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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 11 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:
2.132.1.0

MD5:
ea0312d2fa39fda6ffcc2ab1a417a457

SHA-1:
d70e0fdd78c54801ce1faa6c33f859cb6fd516d9

SHA-256:
5e7e08ef0430125a780e1d5e82e23fc72719ea00e0efe0bbfeedd5e3a9f49ac0

Scanner detections:
11 / 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 4:14:03 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/InstallIQ.Gen5
7.11.104.28

AVG
Skodna.Generic_r
2016.0.2940

Bkav FE
HW32.Laneul
1.3.0.4246

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.32
9.0.1.0304

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ (variant)
9.8836

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.InstallIQ
t3scan.2.0.127

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallIQ
v2015.10.31.06

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallX.Installer (M)
15.10.31.6

Sophos
InstallQ
4.93

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0808
7.2.304

VIPRE Antivirus
InstallIQ Installer
21778

File size:
1.8 MB (1,901,136 bytes)

Product version:
2.132.1.0

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:
8/6/2013 3:37:42 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:8/tgCJUXcMOh8N/avoJtZZ/85IVoK8TqxQIVZtgJGo+/NVlRz3d8h1TnkTeH6hQN:8/SDwUsLIWYQIVZA+zltN8h1T4bKx

Entry address:
0xEEE9

Entry point:
E8, 65, 88, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, 70, 5A, 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:
6.6928

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,251,328 bytes)

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

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=e276b063-2179-43f1-b211-d7a5195a0b5d&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=87f7fba7-665c-4805-909c-e8583674c2c7&shortname=games

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=6fe08501-9b03-45ef-ab76-882146fe5035&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=f8d0611f-02e6-443e-89f0-bcdf9724fb33&shortname=games

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