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vlc_setup.exe

VLC Media Player

Air Software

Warning, this is not the legitimate setup program for VLC Media Player. The setup is bootstrapped by the Air Installer 'download manager' (a pay-per-install monetization download manager) that bundles unwanted software (adware, toolbars, extensions) during setup while deciving the user into thinking they are downloading the stadard installation setup from VLC Media Player. The application vlc_setup.exe, “VLC Media Player ” by Air Software has been detected as adware by 33 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the AirInstaller Download Manager installer. This program installs potentially unwanted software on your PC at the same time as the software you are trying to install, without adequate consent. 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:
AirInstaller   (signed by Air Software)

Product:
VLC Media Player

Description:
VLC Media Player

Version:
2.0.6.0

MD5:
a2107132a252c90537a96503d6790957

SHA-1:
1969b500399c889dea67829ca5e0ce6e8c8feb39

SHA-256:
509ec478a6bd40eb3f5c84146e7dc4f53e4637e6a4dfb394630057fdbc4e1fcb

Scanner detections:
33 / 68

Status:
Adware

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:
12/26/2024 2:33:31 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Lavasoft Ad-Aware
Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.E
405

Agnitum Outpost
PUA.AirAdInstaller
7.1.1

AhnLab V3 Security
PUP/Win32.AirAdInstaller
2014.09.01

Avira AntiVirus
ADWARE/Adware.Gen
7.11.142.76

avast!
Win32:Malware-gen
2014.9-151227

AVG
Adware Generic_r
2016.0.2883

Bitdefender
Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.E
1.0.20.1805

Bkav FE
W32.HfsAdware
1.3.0.6379

Clam AntiVirus
Win.Adware.Airadinstaller-6
0.98/20222

Comodo Security
Application.Win32.AirAdInstaller.B
18123

Dr.Web
Adware.Downware.2035
9.0.1.0361

Emsisoft Anti-Malware
Application.Bundler.AirInstaller
8.15.12.27.03

ESET NOD32
Win32/AirAdInstaller.A potentially unwanted application
9.7.0.302.0

F-Prot
W32/A-8c0ea402
v6.4.7.1.166

F-Secure
Riskware.Application.Bundler.AirInstaller
11.2015-27-12_1

G Data
Win32.Adware.Airadinstaller
15.12.24

IKARUS anti.virus
AdWare.Airinstall
t3scan.1.7.5.0

K7 AntiVirus
Unwanted-Program
13.176.11784

Kaspersky
not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.AirAdInstaller
14.0.0.909

Malwarebytes
PUP.Optional.AirAdInstaller
v2015.12.27.03

MicroWorld eScan
Application.Bundler.AirInstaller.E
16.0.0.1083

NANO AntiVirus
Riskware.Win32.AirAdInstaller.cwcgrr
0.28.2.61861

nProtect
Trojan-Clicker/W32.AirAdInstaller.836520
14.08.31.01

Panda Antivirus
Adware/AirInstaller
15.12.27.03

Qihoo 360 Security
HEUR/Malware.QVM01.Gen
1.0.0.1015

Quick Heal
Adware.AirAdInstaller.I5
12.15.14.00

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Air Software.AirSoftware.Bundler (M)
15.12.27.3

Rising Antivirus
PE:PUF.Airinstall!1.9C4C
23.00.65.151225

Sophos
AirInstaller
4.98

SUPERAntiSpyware
Adware.AirInstaller/Variant
9423

Vba32 AntiVirus
AdWare.AirAdInstaller
3.12.26.3

VIPRE Antivirus
Iminent
28188

Zillya! Antivirus
Adware.AirAdInstaller.Win32.122
2.0.0.1907

File size:
852.4 KB (872,872 bytes)

Product version:
2.0.6.0

Copyright:
(c) AirInstaller

Original file name:
setup.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
AirInstaller Download Manager

Language:
English (United States)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Air Software

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
1/24/2013 4:00:00 PM

Valid to:
3/26/2015 3:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Air Software, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Air Software, L=Victoria, S=British Columbia, C=CA

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:
3AC786E09219DF82DA830E461D4FC39F

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
4/9/2014 3:13:37 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:tDILtRX60Rx7xaYu6OnRr9nW3HzovUkKM1KfrdmZH1zWOW+t29hhhnc3Ezv43:tDg6SxQHRpWXzPknK4ZVzW44T1A3

Entry address:
0x26CFB0

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 90, 5A, 00, 8D, BE, 00, 80, E5, FF, 57, 83, CD, FF, EB, 10, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 8A, 06, 46, 88, 07, 47, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 72, ED, B8, 01, 00, 00, 00, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C0, 01, DB, 73, 0B, 75, 28, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 72, 1F, 48, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C0, EB, D4, 01, DB, 75, 07, 8B, 1E, 83, EE, FC, 11, DB, 11, C9, EB, 52, 31, C9, 83, E8, 03, 72, 11, C1, E0, 08, 8A, 06, 46, 83, F0, FF, 74, 75, D1, F8, 89...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.8718

Packer / compiler:
UPX 2.90LZMA

Code size:
788 KB (806,912 bytes)

The file vlc_setup.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

http://downloads.consumers-research.com/get/click/.../?sid={affiliate_id}&uid={transaction_id}&filename=vlc_setup

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