gardens.exe

InstallIQ Installation Utility

W3i, 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 gardens.exe by W3i has been detected as adware by 12 anti-malware scanners. The file has been seen being downloaded from dl2.iq4download.com.
Publisher:
W3i, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.99.0.0

MD5:
cc047f6eac218950ed1d83414dc117b0

SHA-1:
7ed53af1f7d61287a8cdd4cd0b240c621237dcc6

SHA-256:
f857eb67fbf6ec3cef5f415a7760feed3545981132a5b5c9b92ed3b0ca8ca971

Scanner detections:
12 / 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.

Analysis date:
11/15/2024 2:57:00 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Avira AntiVirus
APPL/InstallIQ.Gen5
7.11.180.204

AVG
Adware InstallIQ.BC
2014.0.4040

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.InstallIQ.NTZK
19879

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.9, Adware.W3i.4
9.0.1.05190

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ.A potentially unwanted application
7.0.302.0

Fortinet FortiGate
Adware/InstallIQ
10/23/2014

G Data
Win32.Application.InstallIQ
14.10.24

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.InstallIQ.A
v2014.10.23.05

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.W3i.H
14.10.23.5

Sophos
InstallQ
4.98

Vba32 AntiVirus
Adware.InstallIQ.Downloader
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Threat.4150696
33706

File size:
1.5 MB (1,600,704 bytes)

Product version:
2.99.0.0

Copyright:
Copyright ©2011 W3i Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
InstallIQ.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\Program Files\w3i\gardens.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/18/2011 5:00:00 PM

Valid to:
7/1/2013 4:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN="W3i, LLC", OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O="W3i, LLC", L=Sartell, S=Minnesota, C=US

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)10, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
6A5D73F262C38BBD4578AB6AD713318D

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
8/9/2011 2:55:12 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:YEQC64EkkAGdohU7yTYOxyaFGVwuC0K+Zh1BtJJ7MR9TDV8adE2SHRpZ3cp:JEkidmUQYO3FWwuAcdjmHTK5r2

Entry address:
0x41B54

Entry point:
E8, 9A, 9E, 00, 00, E9, 78, FE, FF, FF, 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, C3, 8D, 41, FE, 8B, 4C, 24, 04...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.9949

Code size:
928.5 KB (950,784 bytes)

The file gardens.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

Remove gardens.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security