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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 Ask Toolbar by Ask.com and Ask Toolbar Updater by Ask.com, both potentially unwanted software.
Publisher:
Ask  (signed by Ask.com)

Product:
Updater

Description:
Ask Updater

Version:
1.2.6.36191

MD5:
a86e37b2e1e0646f6aacc193c8b12964

SHA-1:
f3e09b05a4a33fd584a7ae1929e8a5248e12ba27

SHA-256:
5607ed7ddd538c2b6e50bc87b0a51bb634bb371810bfadeb201976e39805939c

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 2:57:53 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask (M)
17.3.14.7

File size:
1.6 MB (1,648,264 bytes)

Product version:
1.2.6.36191

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:
6/19/2011 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
6/18/2014 7:59:59 PM

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:
4/25/2013 8:35:58 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

Entry address:
0xAEF01

Entry point:
E8, 54, DB, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, 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, C0, C7, 4F, 00, 00, 74, 16, 57, 56, 83, E7, 0F, 83, E6, 0F, 3B, FE, 5E, 5F, 75, 08, 5E, 5F, 5D, E9, C0, 82, 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, 84, F0, 4A, 00, 90, 8B, C7, BA, 03, 00, 00, 00, 83, E9, 04, 72, 0C, 83...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.1093

Code size:
816 KB (835,584 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.

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.
help.ask.com/link/portal/30015/30018/Article/1/How-do-I-remove-the-Ask-com-Toolbar
81% 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
Avery Toolbar  by Ask.com
Avery 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.
sp.ask.com/toolbar
82% remove it
Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection  by Ask.com
Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. Avira SearchFree Toolbar gets installed through bundled software.
85% 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
MP3 Rocket Toolbar  by Ask.com
MP3 Rocket 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.
87% remove it
Nero Toolbar  by Ask.com
Nero 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.
70% remove it
Nero Toolbar Updater  by Ask.com
Nero Toolbar 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.
87% remove it
 
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