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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:
2.129.0.0

MD5:
04ea99ba93175046d0f4a67078b7e9cb

SHA-1:
e97321dd28f868f78f268973b3ee84029911a4d2

SHA-256:
ab6d54b8773c0fb0abca21495a2b73169d777bccb7f60231b4995f8902c14cac

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:
11/4/2024 5:15:13 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/InstallIQ.Gen5
7.11.121.58

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.30
9.0.1.0224

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ (variant)
8.9190

herdProtect (fuzzy)
variant of nuancepdf_d4041216.exe (Adware)
2014.10.23.12

IKARUS anti.virus
APPL
t3scan.2.2.29

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallIQ
v2014.10.23.08

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.InstallX.F
14.9.30.13

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.InstallIQ!1.9E4F
23.00.65.141021

Sophos
InstallQ
4.96

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0501
7.2.224

VIPRE Antivirus
InstallIQ Installer
24596

File size:
1.5 MB (1,611,344 bytes)

Product version:
2.129.0.0

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 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:
4/30/2013 4:31:43 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
49152:N4wosf9n5e9ahmA/BrAj+zl/7E+mtbuuvxMiLd3SSR8C4XZDVTKKN:N4wo85/B7mtbXCSR14XZsg

Entry address:
0xE8EC

Entry point:
E8, 40, 94, 00, 00, E9, 78, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, 8B, 4C, 24, 04, F7, C1, 03, 00, 00, 00, 74, 24, 8A, 01, 83, C1, 01, 84, C0, 74, 4E, F7, C1, 03, 00, 00, 00, 75, EF, 05, 00, 00, 00, 00, 8D, A4, 24, 00, 00, 00, 00, 8D, A4, 24, 00, 00, 00, 00, 8B, 01, BA, FF, FE, FE, 7E, 03, D0, 83, F0, FF, 33, C2, 83, C1, 04, A9, 00, 01, 01, 81, 74, E8, 8B, 41, FC, 84, C0, 74, 32, 84, E4, 74, 24, A9, 00, 00, FF, 00, 74, 13, A9, 00, 00, 00, FF, 74, 02, EB, CD, 8D, 41, FF, 8B, 4C, 24, 04, 2B, C1...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.8136

Code size:
1 MB (1,084,928 bytes)

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

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=8ac68ec7-35cb-4f7e-8fb9-8e217fd33415&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=b0a6d1d7-bea7-413b-8f40-fb3aed6464ea&shortname=games

http://dl8.iq8download.com/lm/.../games.exe

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=37c979ac-2175-41ee-9703-9bbb0d75b25b&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=bdef18e3-273f-42fe-a799-fa1501d046eb&shortname=games

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