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VLCMediaPlayerSetup.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.exe, “Powered by BetterInstaller” by Somoto has been detected as adware by 23 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:
2.0.0.0

MD5:
62326d5eee1e321b082f2faa61d2c523

SHA-1:
014fe0a0f038b9a890d53f8747376b7bb1cb02f4

SHA-256:
d3ac3161a330fed2da45e5a9ca8a9e69d9c3fd1db26fd56f4629e9d060bd3ef1

Scanner detections:
23 / 68

Status:
Adware

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

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:
4/19/2024 1:48:37 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Application.Bundler.Somoto.A
1018

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Somoto
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Somoto.Gen2
7.11.144.202

avast!
Win32:PUP-gen [PUP]
2014.9-140423

AVG
AdInstaller.Somoto
2015.0.3496

Bitdefender
Application.Bundler.Somoto.A
1.0.20.565

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/18355

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Somoto.A
18152

Dr.Web
Adware.Somoto.17
9.0.1.0113

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto
8.9709

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Application.Bundler.Somoto
11.2014-23-04_4

G Data
Application.Bundler.Somoto
14.4.24

K7 AntiVirus
Trojan
13.176.11847

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto.A
v2014.04.23.01

MicroWorld eScan
Application.Bundler.Somoto.A
15.0.0.339

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.Somoto.cspere
0.28.0.59492

Panda Antivirus
PUP/MultiToolbar.A
14.04.23.01

Reason Heuristics
PUP.BetterInstaller.Somoto.T
14.8.7.17

Sophos
Somoto BetterInstaller
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto
10649

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.0

VIPRE Antivirus
BetterInstaller
28524

File size:
158.3 KB (162,136 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Somoto BetterInstaller

Language:
Language Neutral

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Somoto Ltd.

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
9/19/2011 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
9/19/2014 7:59:59 PM

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 4:14:12 AM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.56

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:D22ihA0m3BJP0vIZyPxYbvSYAtaG4Js8CGwxdbdMPC:cA0m3D0v0LSYAwPdCGmMPC

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...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.5830

Code size:
28.5 KB (29,184 bytes)

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

http://cdn.frogdownload.com/installers/9/a/ch/.../VLCMediaPlayerSetup.exe

Remove VLCMediaPlayerSetup.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
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