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 TBNotifier.exe, “Ask Toolbar Notifier” by APN has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. It is set to automatically execute when any user logs into Windows (through the local user run registry setting) with the name ‘ApnTBMon’. Additionally, the file is typically installed by a number of programs including Avira SearchFree Toolbar by Avira GmbH and Social Search App by Ask by APN, LLC, both potentially unwanted software.
Publisher:
APN (signed by APN LLC)
Description:
Ask Toolbar Notifier
MD5:
4c8962a0dcaebe9e298ecf0958128f59
SHA-1:
4fc631f832a05e66d8eca29d334c19c9a3411a5d
SHA-256:
0ebfa6efad0196e31e29b23857954e3787b78c70c48bec25f3fb9d9d685bc1d4
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:
12/23/2024 11:35:42 PM UTC (a few moments ago)
Scan engine
Detection
Engine version
Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask (M)
17.3.15.6
File size:
1.7 MB (1,734,544 bytes)
Product version:
31.28.0.5381
Copyright:
(c) APN LLC. All rights reserved.
Original file name:
TBNotifier.exe
File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)
Language:
English (United States)
Common path:
C:\Program Files\askpartnernetwork\toolbar\updater\tbnotifier.exe
Valid from:
2/25/2015 6:00:00 PM
Valid to:
5/27/2018 6:59:59 PM
Subject:
CN=APN LLC, O=APN LLC, 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:
74BAC30967391B08242D79F7F79449E2
Compilation timestamp:
10/30/2015 4:47:40 PM
Code size:
1.1 MB (1,167,872 bytes)
Startup File (All Users Run)
Registry location:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Command:
"C:\Program Files\askpartnernetwork\toolbar\updater\tbnotifier.exe"
The file TBNotifier.exe has been discovered within the following programs.
This is an Ask.com ad-injection toolbar that is bundled with various 3rd-party programs and installers. From the site: "The enhanced shopping search experience includes rich content, a variety of product listings, and visual product search results.
help.ask.com/link/portal/30015/30018/Article/227/What-features-does-the-Shopping-Toolbar-by-Ask-offer
79% remove it
The Ask Toolbar is a web browser extension and toolbar that delivers contextual based advertising as well as modify the user's web browser home and search pages to provide advertising and search.
apn.ask.com
74% remove it
The Avira SearchFree Toolbar is a web browser toolbar and extension that modifies the browsers search and home pages as well as delivers contextual based advertising. This toolbar currently supports Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome.
www.avira.com/en/avira-searchfree-toolbar
76% remove it
Publisher's description - “Quixey and Ask have entered into a deal in which apps from Quixey’s database, whether for mobile or the PC, will be integrated into search results. It’s going live today and should be rolling out now, although it’s not yet live for me.”
www.apn.ask.com/products/toolbars
84% remove it
Publisher's description - “The Shopping Toolbar by Ask has the single purpose of enhancing a user’s online shopping experience by offering an enhanced shopping search experience, links to popular shopping sites and/or additional content such as coupons, special offers and the latest deals from many merchants.”
79% remove it
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The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.
http://websearch.search-results.com/redirect?client=ff&src=kw&tb=GET-SRS&o=633148091&locale=us_ZZ&apn_uid=1899459975&apn_ptnrs=2R&apn_sauid=1266306650&apn_dtid=get001YYPT&q=