spsetup.exe

Search Protect

Conduit Ltd.

The file belongs to the Conduit API platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and web browser extensions. The application spsetup.exe, “Search Protect by Conduit” by Conduit has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 18 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the Conduit Setup Manager installer. It is also typically executed from an Internet Explorer cache folder. The file has been seen being downloaded from sp-storage.spccint.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.)

Product:
Search Protect

Description:
Search Protect by Conduit

Version:
2.11.111.3

MD5:
ce55cefb9b6e031c1f18458cc9f66cd6

SHA-1:
508b6e7ca086e4c100b5139c3783e738fffed76c

SHA-256:
dd36ae202afa285a8d53952496ba6ebf12bdc862447466ee4419c1bd27891ada

Scanner detections:
18 / 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:
12/4/2024 8:09:35 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

avast!
Win64:PUP-gen [PUP]
2014.9-140405

Baidu Antivirus
Trojan.Win32.Conduit.SearchProtect
4.0.3.1445

Dr.Web
Adware.Conduit.6
9.0.1.095

ESET NOD32
Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect (variant)
8.9612

Fortinet FortiGate
Riskware/Conduit_SearchProtect
4/5/2014

G Data
Win32.Application.SearchProtect
14.4.24

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.SearchProtect
t3scan.2.2.29

K7 AntiVirus
Trojan
13.176.11566

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:WebToolbar.NSIS.Agent
14.0.0.3440

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Conduit.A
v2014.04.05.04

McAfee
Artemis!CE55CEFB9B6E
5600.7169

Panda Antivirus
PUP/Conduit.A
14.04.05.04

Reason Heuristics
PUP.SearchProtect.Conduit.H
14.8.7.22

Sophos
Conduit Search Protect
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
Trojan.Agent/Gen-Nullo[Short]
10435

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V0325
7.2.95

VIPRE Antivirus
Conduit
27852

XVirus List
Win.Detected
2.3.31

File size:
6 MB (6,292,280 bytes)

Product version:
2.11.111.3

Copyright:
2012 (c) Conduit. All rights reserved.

Original file name:
SearchProtect

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

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

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\spsetup.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

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

Valid to:
4/4/2016 1:59:59 AM

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

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:
3A82654719D8F75B59134F7B66465210

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
7/6/2011 4:31:20 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
98304:Jntw8axqwoIAe8TnOrQ+jG61f1VQvOnOOLQFZzgAdn2ECePahXoVv1MXhN:Jtw+e8T0FV1VQWOOLQnrnT5P8hN

Entry address:
0x354B

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, D8, 84, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 80, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B8, 80, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, B0, 82, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 98, 06, 47, 00, E8, 67, 27, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, B0, 05, 47, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 1C, 86, 40, 00, FF, 15, 80, 81, 40, 00, 68, 04, 86, 40, 00, 68, A0, 85, 46, 00, E8, 35, 26, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 80, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, 10, 4C, 00, 57, E8, 23, 26, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
25 KB (25,600 bytes)

The file spsetup.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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