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ContentExplorer.exe

Lake Ventures LLC

This adware bundler is distributed through Adknowledge's advertising supported software managers. The application ContentExplorer.exe by Lake Ventures has been detected as adware by 2 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Adknowledge Fusion installer. It is set to automatically start when a user logs into Windows via the current user run registry key under the display name ‘ContentExplorer’. This file is typically installed with the program ContentExplorer by Lake Ventures LLC which is a potentially unwanted software program.
Publisher:
ContentExplorer  (signed by Lake Ventures LLC)

Product:
ContentExplorer

Version:
0.0.0.0

MD5:
8ef90d0382f4f8f081504f4d711aadce

SHA-1:
e1447ec7ab02e40ce68ec8a6b5b383b21a6b53c2

SHA-256:
cf59df9174a52487274888fe28bc2597a14b65e292c973139d605422a204135a

Scanner detections:
2 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
This installer bundles various adware prorgams that may include toolbars and web browser advertising injectors/extensions.

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:
11/23/2024 1:36:56 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Avira AntiVirus
TR/Dropper.MSIL.Gen
7.11.141.68

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Startup.LakeVentures.P
14.4.9.14

File size:
69.3 KB (70,928 bytes)

Product version:
0.0.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright © ContentExplorer 2014

Original file name:
ContentExplorer.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Adknowledge Fusion

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\roaming\contentexplorer\contentexplorer.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Lake Ventures LLC

Authority:
GoDaddy.com, Inc.

Valid from:
12/17/2013 2:22:44 PM

Valid to:
12/17/2014 2:22:44 PM

Subject:
CN=Lake Ventures LLC, O=Lake Ventures LLC, L=Aliso Viejo, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
SERIALNUMBER=07969287, CN=Go Daddy Secure Certification Authority, OU=http://certificates.godaddy.com/repository, O="GoDaddy.com, Inc.", L=Scottsdale, S=Arizona, C=US

Serial number:
2B14BBCA37F140

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
3/27/2014 4:01:47 AM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
8.0

.NET CLR dependent:
Yes

CTPH (ssdeep):
1536:iw0bgA1C6ggc6xJ+vDLqPJphJ16D8z1ne:iJgA1C6gK6uJp4DO

Entry address:
0x103A6

Entry point:
FF, 25, 00, 20, 40, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 04, 00, 03, 00, 00, 00, 30, 00, 00, 80, 0E, 00, 00, 00, 14, 11, 00, 80, 10, 00, 00, 00, 64, 11...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.1656

Developed / compiled with:
Microsoft Visual C# / Basic .NET

Code size:
57 KB (58,368 bytes)

Startup File (User Run)
Registry location:
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Name:
ContentExplorer

Command:
"C:\users\{user}\appdata\roaming\contentexplorer\contentexplorer.exe"


The file ContentExplorer.exe has been discovered within the following programs.

ContentExplorer  by Lake Ventures LLC
From the Terms and Conditions: "Content Explorer is ad-supported. During general internet usage on sites where Content Explorer operates, users may see additional banner, search, pop-up, pop-under, and in-text link advertisements.
ContentExplorer.net
85% remove it
 
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The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-52-87-43-231.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (52.87.43.231:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-54-209-12-138.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (54.209.12.138:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-52-73-79-56.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (52.73.79.56:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-52-20-73-151.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (52.20.73.151:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to edge-star-mini-shv-01-gru2.facebook.com  (31.13.85.36:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-54-235-121-246.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (54.235.121.246:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-54-208-30-101.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (54.208.30.101:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-54-175-63-43.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (54.175.63.43:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-52-205-232-217.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (52.205.232.217:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to www-news.easypersea.com  (66.155.106.152:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to unallocated.barefruit.co.uk  (92.242.142.8:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to server-54-230-102-155.iad2.r.cloudfront.net  (54.230.102.155:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to server-52-84-174-98.gru50.r.cloudfront.net  (52.84.174.98:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to server2.rareideas.com  (72.32.40.232:80)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to rtr3.l7.search.vip.ir2.yahoo.com  (217.12.15.96:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to rtr3.l7.search.vip.bf1.yahoo.com  (63.250.200.63:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to pr-bh.pbp.vip.bf1.yahoo.com  (72.30.2.182:443)

TCP (HTTP SSL):
Connects to oneads-atatwola-adtech-mtc-blue-b.evip.aol.com  (152.163.56.3:443)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to og-in-f156.1e100.net  (74.125.198.156:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to og-in-f155.1e100.net  (74.125.198.155:80)

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