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games.exe

InstallIQ Installation Utility

InstallX, LLC

The InstallIQ (InstallX) installation program is a co-bundle stub that devlivers software monetization offers during installation. These offers include web browser toolbars and extensions. The application games.exe by InstallX has been detected as adware by 13 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the InstallIQ Installation Manager installer. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl.freeze.com and multiple other hosts.
Publisher:
InstallX, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.135.0.0

MD5:
9a24f7449ed4515275f702c074c180e6

SHA-1:
06ad63a77debc9d850c58115a792966f8f418020

SHA-256:
3b776a3a1edd92d600b4fcc3d52242a325a25a864dff97d8a7e1d7ef5c509f02

Scanner detections:
13 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
InstallIQ is a bundled offer download and install manager that is designed to show sponsored offers during installation that typically includes adware type toolbars, browser extensions and plugin or other potentially unwanted software along with the promised application.

Description:
This is also known as bundleware, or downloadware, which is an downloader designed to simply deliver ad-supported offers in the setup routine of an otherwise legitimate software.

Analysis date:
12/23/2024 4:01:46 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.Installiq
2013.10.16

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/InstallIQ.Gen5
7.11.107.236

AVG
Skodna.Generic_r
2016.0.3195

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.InstallIQ.B
17115

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.32
9.0.1.048

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ (variant)
9.8922

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.InstallIQ
t3scan.2.0.127

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallIQ
v2015.02.17.02

McAfee
Artemis!9A24F7449ED4
5600.6851

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.InstallX
15.2.17.14

Sophos
InstallQ
4.93

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0927
7.2.48

VIPRE Antivirus
InstallIQ Installer
22434

File size:
1.8 MB (1,909,328 bytes)

Product version:
2.135.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright ©2013 InstallX, LLC. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
InstallIQ.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallIQ Installation Manager

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
InstallX, LLC

Authority:
DigiCert Inc

Valid from:
3/21/2013 5:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2014 5:00:00 AM

Subject:
CN="InstallX, LLC", O="InstallX, LLC", L=Sartell, S=Minnesota, C=US

Issuer:
CN=DigiCert Assured ID Code Signing CA-1, OU=www.digicert.com, O=DigiCert Inc, C=US

Serial number:
030985B5A39F75A13A497DAB8BF611F7

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
9/23/2013 2:10:12 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:PR0e5DNw0EIh/F3WHZbOCLuXGMGUM412Qha8LqJLNjpM3g5rgzc5z3T/XZbbJYvx:PRZd9qS2Qhahjygxkc5TTlNKx

Entry address:
0xEEE9

Entry point:
E8, 65, 88, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, D0, 6F, 57, 00, E8, A1, 47, 00, 00, E8, 69, 6A, 00, 00, 0F, B7, F0, 6A, 02, E8, F8, 87, 00, 00, 59, B8, 4D, 5A, 00, 00, 66, 39, 05, 00, 00, 40, 00, 74, 04, 33, DB, EB, 33, A1, 3C, 00, 40, 00, 81, B8, 00, 00, 40, 00, 50, 45, 00, 00, 75, EB, B9, 0B, 01, 00, 00, 66, 39, 88, 18, 00, 40, 00, 75, DD, 33, DB, 83, B8, 74, 00, 40, 00, 0E, 76, 09, 39, 98, E8, 00, 40, 00, 0F, 95, C3, 89, 5D, E4, E8, 85, 64, 00, 00, 85, C0, 75, 08, 6A, 1C, E8, DC, 00, 00, 00, 59, E8...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.6893

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,257,472 bytes)

The file games.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 3 URLs.

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=dacb8455-dd50-4aec-a20f-ccd8de1010e1&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=a6a88850-9d6d-417d-ac6e-79c39d975a4a&shortname=games

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=22d357d4-1ea1-44d9-8cef-4f019a815473&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=4a20d2ef-facf-4d79-b509-d22dde0762fa&shortname=games

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=242e3c5c-1280-43a9-a8a3-105bcaab3f5a&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=9f3252e7-4220-4080-b532-3aad28ade878&shortname=games

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