chrome_updater.exe

Start Installer

This is the InstallMetrix bundle installer which bundles applications with offers for additional 3rd party software, mostly unwanted adware, and may be installed with minimal consent. The application chrome_updater.exe by Start Installer 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 InstallMetrix Software installer. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as Google's Chrome web browser but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
Start Installer  (signed and verified)

MD5:
eab962d5d84a93013ad4c21378ba5426

SHA-1:
7e23f52bb8b471e8f6361568418476c7303cf251

SHA-256:
3fde6b7c33b746c1f517be535f839815394a7c5751e3619805da2080e12cad5b

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:
12/26/2024 12:50:58 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallMetrix.StartIns (M)
16.6.11.11

File size:
1.1 MB (1,149,072 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallMetrix Software

Language:
English (United Kingdom)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
7/29/2014 5:00:00 PM

Valid to:
7/30/2015 4:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Start Installer, OU=Start Installer, O=Start Installer, STREET="660 4th Street, Suite #427", L=San Francisco, S=California, PostalCode=94107, C=US

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

Serial number:
698FCE4EEDDA7C3853C0A7CDE049BA16

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/13/2015 8:25:18 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:Ttb20pkaCqT5TBWgNQ7aYQ8P/F/5gB8It6y/6AT:QVg5tQ7aYpP/F6+7W5T

Entry address:
0x25F74

Entry point:
E8, 6A, CE, 00, 00, E9, 7F, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, 57, 56, 8B, 74, 24, 10, 8B, 4C, 24, 14, 8B, 7C, 24, 0C, 8B, C1, 8B, D1, 03, C6, 3B, FE, 76, 08, 3B, F8, 0F, 82, 68, 03, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 01, 73, 07, F3, A4, E9, 17, 03, 00, 00, 81, F9, 80, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 82, CE, 01, 00, 00, 8B, C7, 33, C6, A9, 0F, 00, 00, 00, 75, 0E, 0F, BA, 25, 70, A3, 4B, 00, 01, 0F, 82, DA, 04, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 00, 0F, 83, A7, 01, 00, 00, F7, C7, 03, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 85, B8, 01, 00, 00, F7, C6, 03, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.0581

Code size:
557.5 KB (570,880 bytes)

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

Remove chrome_updater.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security