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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 21 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:
d06940fcf86183224af868f5ddd2a569

SHA-1:
44a81c04a3a34e3b5193dde6c525aba609fac314

SHA-256:
118365c1f08a694041219e9220388361c716a1fa2f03415c3421b089503b6079

Scanner detections:
21 / 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:
4/24/2024 12:04:19 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Somoto
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Somoto.Gen2
7.11.141.188

avast!
Win32:PUP-gen [PUP]
2014.9-140408

AVG
AdInstaller.Somoto
2015.0.3511

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.Somoto
4.0.3.1448

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/18355

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Somoto.A
18067

Dr.Web
Adware.Somoto.17
9.0.1.098

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto
8.9648

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Somoto
4/8/2014

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Application.BetterInstaller
14.4.24

K7 AntiVirus
Trojan
13.176.11684

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto.A
v2014.04.08.02

Panda Antivirus
PUP/MultiToolbar.A
14.04.08.02

Qihoo 360 Security
Win32/Virus.WebToolbar.a6d
1.0.0.1015

Reason Heuristics
PUP.BetterInstaller.Somoto.T
14.8.7.17

Sophos
Somoto BetterInstaller
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto
10679

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.0

VIPRE Antivirus
BetterInstaller
28116

File size:
158.4 KB (162,192 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):
3072:722ihA0m3BJP0vNowOARzzja0/i513JCxgalM9UMB:UA0m3D0vfOARzC0/iAxOUMB

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:
7.5846

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/d/4/ch/.../VLCMediaPlayerSetup.exe

Remove VLCMediaPlayerSetup.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
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