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InstallIQ.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 InstallIQ.exe by InstallX has been detected as adware by 24 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the InstallIQ Installation Manager installer. According to Malwarebytes, this bundles additional adware offers via PlayPickle including toolbars such as Inbox.com, Babylon, Price Gong, Sendori, Price Peep and many others. PlayPickle uses the InstallIQ (InstallX) download manager to distribute such offers.
Publisher:
InstallX, LLC  (signed and verified)

Product:
InstallIQ Installation Utility

Version:
2.133.0.0

MD5:
bde258d9a31561c994312fb91ed07d39

SHA-1:
89be381e1bb8a1027fd930dab70b7862b707f866

SHA-256:
ce7bf330f502ca04488d36f96c0855186c5b085a5c5ffb3088be01a3ca656db4

Scanner detections:
24 / 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 is an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
11/4/2024 4:57:46 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Adware.InstallIQ.B
1151

Avira AntiVirus
Adware/InstallIQ.N
7.11.98.96

AVG
Skodna.Generic_r
2014.0.3543

Bitdefender
Adware.InstallIQ.B
1.0.20.1650

Bkav FE
W32.Clodac9.Trojan
1.3.0.4562

Boost by Reason
Optional.InstallX.J
188838

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.InstallIQ.B
17332

Dr.Web
Adware.W3i.32
9.0.1.0240

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Adware.InstallIQ
8.13.11.26.11

ESET NOD32
Win32/InstallIQ (variant)
7.8706

Fortinet FortiGate
Adware/Fam.NB
11/26/2013

F-Secure
Adware.InstallIQ.B
11.2013-26-11_3

G Data
Adware.InstallIQ
13.11.22

herdProtect (fuzzy)
variant of playpickle.com (Adware)
2013.12.20.17

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.InstallIQ
t3scan.2.0.127

K7 AntiVirus
Riskware
13.170.9394

Malwarebytes
PUP.PlayPickle
v2013.08.28.02

McAfee
Artemis!A34F9AC02DB1
5600.7271

MicroWorld eScan
Adware.InstallIQ.B
14.0.0.990

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Installer.InstallX.J
14.9.30.13

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.InstallIQ!1.9E4F
23.00.65.131227

Sophos
InstallQ
4.91

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0815
7.2.240

VIPRE Antivirus
InstallIQ Installer
20692

File size:
1.8 MB (1,907,792 bytes)

Product version:
2.133.0.0

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\installiq.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
InstallX, LLC

Authority:
DigiCert Inc

Valid from:
3/21/2013 5:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2014 5:00:00 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:
8/13/2013 12:07:58 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:ozWJ69qM6xE3IFu8jUIlYWM5ptIT8hdiUrT8mEdzvw1coPF/BJhFvvtg+N/9ppA9:oiHycM1+7dzvw1coPFTvS+pHpA6TrxKf

Entry address:
0xEEE9

Entry point:
E8, 65, 88, 00, 00, E9, 00, 00, 00, 00, 6A, 14, 68, C0, 5E, 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:
6.6909

Code size:
1.2 MB (1,256,448 bytes)

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

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=df2e5fce-099b-4c40-a76b-4784f24d0038&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=f784e294-75f1-40dd-8768-c08ec3d50350&shortname=games

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=7b166bb2-694c-496c-8640-92f2d120f572&VersionId=-1&ProductId=157&sx=ac3d71bf-3c66-47bf-b18d-81075e7fdcc6&shortname=games

http://dl5.iq7download.com/lm/.../games.exe

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