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updatetask.exe

Ask.com

This is the updater scheduled task run by the Ask.com branded toolbar that runs every 24 hours and suggests updates to the browser add-on (and the web browser) and will perform automatic updates to the toolbar with new functionality. The application updatetask.exe by Ask.com 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 runs as a scheduled task under the Windows Task Scheduler triggered daily at a specified time. This file is typically installed with the program Ask Toolbar by Ask.com which is a potentially unwanted software program.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

MD5:
210f3e8dad19fd09b223fab84ac0a3fd

SHA-1:
4c986cf16ce9975c9408d94221849944d67dec78

SHA-256:
4cefd9e6499d159fce1a2f70a332dddde45f943dfdbf7265e51bfdce8c6f258c

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:
12/24/2024 12:02:02 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask (M)
17.3.15.0

File size:
170.9 KB (175,024 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Common path:
C:\Program Files\ask.com\updatetask.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/19/2011 9:00:00 PM

Valid to:
6/18/2014 8:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Ask.com, OU=Distribution, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Ask.com, 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:
0965F2AC7236C7E1BDCA44ED139B273A

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
12/23/2013 8:36:59 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

Entry address:
0xE0A8

Entry point:
E8, 5F, 82, 00, 00, E9, 78, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, CC, 8B, 54, 24, 0C, 8B, 4C, 24, 04, 85, D2, 74, 69, 33, C0, 8A, 44, 24, 08, 84, C0, 75, 16, 81, FA, 00, 01, 00, 00, 72, 0E, 83, 3D, F0, 94, 42, 00, 00, 74, 05, E9, 0D, 83, 00, 00, 57, 8B, F9, 83, FA, 04, 72, 31, F7, D9, 83, E1, 03, 74, 0C, 2B, D1, 88, 07, 83, C7, 01, 83, E9, 01, 75, F6, 8B, C8, C1, E0, 08, 03, C1, 8B, C8, C1, E0, 10, 03, C1, 8B, CA, 83, E2, 03, C1, E9, 02, 74, 06, F3, AB, 85, D2, 74, 0A, 88, 07, 83...
 
[+]

Code size:
122 KB (124,928 bytes)

Scheduled Task
Task name:
Scheduled Update for Ask Toolbar

Trigger:
Daily (Runs daily at 21:36)


The file updatetask.exe has been discovered within the following programs.

Ask Toolbar  by Ask.com
The Ask Toolbar is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. Ask.
help.ask.com/link/portal/30015/30018/Article/1/How-do-I-remove-the-Ask-com-Toolbar
81% remove it
 
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