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 10 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:
b60d574a3bddbe4f3d609f872f79d372

SHA-1:
c4742edcf6e11fe62368b2ae200d462542811d34

SHA-256:
ba4f013fb58124538a1f9af4fdee06249c0818e1d37b4a4ee5584116838beee6

Scanner detections:
10 / 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:
4/23/2024 9:27:14 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

avast!
Win32:Somoto-K [PUP]
2014.9-141004

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/18155

Dr.Web
Adware.Somoto.8
9.0.1.0277

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto (variant)
8.8647

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto
v2014.10.04.02

Reason Heuristics
PUP.BetterInstaller.Somoto.T
14.10.4.2

Sophos
Somoto BetterInstaller
4.91

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto
10321

VIPRE Antivirus
Trojan.Win32.Generic
20150

File size:
158.3 KB (162,096 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 9:00:00 AM

Valid to:
9/20/2014 8:59:59 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 6:14:12 PM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.56

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:b22ihA0m3BJP0v4SufQFJ99bsy5aN1TqQv2em71f3hACs8hIRlktdNPmqd:0A0m3D0v4S2299wyO1+demd368hCkvxV

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:
7.5831

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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