home

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:
eb05db3cbd26053d3df4fada473da8b3

SHA-1:
b5e2ab7b954a68736d371b544dc0a26285006253

SHA-256:
30dbd774abe992a0f0f4a7b245da07dc632958949ef008fb8a95289810a54bae

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 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:
12/23/2024 4:37:15 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
9.0.1.0241

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Adware.InstallIQ
8.13.11.26.10

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
v2013.08.29.04

McAfee
Artemis!A34F9AC02DB1
5600.7181

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
7.2.241

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:lzWJ69qM6xE3IFu8jUIlYWM5ptIT8hdiUrT8mEdzvw1coPF/BJhFvvtg+N/9ppAa:liHycM1+7dzvw1coPFTvS+pHpA6TrDKC

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 5 URLs.

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

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=266a641e-0281-4a0a-b0a1-7dc24b718448&VersionId=-1&ProductId=259&sx=4a24eb6b-e723-4b90-a843-f566d2c8d2f6&shortname=dolphin

http://dl.freeze.com/.../DownloadPOP.aspx?NetworkID=&ProductSessionId=439beb2a-7fe6-4364-961a-f99462d649e1&VersionId=-1&ProductId=259&sx=bfb2edd8-3b18-4ecd-808c-134a88c2dda8&shortname=dolphin

http://dl7.iq8download.com/lm/.../dolphin.exe

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

Remove InstallIQ.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.