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vlc_setup.exe

Download Safely

The installer utilizes the installCore download manager which may bundle additional offers for various ad-supported toolbars, extensions and utilities. The application vlc_setup.exe by Download Safely 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 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:
Download Safely  (signed and verified)

MD5:
5a9e3622d9d238045228ff15a891e190

SHA-1:
0db4f730493796dac09f8bed862e13bfa7634314

SHA-256:
1e3155b0f7b325f79bb417734d8d99732d843234918092b384b9f18f2d408410

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

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.

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:
2/24/2025 9:31:06 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.installCore (M)
16.7.25.13

File size:
777.9 KB (796,616 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\vlc_setup.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Download Safely

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
9/14/2014 9:00:00 PM

Valid to:
9/14/2016 8:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Download Safely, O=Download Safely, STREET="1608 S. Ashland Ave #41118", L=Chicago, S=Illinois, PostalCode=60608, C=US

Issuer:
CN=COMODO RSA Code Signing CA, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
394E6887B8284F8BA2BBA9E91784DFB7

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/19/1992 7:22:17 PM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:fIFtpMaIXS+LUeAARtpbka8fkjWdTddBFk6:fS2XS+9A2tBksWjrO6

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_setup.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

http://download-file.downloadster.org/download/86/.../

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