, 0B, C8, 51, 02, CD, BD, 00, FD, FF, FF, D3, E5, 59, 58, 8B, DC, 8D, A4, 6C, 90, F1, FF, FF, 51, 2B, C9, 51, 51, 8B, CC, 51, 66, 8B, 17, C1, E2, 0C, 52, 57, 83, C1, 04, 51, 50, 83, C1, 04, 56, 51, E8, 5E, 00, 00, 00, 8B, E3, 5E, 5A, 2B, C0, 89, 04, 32, B4, 10...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9356

Packer / compiler:
ASPack v1.08.04

Code size:
1.6 MB (1,721,856 bytes)

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

http://downloads.consumers-research.com/get/click/.../?sid={affiliate_id}&uid={transaction_id}&filename=vlc_setup

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