searchick.exe

Conduit Ltd.

The file belongs to the Conduit API platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and web browser extensions. The application searchick.exe 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. The file has been seen being downloaded from chromewebtb.conduit-download.com. While running, it connects to the Internet address cms.distributionengine.conduit-services.com on port 80 using the HTTP protocol.
Publisher:
Conduit  (signed by Conduit Ltd.)

Description:
3.0.7.14

Version:
2.3.9.0

MD5:
efae2ff7c4e0840985736ff4719ebaab

SHA-1:
26abf916d43c3df11ad6ec787978e33e0fbbbe4a

SHA-256:
5e8f80bcf44b78fbf5e59bf9e7e83f3f9b297bcf23fdf40eff0ba8d2f2351f56

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles the Conduit Toolbar and/or Conduit Search Protect.

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:
11/2/2024 3:37:41 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Conduit (M)
16.8.9.18

File size:
1.6 MB (1,708,344 bytes)

Copyright:
Conduit Ltd.

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

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

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\searchick.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
2/17/2010 2:00:00 AM

Valid to:
3/30/2013 2:59:59 AM

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

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2009-2 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)09, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
3736DA15AF647632CCE61CD41B6577DD

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/6/2009 12:50:52 AM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
6.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
49152:ea1cssO0DE/N/vqI0Zq+QMU/V72Dgm/4fEDZ:eALsAv/0ZqDn5m/ws

Entry address:
0x30FA

Entry point:
81, EC, 80, 01, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 33, DB, 57, 89, 5C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, 60, 91, 40, 00, 33, F6, C6, 44, 24, 14, 20, FF, 15, 30, 70, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B0, 70, 40, 00, 53, FF, 15, 7C, 72, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 18, EC, 42, 00, E8, F1, 2B, 00, 00, A3, 64, EB, 42, 00, 53, 8D, 44, 24, 34, 68, 60, 01, 00, 00, 50, 53, 68, 98, 8F, 42, 00, FF, 15, 58, 71, 40, 00, 68, 54, 91, 40, 00, 68, 60, E3, 42, 00, E8, A4, 28, 00, 00, FF, 15, AC, 70, 40, 00, BF, 00, 40, 43, 00, 50, 57, E8, 92, 28, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9966

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
23.5 KB (24,064 bytes)

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

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):

 
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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