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APNMCP.exe

APN Updater

APN LLC

This installer is part of the Ask.com (APN) network which will install the Ask.com branded toolbar or browser extension which will take control of the web browser's search functions. The application APNMCP.exe by APN has been detected as a potentially unwanted program 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 APN Stub installer. It runs as a separate (within the context of its own process) windows Service named “Ask Update Service”.
Publisher:
APN LLC.  (signed by APN LLC)

Product:
APN Updater

Version:
21.22.0.8331

MD5:
4d2f749789eec16d40b4f5d40a77013e

SHA-1:
5de743e247adbd7efeb3493fc4a41ad648bd5906

SHA-256:
b69749726c16e54fc2ec448748dba5136c412ee5a70443b559db89406ba811cb

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:
12/23/2024 5:33:20 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask (M)
17.3.13.18

File size:
197.1 KB (201,800 bytes)

Product version:
21.22.0.8331

Copyright:
© 2016 APN, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Original file name:
APNMCP.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\Program Files\askpartnernetwork\toolbar\apnmcp.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
APN LLC

Authority:
Symantec Corporation

Valid from:
12/3/2015 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
5/28/2018 1:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=APN LLC, O=APN LLC, L=Oakland, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=Symantec Class 3 SHA256 Code Signing CA, OU=Symantec Trust Network, O=Symantec Corporation, C=US

Serial number:
76A1FC71CE00683A2B887A2CFA2F5D6B

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
11/9/2016 4:22:38 AM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

Entry address:
0x1228A

Entry point:
E8, F8, 74, 00, 00, E9, 89, FE, FF, FF, 8B, FF, 55, 8B, EC, 8B, 4D, 0C, 53, 33, DB, 3B, CB, 76, 1B, 6A, E0, 33, D2, 58, F7, F1, 3B, 45, 10, 73, 0F, E8, 30, 03, 00, 00, C7, 00, 0C, 00, 00, 00, 33, C0, EB, 41, 0F, AF, 4D, 10, 56, 57, 8B, F1, 39, 5D, 08, 74, 0B, FF, 75, 08, E8, 0B, 53, 00, 00, 59, 8B, D8, 56, FF, 75, 08, E8, 43, 75, 00, 00, 8B, F8, 59, 59, 85, FF, 74, 14, 3B, DE, 73, 10, 2B, F3, 56, 6A, 00, 03, DF, 53, E8, D8, E5, FF, FF, 83, C4, 0C, 8B, C7, 5F, 5E, 5B, 5D, C3, 6A, 0C, 68, B8, A1, 42, 00, E8...
 
[+]

Code size:
130.5 KB (133,632 bytes)

Service
Display name:
Ask Update Service

Service name:
APNMCP

Description:
The Ask Update Service keeps your toolbar software powered by Ask up to date.

Type:
Win32OwnProcess


The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to www.search-results.com  (66.235.120.111:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to www.search.ask.com  (23.76.222.3:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to websearch.search-results.com  (199.36.100.106:80)

 
http://websearch.search-results.com/redirect?client=ff&src=kw&tb=GET-SRS&o=630967116&locale=us_ZZ&apn_uid=1892917050&apn_ptnrs=2R&apn_sauid=1261944700&apn_dtid=get001YYPT&q=

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ss.websearch.ask.com  (174.129.25.170:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to apnstatic.ask.com  (23.67.242.17:80)

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