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avast.exe

Pep

SpeedyInstall (New Media Holdings Ltd)

The application avast.exe, “Pep Setup ” by SpeedyInstall (New Media Holdings) 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 installCore installer. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as the free AVAST Antivirus but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
Fotecole   (signed by SpeedyInstall (New Media Holdings Ltd))

Product:
Pep

Description:
Pep Setup

MD5:
8180b5502bd7a483e1984f31a7429b19

SHA-1:
0ff07aa0e57f456c7c0abf7a6a42fc200a3eb70b

SHA-256:
060e35735780f8c18881dcf9f1db68ad2fea2b666bd993c0ea0d336643875b24

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 'download manager' is also considered bundleware, a utility designed to download software (possibly legitimate or opensource) and bundle it with a number of optional offers including ad-supported utilities, toolbars, shopping comparison tools and browser extensions.

Analysis date:
2/27/2025 1:56:56 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.NewMedia.NMH.Bundler (M)
16.6.5.2

File size:
980.9 KB (1,004,440 bytes)

Product version:
1.8.9

Copyright:
Internet

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\inetcache\ie\{random}\avast.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
SpeedyInstall (New Media Holdings Ltd)

Authority:
GlobalSign nv-sa

Valid from:
12/17/2015 2:29:11 PM

Valid to:
6/1/2016 5:08:50 PM

Subject:
CN=SpeedyInstall (New Media Holdings Ltd), O=SpeedyInstall (New Media Holdings Ltd), L=Tel Aviv, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=GlobalSign CodeSigning CA - SHA256 - G2, O=GlobalSign nv-sa, C=BE

Serial number:
11215EB8F08AA45D81F2E6E2508B843425D4

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/20/1992 12:22:17 AM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:wJjN8qkVyuh5uCDDxXmtezeGX6RPt5YQ4U8XnXsY:whCqC4CDlXmtux6RV5YQ4l3X

Entry address:
0xA5F8

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, C4, C4, 53, 56, 57, 33, C0, 89, 45, F0, 89, 45, DC, E8, CE, 8A, FF, FF, E8, D5, 9C, FF, FF, E8, 64, 9F, FF, FF, E8, 07, A0, FF, FF, E8, A6, BF, FF, FF, E8, 11, E9, FF, FF, E8, 78, EA, FF, FF, 33, C0, 55, 68, C9, AC, 40, 00, 64, FF, 30, 64, 89, 20, 33, D2, 55, 68, 92, AC, 40, 00, 64, FF, 32, 64, 89, 22, A1, 14, C0, 40, 00, E8, 26, F5, FF, FF, E8, 11, F1, FF, FF, 80, 3D, 34, B2, 40, 00, 00, 74, 0C, E8, 23, F6, FF, FF, 33, C0, E8, C4, 97, FF, FF, 8D, 55, F0, 33, C0, E8, B6, C5, FF, FF, 8B, 55...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
Inno Setup v5.x - Installer Maker

Code size:
39.5 KB (40,448 bytes)

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

http://www.straightarchiveslist.com/c?x=nR5S6jda0SxNWbGM69PZpiIKkYw4PGh9ZcUwUufb3hw=&c=rxnW7NgZim5YqjbW5GzbWGD2JsNDCQYOb02Ary2lrVM8kDWVOEUcvH0VjeM8VxI3aHFTTuPY57Jp3c5RBlon0t3etGKpMaFQbVml42FHlBYNqeajvh7yVrlKBzQWWmC4&fallback_url=Fallback URL&downloadAs=avast.exe

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