InstallCore
Content distribution platform
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| InstallCore | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | IronSource |
| Initial release | 2009 |
| Website | www |
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
Criticism and malware classification
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]