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hotspot_shield.exe

Conduit Toolbar

Conduit Ltd.

The file is part of the Conduit Toolbar platform, a web browser monetization engine that is typiclaly distributed with third party programs through a bundled installation, this particular version is part of the Hotspot Shield Toolbar bundle. The application hotspot_shield.exe, “Hotspot_Shield Toolbar” by Conduit has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. The program is a setup application that uses the Conduit Setup Manager installer.
Publisher:
Conduit Ltd.  (signed and verified)

Product:
Conduit Toolbar

Description:
Hotspot_Shield Toolbar

Version:
6.17.2.8

MD5:
22e6ee8581dff88f39c9e9f075bd66c4

SHA-1:
aa3216a289d8145950b97bc15d86712da68c257b

SHA-256:
d89c07822572df68c7df2d3b10801be3c3695c39d38e802cd31c144e473d79d4

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
This component is distributed and installed with the Conduit Toolbar platform.

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:
11/23/2024 7:56:42 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Conduit.Bundler (M)
16.2.29.16

File size:
3 MB (3,167,720 bytes)

Product version:
6.17.2.8

Copyright:
Conduit (C) 2013 All Rights Reserved

Original file name:
Conduit Toolbar

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Conduit Setup Manager (using Nullsoft Install System)

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\hotspot_shield.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Conduit Ltd.

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/2/2013 4:00:00 PM

Valid to:
4/3/2016 4:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Conduit Ltd., OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Conduit Ltd., L=Ness Ziona, S=Israel, C=IL

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:
3A82654719D8F75B59134F7B66465210

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/10/2010 5:19:31 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
98304:8qtv9oNl1Aj8ONu8I5/sLWKP9LZa2xx86/l5:8qIAQOHIJFQLZa45

Entry address:
0x354B

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, D8, 84, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B8, 80, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, B0, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 98, 06, 47, 00, E8, 67, 27, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, B0, 05, 47, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 1C, 86, 40, 00, FF, 15, 80, 81, 40, 00, 68, 04, 86, 40, 00, 68, A0, 85, 46, 00, E8, 35, 26, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 80, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, 10, 4C, 00, 57, E8, 23, 26, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9987

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
25 KB (25,600 bytes)

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

http://iet.conduit-download.com/52/156/CT1561552/Downloads/IE/Releases/6.17.2.8/.../Hotspot_Shield.exe

The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ude.conduit-data.com  (195.78.120.173:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (199.101.114.147:80)

 
http://offering.service.distributionengine.conduit-services.com/DecisionEngine.ashx

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com  (54.243.251.51:80)

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