home

avast_setup.exe

Max Setup

The installer utilizes the installCore download manager which may bundle additional offers for various ad-supported toolbars, extensions and utilities. The application avast_setup.exe by Max Setup has been detected as adware by 15 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the installCore installer. The setup program uses the InstallCore engine which may bundle additional software offers including toolbars and browser extensions. 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:
Max Setup  (signed and verified)

MD5:
2b297ffe9baedb5577a30fea345c9bf1

SHA-1:
d9cce2771e16e4b9e075b9875aa9e5f5d192b637

SHA-256:
24f4bd3f1b4911cc738786e3db3489cdd779ed61d535fbe3410b4d2b99e4c782

Scanner detections:
15 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
Uses the InstallCore download manager to install additional potentially unwanted software which may include extensions such as DealPly and various toolbars.

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:
1/12/2025 12:48:33 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.InstallCore
7.1.1

Avira AntiVirus
ADWARE/InstallCore.Gen7
7.11.155.148

AVG
InstallCore
2015.0.3439

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Installcore.MXT
18592

Dr.Web
Trojan.Packed.24524
9.0.1.05190

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallCore.BY potentially unwanted application
7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/A-b3ae19d2
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Application.InstallCore
14.6.24

IKARUS anti.virus
Backdoor.Hupigon
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.180.12449

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.MaxSetup
v2014.06.18.03

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.MaxSetup.L
14.6.18.14

Sophos
Install Core Click run software
4.98

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downware.InstallCore
3.12.26.0

VIPRE Antivirus
Threat.4150696
29708

File size:
656.7 KB (672,488 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Max Setup

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
3/11/2014 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
3/12/2015 12:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Max Setup, O=Max Setup, STREET=Lillienblam 28, L=Tel Aviv, S=Tel Aviv, PostalCode=651307, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=COMODO Code Signing CA 2, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
008F6F1294DBB38F9F80A7A06DE489DF45

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):
12288:UnvpDOzgnx5EmgtCFbS5lZ8sIlz1G43KotNL7tmFRM99kkN8z1pPk:UnvBOzSkMFbS8sIjBvb7yRM99kkN8z1h

Entry address:
0x9C40

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, C4, C4, 53, 56, 57, 33, C0, 89, 45, F0, 89, 45, DC, E8, 86, 94, FF, FF, E8, 8D, A6, FF, FF, E8, 1C, A9, FF, FF, E8, 53, C9, FF, FF, E8, 9A, C9, FF, FF, E8, C9, F2, FF, FF, E8, 30, F4, FF, FF, 33, C0, 55, 68, FC, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 30, 64, 89, 20, 33, D2, 55, 68, C5, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 32, 64, 89, 22, A1, 14, C0, 40, 00, E8, 96, FE, FF, FF, E8, C9, FA, FF, FF, 8D, 55, F0, 33, C0, E8, 83, CF, FF, FF, 8B, 55, F0, B8, 24, CE, 40, 00, E8, 32, 95, FF, FF, 6A, 02, 6A, 00, 6A, 01, 8B, 0D, 24, CE...
 
[+]

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

Code size:
37 KB (37,888 bytes)

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

http://www.freeload4u.org/de/downloads/.../Avast_Setup.exe

Remove avast_setup.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
herdProtect is a second line of defense malware removal platform powered by 68 anti-malware engines in the cloud. Since no single anti-malware program is perfect 100% of the time, herdProtect utilizes a 'herd' of multiple engines to guarantee the widest coverage and the earliest possible detection.