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Updater.exe

Updater

Ask.com

This is a component of the Ask.com toolbar, a browser extension that will modify the default web browser's search provider, home page and various other settings. The application Updater.exe by Ask.com has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. It is set to automatically execute when any user logs into Windows (through the local user run registry setting) with the name ‘ApnUpdater’. Additionally, the file is typically installed by a number of programs including Nero Toolbar Updater by Ask.com and GOM Player + Ask Toolbar by Ask.com, both potentially unwanted software.
Publisher:
Ask  (signed by Ask.com)

Product:
Updater

Description:
Ask Updater

Version:
5.15.1.22229

MD5:
a8a9e1fb6d32e96a2ce360381a2eb610

SHA-1:
dc501d567ca629d589eecff3d37b49957596ab3e

SHA-256:
6972803194e3e6fc362fe3c39e4b086860af2803a50863d7553078b1265e0aa1

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

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.

Analysis date:
5/6/2024 6:33:34 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask (M)
17.3.14.11

File size:
1.5 MB (1,557,160 bytes)

Product version:
5.15.1.22229

Copyright:
(c) Ask. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
Updater.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\Program Files\ask.com\updater\updater.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/20/2011 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
6/19/2014 12:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Ask.com, OU=Distribution, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Ask.com, L=Oakland, S=California, 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:
0965F2AC7236C7E1BDCA44ED139B273A

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/10/2012 1:43:10 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

Entry address:
0x9F8C7

Entry point:
E8, FE, D9, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, 55, 8B, EC, 57, 56, 8B, 75, 0C, 8B, 4D, 10, 8B, 7D, 08, 8B, C1, 8B, D1, 03, C6, 3B, FE, 76, 08, 3B, F8, 0F, 82, A4, 01, 00, 00, 81, F9, 00, 01, 00, 00, 72, 1F, 83, 3D, 40, 66, 4E, 00, 00, 74, 16, 57, 56, 83, E7, 0F, 83, E6, 0F, 3B, FE, 5E, 5F, 75, 08, 5E, 5F, 5D, E9, CC, 76, 00, 00, F7, C7, 03, 00, 00, 00, 75, 15, C1, E9, 02, 83, E2, 03, 83, F9, 08, 72, 2A, F3, A5, FF, 24, 95, 54, FA, 49, 00, 90, 8B, C7, BA...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.0793

Code size:
747 KB (764,928 bytes)

Startup File (All Users Run)
Registry location:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Name:
ApnUpdater

Command:
"C:\Program Files\ask.com\updater\updater.exe"


The file Updater.exe has been discovered within the following programs.

APN Updater  by Ask.com
APN (Ask Parnter Network) Updater is a software utility that installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. The toolbar gets installed through bundled software.
sp.ask.com/toolbar
80% remove it
Arcade Town Toolbar  by Ask.com
Arcade Town Toolbar, powered by ASK, is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software.
help.ask.com/link/portal/30015/30018/Article/1/How-do-I-remove-the-Ask-com-Toolbar
80% remove it
Ask Toolbar  by Ask.com
The Ask Toolbar is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. Ask.
81% remove it
Ask Toolbar for Pogo Updater  by Ask.com
Publisher's description - “Ask Toolbar lets you perform a search from wherever you are on the Web. It's free to download and fits right in your browser. No matter what site you're visiting, simply go to the Ask Toolbar already in your browser, and type in your search.”
84% remove it
Ask Toolbar Updater  by Ask.com
The Ask Toolbar Updater is designed to periodically (once a day) check for an install updates to the toolbar without the interaction of the user. The Ask Toolbar and other applications are increasingly being bundled with programs; most notably freeware.
75% remove it
Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar  by Ask.com
This toolbar is typiclaly bundled with the installation of the free Foxit PDF Creator software. Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar is a software utility that installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated.
66% remove it
Foxit PDF Creator Toolbar Updater  by Ask.com
Foxit PDF Creator Updater installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. Avira SearchFree Toolbar gets installed through bundled software.
73% remove it
GOM Player + Ask Toolbar  by Ask.com
GOM Player + Ask Toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install the GOM Player Toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC.
68% remove it
KMPlayer Toolbar  by Ask.com
This toolbar is typiclaly bundled with the installation of the free KMPlayer software. KMPlayer Toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install the KMPlayer Toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC.
www.kmpmedia.net
74% remove it
KMPlayer Toolbar Updater  by Ask.com
KMPlayer Toolbar Updater is a software utility that installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. KMPlayer Toolbar gets installed through bundled software.
80% remove it
 
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