whales.exe

InstallIQ Installation Utility

W3i, LLC

The InstallIQ (InstallX) installation program is a co-bundle stub that devlivers software monetization offers during installation. These offers include web browser toolbars and extensions. The application whales.exe by W3i has been detected as adware by 19 anti-malware scanners. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl5.iq7download.com.
Publisher:
W3i, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.110.0.0

MD5:
2133a77c19f2b4351676755032f8db87

SHA-1:
11c80c3fcc9be8ad92c30d8ac99849b3717fc2ff

SHA-256:
f166725bea9540653f32022479d062bda0fa6ed288133eac515eb4c1672fa864

Scanner detections:
19 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
InstallIQ is a bundled offer download and install manager that is designed to show sponsored offers during installation that typically includes adware type toolbars, browser extensions and plugin or other potentially unwanted software along with the promised application.

Analysis date:
4/19/2024 2:43:40 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

AhnLab V3 Security
ASD.Prevention
2013.01.23

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/InstallIQ.Gen5
7.11.52.188

AVG
AdInstaller.InstallQ
2016.0.2882

Comodo Security
UnclassifiedMalware
15732

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.9
9.0.1.0362

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Riskware.Win32.InstallIQ
8.15.12.28.12

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ (variant)
9.7770

Fortinet FortiGate
Adware/InstallIQ
12/28/2015

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.193.14857

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallIQ.A
v2015.12.28.12

MicroWorld eScan
Win32/InstallIQ
16.0.0.1086

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.W3i.bbvtgo
0.30.0.65070

Quick Heal
Downloader.Agent.g28 (Not a Virus)
12.15.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallX.W3i.Installer (M)
15.12.28.0

Sophos
InstallQ
4.98

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V1122
7.2.362

Trend Micro
TROJ_GEN.FCBCBKS
10.465.28

VIPRE Antivirus
InstallIQ Installer
16352

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.230187
2.0.0.2054

File size:
1.6 MB (1,673,408 bytes)

Product version:
2.110.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright ©2011 W3i Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
InstallIQ.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/19/2011 3:00:00 AM

Valid to:
7/2/2013 2:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN="W3i, LLC", OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O="W3i, LLC", L=Sartell, S=Minnesota, C=US

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)10, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
6A5D73F262C38BBD4578AB6AD713318D

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
3/27/2012 10:47:47 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
49152:lHf9VQRRqvelYDVPddMgGuL83/YfTqxrk:llVSgdDJM3wl

Entry address:
0x41B54

Entry point:
E8, 5A, A0, 00, 00, E9, 78, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, 8B, 4C, 24, 04, F7, C1, 03, 00, 00, 00, 74, 24, 8A, 01, 83, C1, 01, 84, C0, 74, 4E, F7, C1, 03, 00, 00, 00, 75, EF, 05, 00, 00, 00, 00, 8D, A4, 24, 00, 00, 00, 00, 8D, A4, 24, 00, 00, 00, 00, 8B, 01, BA, FF, FE, FE, 7E, 03, D0, 83, F0, FF, 33, C2, 83, C1, 04, A9, 00, 01, 01, 81, 74, E8, 8B, 41, FC, 84, C0, 74, 32, 84, E4, 74, 24, A9, 00, 00, FF, 00, 74, 13, A9, 00, 00, 00, FF, 74, 02, EB, CD, 8D, 41, FF, 8B, 4C, 24, 04, 2B, C1, C3, 8D, 41, FE, 8B, 4C, 24, 04...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.9814

Code size:
979.5 KB (1,003,008 bytes)

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

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