chrome_updater.exe

File Validated

This is the InstallMetrix bundle installer which bundles applications with offers for additional 3rd party software, mostly unwanted adware, and may be installed with minimal consent. The application chrome_updater.exe by File Validated has been detected as adware by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. The program is a setup application that uses the InstallMetrix Software installer. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as Google's Chrome web browser but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
File Validated  (signed and verified)

MD5:
372fafabf232f1b1c22454406b0da9a4

SHA-1:
31b75834d5025bc3ef6cf22762307ac71fe9d9c4

SHA-256:
a5e1461dceaab5065d589d34fa6503547cb3b5094ab20112377265d4b5e95dcf

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Note:
Our current pool of anti-malware engines have not currently detected this file, however based on our own detection heuristics we feel that this file is unwanted.

Description:
This is an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
10/14/2025 2:06:24 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallMetrix.FileValidated (M)
16.2.17.12

File size:
1.1 MB (1,144,048 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallMetrix Software

Language:
English (United Kingdom)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
thawte, Inc.

Valid from:
2/26/2015 4:00:00 PM

Valid to:
2/27/2016 3:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=File Validated, OU=File Validated, O=File Validated, L=San Francisco, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=thawte SHA256 Code Signing CA, O="thawte, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
1C96D72469336B0857534EE1D7E9701D

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/6/2015 9:33:28 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:Otb20pkaCqT5TBWgNQ7aUQ8P/tLmjcl/qe1Fyry6Ag:7Vg5tQ7aUpP/tLmAjWu5g

Entry address:
0x25F74

Entry point:
E8, 6A, CE, 00, 00, E9, 7F, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, 57, 56, 8B, 74, 24, 10, 8B, 4C, 24, 14, 8B, 7C, 24, 0C, 8B, C1, 8B, D1, 03, C6, 3B, FE, 76, 08, 3B, F8, 0F, 82, 68, 03, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 01, 73, 07, F3, A4, E9, 17, 03, 00, 00, 81, F9, 80, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 82, CE, 01, 00, 00, 8B, C7, 33, C6, A9, 0F, 00, 00, 00, 75, 0E, 0F, BA, 25, 70, A3, 4B, 00, 01, 0F, 82, DA, 04, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 00, 0F, 83, A7, 01, 00, 00, F7, C7, 03, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 85, B8, 01, 00, 00, F7, C6, 03, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.0552

Code size:
557.5 KB (570,880 bytes)

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

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