installCore
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| InstallCore | |
|---|---|
| File:Installcore logo.png | |
| Developer | IronSource |
| Initial release | 2009 |
| Repository |
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| Engine | |
| Website | www |
InstallCore (stylized as installCore) was an installation and content distribution platform created by ironSource, considered potentially unwanted programs (PUP) by a number of anti-malware vendors. It included a software development kit (SDK) for Windows and Mac OS X.[1] The program allowed those using it for distribution to include monetization by advertisements or charging for installation, and made its installations invisible to the user and its anti-virus software.[2]
The platform and its programs have been rated potentially unwanted programs (PUP) or potentially unwanted applications (PUA) by anti-malware product vendors since 2014,[3] and by Windows Defender Antivirus since 2015.[4]
The platform was primarily designed for efficient web-based deployment of various types of application software. As of August 2012[update], InstallCore was managing 100 million installations every month, offering services for paid, unpaid, and free software by using the SDK version.[5]
History
[edit | edit source]The InstallCore team introduced the first version of the SDK at the beginning of 2011.[6] The SDK was a fork of the FoxTab installer and had only basic Installation features.
InstallCore was discontinued as part of a company flotation in late 2020.[7]
Criticism and malware classification
[edit | edit source]InstallCore and its software packages have been classified as potentially unwanted programs (PUP) or potentially unwanted applications (PUA), by anti-malware product vendors[3] and Windows Defender Antivirus[4] from 2014–2015 onwards, with many stating that it installs adware and other additional PUPs.[8] Malwarebytes identified the program as "a family of bundlers that installs more than one application on the user's computer".[9] It has been described as "crossing the line into full-blown malware" and a "nasty Trojan".[10]
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).[dead link]
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b PUA:Win32/InstallCore - Windows, Mar 11 2015
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).