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vlcmediaplayersetup-a3spy5j.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-a3spy5j.exe, “Powered by BetterInstaller” by Somoto has been detected as adware by 30 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:
66f6db956d4ce55d4da898f004d34670

SHA-1:
2d566425f6fe6f2d505af32442587c86b99cd273

SHA-256:
3480ccd1f10716b235cb9310cf6eb67fa70b4bc10a7beae87b8540f261222669

Scanner detections:
30 / 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:
4/26/2024 1:44:20 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
904

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Somoto
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.BetterInstaller
2014.08.05

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Somoto.eve
7.11.165.44

avast!
Win32:Somoto-F [PUP]
2014.9-140814

AVG
AdInstaller.Somoto
2015.0.3382

Bitdefender
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
1.0.20.1130

Bkav FE
W32.Clodeb1.Trojan
1.3.0.4959

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/21411

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Somoto.A
19085

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.1184
9.0.1.0226

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto
8.10202

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Somoto
8/14/2014

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Application.Bundler.Somoto
11.2014-14-08_5

G Data
Application.Bundler.Somoto
14.8.24

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.BetterInstaller
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.182.12945

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.NSIS.Agent
14.0.0.3406

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto
v2014.08.14.08

MicroWorld eScan
Application.Bundler.Somoto.I
15.0.0.678

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.cruvhh
0.28.2.61349

Panda Antivirus
PUP/MultiToolbar.A
14.08.14.08

Qihoo 360 Security
Win32/Virus.Downloader.ac1
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
PUP.BetterInstaller.Somoto.BB
14.8.14.20

Sophos
Somoto BetterInstaller
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto/Variant
10421

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.R0CBB01DU14
7.2.226

Vba32 AntiVirus
Signed-AdWare.BetterInternet.SomotoLtd
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
BetterInstaller
31922

File size:
163.6 KB (167,544 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Somoto BetterInstaller

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\vlcmediaplayersetup-a3spy5j.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):
3072:222ihA0m3BJf0AEP9hDO3lm+N3u66UzWN5CKvG+ZYQ7TKdy4Ezbn4pI5:pA0m3T0AEPi3pNva5fvG2Kytzbn4pI5

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-a3spy5j.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 3 URLs.

http://static.bicdn.com/installers/9/d/.../VLCMediaPlayerSetup-elkQw0i.exe

http://static.bicdn.com/installers/9/d/.../VLCMediaPlayerSetup-cLf6Tox.exe

http://download.softiglu.com/nlp/g/pubdirecte/.../dl

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