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 13 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.conduit-services.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:
2.9.8.2

MD5:
1d3f20871da10baba6bf2e2b9ddd2ba6

SHA-1:
c35a0b3af06f6ad199122599237b5aa67ceeb876

SHA-256:
6bfe229b2abe2b31f87f71966862377032fb7aff81584ef0a56073c56f3f289f

Scanner detections:
13 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

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

Description:
This is an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
12/24/2024 5:36:22 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

avast!
Win32:SearchProtect-C [Adw]
2014.9-131218

Bkav FE
W32.Clod710.Trojan
1.3.0.4613

Boost by Reason
PUP.SearchProtect.Conduit.H
13.11.25.19

Dr.Web
Adware.Conduit.6
9.0.1.0352

ESET NOD32
Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect (variant)
8.9494

G Data
Win32.Trojan.Agent.8O9SV1
13.12.22

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.Conduit.A
v2013.12.18.07

McAfee
Artemis!BBDB342CCDEA
5600.7045

Panda Antivirus
Adware/Conduit
14.02.14.05

Reason Heuristics
PUP.SearchProtect.Conduit.H
14.8.7.22

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

Trend Micro House Call
TROJ_GEN.F47V1128
7.2.352

VIPRE Antivirus
Conduit
24282

File size:
5.5 MB (5,737,408 bytes)

Product version:
2.9.8.2

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

Original file name:
SearchProtect (R)

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 8:00:00 AM

Valid to:
4/4/2016 7:59:59 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 10:31:20 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
98304:6nn/xlXu2hTXpZVlMRvLF/Vues2G5p28iuUCnYpDY4o+NsBT8bKzrcYzKC:6n/xtplaLFFszb284zDY4DNoeK8aKC

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...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9901

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):

 
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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