home

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 10 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:
2.136.5.0

MD5:
b01a7911b6c0db937d69e6be294e08f2

SHA-1:
50ca03a5a40b3e578f01f6f35f8d9a99060a3508

SHA-256:
be5a694a9e78d25d0a5adddaf8641707d376328b0bb33a87c98b828767a60c1f

Scanner detections:
10 / 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 '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:
12/23/2024 3:58:48 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/InstallIQ.Gen5
7.11.119.52

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.InstallIQ.B
17422

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.32
9.0.1.0240

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ (variant)
8.9160

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.174.10484

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallIQ
v2014.08.28.03

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.InstallX.F
14.9.30.13

Sophos
InstallQ
4.95

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V1129
7.2.240

VIPRE Antivirus
InstallIQ Installer
24250

File size:
1.9 MB (1,947,216 bytes)

Product version:
2.136.5.0

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 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2014 8:00:00 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:
11/20/2013 4:29:26 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:FVSsVw9Ou9dTjoY9cAjc9VgQ5PgoquNrR/7hpOMS7kKpXmEDZ0EWEbTkTi+on2bW:FVNbYqcLO/7hpO5pJDCgbTkTu2b8tKi

Entry address:
0xEEE9

Entry point:
E8, B5, 88, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, 38, FE, 57, 00, E8, F1, 47, 00, 00, E8, B9, 6A, 00, 00, 0F, B7, F0, 6A, 02, E8, 48, 88, 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, D5, 64, 00, 00, 85, C0, 75, 08, 6A, 1C, E8, DC, 00, 00, 00, 59, E8...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.6918

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,283,584 bytes)

The file games.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=b641a2c8-6e1b-42ac-8236-738521d6af76&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=4c0f5089-37e3-40e5-8977-6dab745e94b1&shortname=games

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=b5b221e5-9357-4141-a16b-5d8f675732f0&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=ba09d137-697c-49ff-835e-999cb8109761&shortname=games

Remove games.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.