vlcmediaplayer-setup.exe

Download Admin

This is the Tightrope WebInstall which bundles applications with offers for additional 3rd party software, mostly unwanted adware, and may be installed with minimal consent. The application vlcmediaplayer-setup.exe by Download Admin has been detected as adware by 8 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Tightrope WebInstall 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:
Download Admin  (signed and verified)

MD5:
ef3699631a2d6638480e57d9bff1804d

SHA-1:
9c73bd4c36b35c2efb440f1fae75f1d8e1071f32

SHA-256:
5fc3025ed1b354cd97aef40cb64f81bb4747a887a6348c4100df39af89f07cb0

Scanner detections:
8 / 68

Status:
Adware

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:
8/4/2025 5:40:52 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.DownloadAdmin.TTK
18080

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.2220
9.0.1.0100

ESET NOD32
Win32/DownloadAdmin
8.9660

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.DownloadAdmin
v2014.04.10.11

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Downware.crgjbr
0.28.0.59048

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.DownloadAdmin.U
14.8.7.20

Sophos
Download Admin
4.98

VIPRE Antivirus
DownloadAdmin
28194

File size:
75.8 MB (79,453,736 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Tightrope WebInstall (using Nullsoft Install System)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\vlcmediaplayer-setup.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
3/19/2013 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
5/29/2016 7:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Download Admin, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Download Admin, L=SAN FRANCISCO, S=California, C=US

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:
2EEB247A8F9D63D74CE7EF9551E3D401

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/22/2012 2:07:51 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:vxpJ36GT+05hxBsW167JerwFx2mV+GbElwHFIC5b+q5V9J2ghrNUcRnb8b:5pB6obnN17wYGbrIczlhrH

Entry address:
0x333B

Entry point:
81, EC, 80, 01, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 33, DB, 57, 89, 5C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, B0, 73, 40, 00, 33, F6, C6, 44, 24, 14, 20, FF, 15, 30, 70, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, C0, 70, 40, 00, 53, FF, 15, 88, 72, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, B8, 3C, 42, 00, E8, 2C, 25, 00, 00, 53, 68, 60, 01, 00, 00, A3, C0, 3B, 42, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 53, 68, 43, 74, 40, 00, FF, 15, 64, 71, 40, 00, 68, 38, 74, 40, 00, 68, C0, 33, 42, 00, E8, 1D, 24, 00, 00, FF, 15, BC, 70, 40, 00, 50, BF, 00, 90, 42, 00, 57, E8, 0B, 24, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
0.1439

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
23 KB (23,552 bytes)

The file vlcmediaplayer-setup.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

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