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vlcmediaplayersetup-8zhjwb2.exe

Somoto Ltd.

Somoto uses a monetization platform known as the 'Better Installer' to provide the ability of 3rd party developers to bundle various adware packages through an affiliate pay-per-install program. The application vlcmediaplayersetup-8zhjwb2.exe, “Powered by BetterInstaller” by Somoto has been detected as adware by 25 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Somoto BetterInstaller installer. Includes the Somoto BetterInstaller, an adware installer that will bundle offers for additional third party applications, mostly adware toolbars, with legitimate softare and may be installed without adequate user consent. 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:
Somoto Ltd.  (signed and verified)

Description:
Powered by BetterInstaller

Version:
2.1.0.0

MD5:
c62d558a78223f959916ca2d96a56941

SHA-1:
fb0044b4a00d27ca04d183b71afc0750a5620cc3

SHA-256:
18ff2c9501d8fa085072f20af65d7de9efdd548cd2527b521f3268405387a42f

Scanner detections:
25 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
Uses the Somoto 'BetterInstaller' to bundle additional (unwanted) software during install without adequate consent.

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:
4/19/2024 9:17:50 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
777

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Somoto
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
Win-PUP/Somoto
2014.10.26

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Somoto.Gen2
7.11.181.56

avast!
Win32:Somoto-F [PUP]
2014.9-141220

AVG
AdInstaller.Somoto
2015.0.3255

Bitdefender
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
1.0.20.1770

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/21411

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Somoto.A
19904

Dr.Web
Adware.Somoto.17
9.0.1.0354

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto
8.10620

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Application.Bundler.Somoto
11.2014-20-12_7

G Data
Application.Bundler.Somoto
14.12.24

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.185.13805

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.NSIS.Agent
14.0.0.2769

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto
v2014.12.20.04

MicroWorld eScan
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
15.0.0.1062

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.cruvhh
0.28.2.62841

Reason Heuristics
PUP.BetterInstaller.Somoto.BB
14.12.20.4

Sophos
Somoto BetterInstaller
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto
10167

Vba32 AntiVirus
Signed-AdWare.BetterInternet.SomotoLtd
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
BetterInstaller
34248

XVirus List
Win32.Detected
2.12.20

File size:
159.4 KB (163,208 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Somoto BetterInstaller

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\vlcmediaplayersetup-8zhjwb2.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Somoto Ltd.

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
9/20/2011 2:00:00 AM

Valid to:
9/20/2014 1:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Somoto Ltd., O=Somoto Ltd., STREET=PO Box 58096, L=Tel Aviv, S=--, PostalCode=61580, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=COMODO Code Signing CA 2, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
00841D099D16B738F34172FEEFE1D2574F

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/17/2010 10:14:12 AM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.56

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:v22ihA0m3BJf0AImezyCDwUNgs5pNwAfzglYyjlAF:gA0m3T0AImezjMUNB5I2kjSF

Entry address:
0x39AC

Entry point:
55, 89, E5, 57, 56, 53, 81, EC, 7C, 01, 00, 00, E8, 97, 46, 00, 00, 83, EC, 0C, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, E8, 42, 43, 00, 00, 6A, 00, E8, AB, 46, 00, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 88, 4C, 42, 00, E8, B1, 28, 00, 00, 6A, 00, 68, 60, 01, 00, 00, A3, 38, 4D, 42, 00, 8D, 85, 90, FE, FF, FF, 50, 6A, 00, 68, A4, A2, 40, 00, E8, F0, 45, 00, 00, 83, EC, 0C, 68, A5, A2, 40, 00, 68, 68, 4D, 42, 00, E8, EF, 2A, 00, 00, 83, C4, 18, E8, FE, 42, 00, 00, 52, 52, 50, 68, 00, D0, 42, 00, E8, DA, 2A, 00, 00, 57, 6A, 00, E8, 39, 42, 00, 00, 83...
 
[+]

Code size:
28.5 KB (29,184 bytes)

The file vlcmediaplayersetup-8zhjwb2.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

http://static.bicdn.com/installers/c/8/.../VLCMediaPlayerSetup-2m27D4r.exe

http://static.bicdn.com/installers/c/8/.../VLCMediaPlayerSetup-8ZHjwb2.exe

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