This installer is part of the Ask.com (APN) network which will install the Ask.com branded toolbar or browser extension which will take control of the web browser's search functions. 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. The program is a setup application that uses the APN Stub installer. 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 Search App by Ask by APN, LLC and Media Search App by Ask by APN, LLC, both potentially unwanted software.
Publisher:
APN (signed by APN LLC)
Description:
Ask Toolbar Notifier
MD5:
7cd684876b0da38524be7ff732351908
SHA-1:
788c5fc32b851313641c00d26794cc28904996bd
SHA-256:
ade8bc9b9a13c537ff8f1b61987d4f6839c63325a4a84426ef087da11241af17
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:
11/23/2024 4:44:14 AM UTC (today)
Scan engine
Detection
Engine version
Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask (M)
17.3.13.18
File size:
1.7 MB (1,758,280 bytes)
Product version:
33.6.0.7844
Copyright:
(c) 2016 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
Authority:
Symantec Corporation
Valid from:
12/2/2015 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=Symantec Class 3 SHA256 Code Signing CA, OU=Symantec Trust Network, O=Symantec Corporation, C=US
Serial number:
76A1FC71CE00683A2B887A2CFA2F5D6B
Compilation timestamp:
5/25/2016 7:09:55 PM
Code size:
1.1 MB (1,177,088 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=630971293&locale=us_ZZ&apn_uid=1892929581&apn_ptnrs=2R&apn_sauid=1261953054&apn_dtid=get001YYPT&q=