home

installchecker.exe

Install Checker

Ask.com

This installer is part of the Ask.com (APN) network which will install the Ask.com branded toolbar or browser extension which will take control of the web browser's search functions. The application installchecker.exe by Ask.com has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 3 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the APN Stub installer. Additionally, the file is typically installed by a number of programs including Quick Media Converter by Cocoon Software and Paltalk Messenger by AVM Software Inc.. This version of the installer will bundle the Ask.com Toolbar, a potentially unwanted web browser extension.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

Product:
Install Checker

Version:
1.5.0.0

MD5:
8f9b5f4f87207be1cf810ddc95124f92

SHA-1:
f5cec54c9aac59167ba95ec8077438be381fba3d

SHA-256:
4501e3f8f41966d403e76d3b1d04525098f0b6d41b65741a8351f3b0d3e4397e

Scanner detections:
3 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles that Ask.com toolbar as a third-party offer, a web browser extension that may modify a user's search and home pages.

Analysis date:
11/27/2024 6:31:26 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Boost by Reason
Optional.Ask.O
188838

ESET NOD32
Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask (variant)
7.9311

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.O
14.8.8.2

File size:
242.8 KB (248,664 bytes)

Product version:
1.5.0.0

Copyright:
© 2008 Ask.com

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\temp\installchecker.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/17/2008 2:00:00 AM

Valid to:
6/18/2011 1:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Ask.com, OU=Distribution, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Ask.com, L=Oakland, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2004 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)04, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
286F8A30E2EAC6965B936F826A05305D

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/5/2010 11:33:24 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
3072:L9Sc/cBP7ZyFQyNGhwPjVr88LkkPl5qcV21BSA5mffoL6xB3UCWT4zeNpdrhUu5g:L9+B9AHKyjVrTLkkP7qcXvxZzchm

Entry address:
0xDD66

Entry point:
E8, BB, 90, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, 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, 2B, C1...
 
[+]

Code size:
132.5 KB (135,680 bytes)

The file installchecker.exe has been discovered within the following programs.

CutePDF Writer  by Acro Software
Publisher's description - “Portable Document Format (PDF) is the de facto standard for the secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms around the world. CutePDF Writer is the free version of commercial PDF converter software.”
www.cutepdf.com/products/cutepdf/writer.asp
About 7% of users remove it
Paltalk Messenger  by AVM Software Inc.
Paltalk is an instant messaging service that enables users to communicate via internet chat, voice and video chat. It offers chat rooms and the ability for users to create their own public virtual chat room.
www.paltalk.com
49% remove it
QMC  by Cocoon Software
QMC includes a branded version of the Ask.com Toolbar, a web browser extenstion that provides search advertising and results. Upon installation the user is presented with the option to install the Ask toolbar.
www.cocoonsoftware.com
About 5% of users remove it
Quick Media Converter  by Cocoon Software
Quick Media Converter includes a branded version of the Ask.com Toolbar, a web browser extenstion that provides search advertising and results. Upon installation the user is presented with the option to install the Ask toolbar.
About 9% of users remove it
 
Powered by Should I Remove It?

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

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 199.36.102.106.df.iacapn.com  (199.36.102.106:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 74.113.233.61.df.iaccap.com  (74.113.233.61:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 199.36.100.106.df.iacapn.com  (199.36.100.106:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to 199.36.101.106.lv.iacapn.com  (199.36.101.106:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to x65.dataglobe.eu  (79.172.241.65:80)

Remove installchecker.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.