vlc-media-player-dp.exe

Astro Network (Fried Cookie Ltd.)

The Fried Cookie installer utilizes the InstallCore download manager which may bundle additional offers for various ad-supported toolbars, extensions and utilities. The application vlc-media-player-dp.exe by Astro Network (Fried Cookie) has been detected as adware 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 installCore installer. The setup program uses the InstallCore engine which may bundle additional software offers including toolbars and browser extensions. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as the VideoLAN VLC media player but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
Astro Network (Fried Cookie Ltd.)  (signed and verified)

MD5:
9a7495ac282f4d671a42815756795c42

SHA-1:
b43c2e75b96007a8a0dfd7b606ba99d644e86ae7

SHA-256:
5c86b563e1b68712a3e4e20c16f63e683893b737291564890ecf106f1714f2fd

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
Uses the InstallCore download manager to install additional potentially unwanted software which may include extensions such as DealPly and various toolbars.

Description:
This 'download manager' is also considered bundleware, a utility designed to download software (possibly legitimate or opensource) and bundle it with a number of optional offers including ad-supported utilities, toolbars, shopping comparison tools and browser extensions.

Analysis date:
12/25/2024 3:31:11 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallCore.FC (M)
16.6.27.4

File size:
758.9 KB (777,088 bytes)

Product version:
1.5

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\vlc-media-player-dp.exe

Digital Signature
Authority:
GlobalSign nv-sa

Valid from:
10/22/2014 4:02:00 PM

Valid to:
10/23/2015 4:02:00 PM

Subject:
CN=Astro Network (Fried Cookie Ltd.), O=Astro Network (Fried Cookie Ltd.), L=Tel Aviv, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=GlobalSign CodeSigning CA - G2, O=GlobalSign nv-sa, C=BE

Serial number:
1121D5280137EC081E84AED06FDD52E337A0

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/20/1992 12:22:17 AM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:+evadMlTetabihc2jS0LdfWOP10CmxJxyVJpX7cUUeW9JLMkhx3vcZf0sAf8DiYR:+ev/laabi22rNWi9kxyjprcteW9JBxEP

Entry address:
0x9C40

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, C4, C4, 53, 56, 57, 33, C0, 89, 45, F0, 89, 45, DC, E8, 86, 94, FF, FF, E8, 8D, A6, FF, FF, E8, 1C, A9, FF, FF, E8, BF, A9, FF, FF, E8, 5E, C9, FF, FF, E8, C9, F2, FF, FF, E8, 30, F4, FF, FF, 33, C0, 55, 68, FC, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 30, 64, 89, 20, 33, D2, 55, 68, C5, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 32, 64, 89, 22, A1, 14, C0, 40, 00, E8, 96, FE, FF, FF, E8, C9, FA, FF, FF, 8D, 55, F0, 33, C0, E8, 83, CF, FF, FF, 8B, 55, F0, B8, 24, CE, 40, 00, E8, 32, 95, FF, FF, 6A, 02, 6A, 00, 6A, 01, 8B, 0D, 24, CE...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
Inno Setup v5.x - Installer Maker

Code size:
37 KB (37,888 bytes)

The file vlc-media-player-dp.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

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