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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 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl5.iq6download.com.
Publisher:
W3i, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.106.1.0

MD5:
8e2c5569d2b2a5f6fa0a77f6b16139f3

SHA-1:
4cbaeeb6ab7ca42dbb361e2f03f7756c5427c79f

SHA-256:
7d793ea681135426ba0093fa47d8a5799271e2deb84d777fc31a7399be5df251

Scanner detections:
1 / 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:
5/7/2024 5:43:49 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallX.W3i.Installer (M)
16.3.15.2

File size:
1.6 MB (1,645,248 bytes)

Product version:
2.106.1.0

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\programs\whales.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
W3i, LLC

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/19/2011 7:00:00 AM

Valid to:
7/2/2013 6:59:59 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:
1/9/2012 11:05:10 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
49152:iiEXUd3u1+bahtyWoTXD7IT6+i4oagoaTKDrj:gUd3IcPITv5oagI

Entry address:
0x41B54

Entry point:
E8, 4A, 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:
6.9850

Code size:
959.5 KB (982,528 bytes)

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

http://dl5.iq6download.com/lm/.../whales.exe

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