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 24 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:
04758cc461162eed7e7d1d018738f0ab

SHA-1:
41c42029126b01b5c1a35ccf5da875d6351116cc

SHA-256:
f0565e031fca8b609c3ca52d73c5bbb80cffc6523a79d99a5027c035fc118c69

Scanner detections:
24 / 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:
4/26/2024 8:02:02 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Application.Bundler.Somoto.A
468

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Somoto
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Somoto.Gen2
7.11.144.32

avast!
Win32:PUP-gen [PUP]
2014.9-151025

AVG
AdInstaller.Somoto
2016.0.2946

Bitdefender
Application.Bundler.Somoto.A
1.0.20.1490

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/18355

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Somoto.A
18124

Dr.Web
Adware.Somoto.17
9.0.1.0298

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto
9.9692

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Somoto
10/25/2015

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Application.Bundler.Somoto
11.2015-25-10_1

G Data
Application.Bundler.Somoto
15.10.24

K7 AntiVirus
Trojan
13.176.11784

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto.A
v2015.10.25.09

MicroWorld eScan
Application.Bundler.Somoto.A
16.0.0.894

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.Somoto.cspere
0.28.0.59288

Panda Antivirus
PUP/MultiToolbar.A
15.10.25.09

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Somoto.Bundler (M)
15.10.25.9

Sophos
Somoto BetterInstaller
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto
9548

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.0

VIPRE Antivirus
BetterInstaller
28346

File size:
158.3 KB (162,080 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:

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
9/20/2011 7:00:00 AM

Valid to:
9/20/2014 6:59:59 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 4:14:12 PM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.56

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:L22ihA0m3BJP0vyhqCUdJjsslmEeNA80NsYh43OLdNrTv4:kA0m3D0vPdJIVU5Ns64+LXrTv4

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:
7.5835

Code size:
28.5 KB (29,184 bytes)

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

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