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wsearchdefender.exe

Simply Tech Ltd

One Floor App (Simply Tech/Widdit) distributes and bundles potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) using its OneFloorApp install manager (SimplyInstaller). The application wsearchdefender.exe by Simply Tech 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 Widdit Setup installer. It runs as a scheduled task under the Windows Task Scheduler triggered to execute each time a user logs in. Additionally, the file is typically installed by a number of programs including HomeTab 7.8 by One Floor App and HomeTab 6.1 by SimplyTech LTD.
Publisher:
Simply Tech Ltd  (signed and verified)

Version:
1.0.0.0

MD5:
4ac294b4493b89b22f24fe190d398cc7

SHA-1:
393002058e576511e0dc50193c261ade2ae9c8aa

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.

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:
1/9/2025 5:26:59 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.SimplyTech
15.4.21.13

File size:
89.1 KB (91,208 bytes)

Product version:
1.0.0.0

Original file name:
ProtectedSearch.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Widdit Setup

Common path:
C:\Program Files\hometab\wsearchdefender.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Simply Tech Ltd

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
4/3/2012 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
4/4/2014 6:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Simply Tech Ltd, O=Simply Tech Ltd, STREET=10 Zarhin street, L=Raanana, S=Raanana, PostalCode=43662, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=COMODO Code Signing CA 2, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
1FC78D842B3886BB8D32517578F7489C

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
3/9/2014 4:49:04 AM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

.NET CLR dependent:
Yes

CTPH (ssdeep):
1536:qa48ZioStn74eaul8+jPDeodM5/lYHMxMTR6lmWJH+RYKqr+E12hv:qaioYExuN/BAdRRJHtCE1

Entry address:
0x15ADE

Entry point:
FF, 25, 00, 20, 40, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Developed / compiled with:
Microsoft Visual C# / Basic .NET

Code size:
79 KB (80,896 bytes)

Scheduled Task
Task name:
Protected Search

Path:
\ProtectedSearch\Protected Search

Trigger:
Logon (Runs on logon)


2 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
Name:
C:\Archivos de programa\HomeTab\WSearchDefender.exe

Name:
C:\Programme\ZooToolbar\WBrowserDefender.exe


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

HomeTab 6.1  by SimplyTech LTD
HomeTab is a browser extension that modifies the browser's search and homepage as well as delivers contextual based advertising.
73% remove it
HomeTab 7.8  by One Floor App
About 1% of users remove it
 
Powered by Should I Remove It?

The executing file has been seen to make the following network communications in live environments.

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to crl.comodoca.com.cdn.cloudflare.net  (178.255.83.2:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to ocsp.comodoca.com  (178.255.83.1:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-200-86-142.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.200.86.142:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-200-86-151.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.200.86.151:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a92-123-182-43.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (92.123.182.43:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a23-200-86-143.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com  (23.200.86.143:80)

TCP (HTTP):
Connects to a88-221-112-203.deploy.akamaitechnologies.com  (88.221.112.203:80)

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