softonicdownloader_for_plants-vs-zombies.exe

Softonic Downloader

Softonic International

This is the Download Manager localized to Spanish that bundles the original software from the Softonic.com web site along with additional offers, mostly ad-supported browser extensions and utilities. While the original product is most likely clean, the Softonic Downloader is considered a PUP. The application softonicdownloader_for_plants-vs-zombies.exe by Softonic International has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 26 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Softonic Downloader installer.
Publisher:
Softonic   (signed by Softonic International)

Product:
Softonic Downloader

Version:
1.40.6.0

MD5:
d64dc677db5010d45a2c376242ff72e2

SHA-1:
af826a9c9032f3023f75bc8e6d0a521646865bec

SHA-256:
97f0587f320e6b0bacdd2201d63cc39335289ad20deff9bbc6cd9410e773d9a1

Scanner detections:
26 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Softonic Downloader is a download and install manager that provides users to the Softonic web site the ability to download 3rd-party software. During the installation the installer will show sponsored offers such as adware type toolbars and web browser extensions as well as other potentially unwanted applications. This type of software is typically known as an adware co-bundler. The downloader does not modify the original software.

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:
11/1/2024 7:26:42 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.Softonic
7.1.1

AVG
Adware AdInstaller.Softonic
2017.0.2834

Baidu Antivirus
Adware.Win32.SoftonicDownloader
4.0.3.16213

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6379

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.Agent.SOFE
17934

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.2194
9.0.1.044

ESET NOD32
Win32/SoftonicDownloader (variant)
10.9785

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Agent
2/13/2016

F-Prot
W32/Softonic.C.gen
v6.4.7.1.166

G Data
Win32.Adware.Softonic
16.2.25

IKARUS anti.virus
PUA.Softonic
t3scan.1.6.1.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.177.12041

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.Agent
14.0.0.666

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Softonic.A
v2016.02.13.05

McAfee
Artemis!863CE80C3BDB
5600.6490

NANO AntiVirus
Trojan.Win32.Agent.decyrd
0.30.10.952

Quick Heal
PUA.Softonicin.Gen
2.16.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softonic.Bundler (M)
16.2.13.17

Rising Antivirus
PE:Malware.Obscure/Heur!1.9E03
23.00.65.16211

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.Softonic/Variant
9326

Total Defense
Win32/Softonic.eaKANCB
37.1.62.1

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0315
7.2.44

Trend Micro
TROJ_GEN.R02SC0OCO15
10.465.13

Vba32 AntiVirus
Downloader.Agent
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Softonic Downloader
29098

Zillya! Antivirus
Downloader.Agent.Win32.200664
2.0.0.2132

File size:
378.1 KB (387,216 bytes)

Product version:
1.40.6.0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) 2014

Original file name:
SoftonicDownloader.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softonic Downloader

Language:
Spanish (Spain, International Sort)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\softonicdownloader_for_plants-vs-zombies.exe

Digital Signature
Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/3/2013 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
10/3/2015 12:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Softonic International, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Softonic International, L=Barcelona, S=Barcelona, C=ES

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:
67C1FF44C765ABDA26027A6DCA52BA11

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
3/24/2014 3:50:33 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:zp/+u6pKpXQoVqfBP1J7xTy04vFaIvI66zZuOP/rDt4iAUKFCx8NVlMW8eGoSyjI:Y1cBQzJ7hy0UwfHaNDVlfGoSyRC

Entry address:
0x52CC70

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, A0, 8D, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 70, B2, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 00, AA, 52, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, 5F, 2C, 05, 00, 56, 83, C3, 04, 53, 50, C7, 03, 03, 00, 02, 00, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 55, 57, 56, 53, 83, EC, 7C, 8B, 94, 24, 90, 00, 00, 00, C7, 44, 24, 74, 00, 00, 00, 00, C6, 44, 24, 73, 00, 8B, AC, 24, 9C, 00, 00, 00, 8D, 42, 04, 89, 44, 24, 78, B8, 01, 00, 00, 00, 0F, B6, 4A, 02, 89, C3, D3, E3, 89, D9, 49, 89, 4C, 24, 6C, 0F, B6, 4A...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9618  (probably packed)

Code size:
336 KB (344,064 bytes)

The file softonicdownloader_for_plants-vs-zombies.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

http://plants-v-zombies.ro.softonic.com/.../3tjQyeLV3cjDp-Hw3sCixsiGa5-enaWOpaKklJw=

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

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to static.sd.softonic.com  (46.28.209.70:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to screenshots.com.sftcdn.net  (46.28.209.55:80)

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