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precache.exe

Ask.com

This is a component of the Ask.com toolbar, a browser extension that will modify the default web browser's search provider, home page and various other settings. The application precache.exe by Ask.com has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. Additionally, the file is typically installed by a number of programs including Ask Toolbar by Ask.com and Support.com Toolbar by Ask.com, both potentially unwanted software.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

MD5:
e6ff432cdb94553ad5cda2841335c7b6

SHA-1:
3356978947ba938a5dd147043ba99a2c7e401018

SHA-256:
211bc221654898b63effbfd2f46d9cfbf88646520bea1991816e11a7a0a663c0

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Note:
Our current pool of anti-malware engines have not currently detected this file, however based on our own detection heuristics we feel that this file is unwanted.

Analysis date:
11/25/2024 8:44:04 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.I
14.8.8.2

File size:
69.2 KB (70,824 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Common path:
C:\Program Files\ask.com\precache.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/20/2011 3:00:00 AM

Valid to:
6/19/2014 2:59:59 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 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:
0965F2AC7236C7E1BDCA44ED139B273A

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
11/18/2011 6:27:38 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
768:PHls5kK/kcZu2B5styroILs4t+dxPfIEzM1PHz1x61rAw8aQ6WVUd8liRhs7DxLC:PH2gcZ3zUILC54Z1xl+dRhmdibsI

Entry address:
0x26D3

Entry point:
E8, 77, 28, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, CC, 8B, 54, 24, 0C, 8B, 4C, 24, 04, 85, D2, 74, 69, 33, C0, 8A, 44, 24, 08, 84, C0, 75, 16, 81, FA, 00, 01, 00, 00, 72, 0E, 83, 3D, C8, FD, 40, 00, 00, 74, 05, E9, FD, 2D, 00, 00, 57, 8B, F9, 83, FA, 04, 72, 31, F7, D9, 83, E1, 03, 74, 0C, 2B, D1, 88, 07, 83, C7, 01, 83, E9, 01, 75, F6, 8B, C8, C1, E0, 08, 03, C1, 8B, C8, C1, E0, 10, 03, C1, 8B, CA, 83, E2, 03, C1, E9, 02, 74, 06, F3, AB, 85, D2, 74, 0A, 88, 07, 83, C7, 01, 83, EA, 01, 75, F6, 8B, 44, 24, 08...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.3508

Code size:
35 KB (35,840 bytes)

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

Ask Toolbar  by Ask.com
The Ask Toolbar is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. Ask.
help.ask.com/link/portal/30015/30018/Article/1/How-do-I-remove-the-Ask-com-Toolbar
81% remove it
Support.com Toolbar  by Ask.com
Support.com Toolbar is an Ask.com powered toolbar. The Ask Toolbar is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. Ask.
sp.ask.com/toolbar
81% remove it
 
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The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ec2-52-0-120-216.compute-1.amazonaws.com  (52.0.120.216:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to server-52-84-26-25.ewr50.r.cloudfront.net  (52.84.26.25:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com  (54.231.83.9:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a87-243-6-137.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (87.243.6.137:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to server-52-84-26-152.ewr50.r.cloudfront.net  (52.84.26.152:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a72-247-178-24.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (72.247.178.24:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-215-130-210.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.215.130.210:80)

Remove precache.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security
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