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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 18 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:
8614dd9f5bc2c7c298f84a38feab3600

SHA-1:
eff1c62a8c11550ab1e74fdfd17a03b3941425bd

SHA-256:
2f720cd1588be9fdf8d1aed8461afdd1e71b11fff40a36acb779f833b3308f33

Scanner detections:
18 / 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:
4/25/2024 2:36:33 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.BetterInstaller
2014.01.03

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/Somoto.Gen2
7.11.123.32

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

AVG
AdInstaller.Somoto
2015.0.3496

Clam AntiVirus
Adware.Somoto-1
0.98/18155

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Somoto.A
17545

Dr.Web
Adware.Somoto.17
9.0.1.0113

ESET NOD32
Win32/Somoto
8.9245

F-Prot
W32/SomotoBetterInstaller.A
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Application.BetterInstaller
14.4.22

K7 AntiVirus
Trojan
13.174.10720

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Somoto
v2014.04.23.01

Reason Heuristics
PUP.BetterInstaller.Somoto.T
14.8.7.17

Sophos
Somoto BetterInstaller
4.96

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Somoto/Variant
10649

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.R0CBH0AKG13
7.2.113

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.24.3

VIPRE Antivirus
BetterInstaller
25042

File size:
158.8 KB (162,568 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:Z22ihA0m3BJf0vZi+JMYW26QxTXYJwhR1OIpoRqEczjStus76O:aA0m3T0vZPjW25TXrpNEU2tu8L

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:
7.5843

Code size:
28.5 KB (29,184 bytes)

The file VLCMediaPlayerSetup.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

http://installer.betterinstaller.com/gbi/.../fa2aeb6e70b6c6bb576c7576179b64ff?p1=1&utma=1.291336243.1348698139.1348698139.1348698139.1&utmb=1.2.10.1348698139&utmc=1&utmz=1.1348698139.1.1.utmcsr=marimedia|utmccn=1|utmcmd=affiliate&p3=xPbqEIv5NQDZnPMAAAAAAOY5OAAAAAAAAgAEAAIAAAAAAP8AAAAEE4XsTAAAAAAADLQDAAAAAAAYTEsAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABpuBQAAAAAAAIAAwAAgD8AgW6sBDoBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=,eJwrsTDIdEyJTM-OSAvNTA0q96z09w7yqtDLK890NTcP8M31Nc0MC9TVBQAcUg1V&datetime=20120926_2222&utm_source=marimedia&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=1

http://dur34efymch15.cloudfront.net/installers/5/a/.../VLCMediaPlayerSetup.exe

Remove VLCMediaPlayerSetup.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
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