OpenCandy

OpenCandy was an adware module and a potentially unwanted program classified as malware by many anti-virus vendors.[1][2][3][4] They flagged OpenCandy due to its undesirable side-effects.[5][6] It was designed to run during installation of other desired software. Produced by SweetLabs, it consisted of a Microsoft Windows library incorporated in a Windows Installer. When a user installed an application that had bundled the OpenCandy library, an option appeared to install software it recommended based on a scan of the user's system and geolocation. Both the option and offers it generated were selected by default and would be installed unless the user unchecked them before continuing with the installation.[7][8]

OpenCandy's various undesirable side-effects included changing the user's homepage, desktop background or search provider, and inserting unwanted toolbars, plug-ins and extension add-ons in the browser. It also collected and transmitted various information about the user and their Web usage without notification or consent.[1][9] After massive criticism of the software occurred, it was eventually discontinued in August of 2016.

## Contents

* 1 Development
* 2 Windows components
* 2.1 Files dropped
* 2.2 Processes
* 2.3 DNS and HTTP queries
* 3 Software known to have included OpenCandy
* 4 Workarounds
* 5 References

## Development

The software was originally developed for the DivX installation, by CEO Darrius Thompson. When installing DivX, the user was prompted to optionally install the Yahoo! Toolbar. DivX received $15.7 million during the first nine months of 2007 from Yahoo and other software developers, after 250 million downloads.[8]

Chester Ng, the former DivX business development director, is chief business officer and Mark Chweh, former DivX engineering director, is chief technology officer.[8]

## Windows components

Components that the program used may have differed but here are some similar names based on versions of the software.

### Files dropped

* OCComSDK.dll
* OCSetupHlp.dll
* Fusion.dll

### Processes

* spidentifier.exe
* rundll32.exe

### DNS and HTTP queries

* tracking.opencandy.com.s3.amazonaws.com
* media.opencandy.com (website not available)
* cdn.opencandy.com
* cdn.putono5.com
* tracking.opencandy.com
* api.opencandy.com
* www.arcadefrontier.com

## Software known to have included OpenCandy

* AC3Filter[10][11]
* Auslogics Disk Defrag[12]
* CamStudio (since version 2.7 r316)[13]
* CDBurnerXP (depending on version; alternate download without OpenCandy available; confirmed 2017-03-01)[14]
* FileZilla (present in 2013)[15]
* Format Factory[16]
* Foxit Reader (6.1.4 – 6.2.1)[17]
* FreeFileSync (dropped April 2018)[18]
* FrostWire[19]
* GOM Player[20]
* ImgBurn (since version 2.5.8.0, though only on the version of the installer distributed directly from imgburn.com; the version distributed from the official mirror sites is adware-free)[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] * mIRC[30]
* MP3 Rocket[31]
* Orbit Downloader (confirmed 2015-10-24)[32]
* PDFCreator[33]
* PhotoScape[34]
* PrimoPDF[30]
* Sigil (dropped in version 0.5.0 and later)[35]
* Trillian (dropped 5 May 2011)[30]
* μTorrent[36]
* WinSCP (through August 2012)[37]
* FL Studio Installer[38]

## Workarounds

There were workarounds to bypass OpenCandy by running some installers with a `/NOCANDY` parameter on the command line, which was up to the installer to support or not.[39]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 PUP.Optional.OpenCandy, Malwarebytes, https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/pup-optional-opencandy/, retrieved 3 February 2018
2. ↑ OpenCandy, Sophos, https://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/adware-and-puas/OpenCandy/detailed-analysis.aspx, retrieved 3 February 2018
3. ↑ ADW_OPENCANDY, Trend Micro, https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/malware/adw_opencandy, retrieved 3 February 2018
4. ↑ Virustotal analyses of OpenCandy, Virus Total, https://virustotal.com/en/file/81196839f19269ce807e43c8b9669459dc833d6fd2d510646fc0bebc0e0ef2eb/analysis/#comments, retrieved 3 February 2018
5. ↑ Richards, Gizmo (16 April 2017), Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software, Tech Support Alert, https://www.techsupportalert.com/content/controversial-advertising-program-now-being-embedded-more-software.htm, retrieved 2 February 2018
6. ↑ ADW_OPENCANDY: Trend Micro page, 30 April 2016
7. ↑ Needleman, Rafe (11 November 2008), OpenCandy brings ad market to software installs. What?, CNET news, http://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/opencandy-brings-ad-market-to-software-installs-what/, retrieved 2009-08-18
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Marshall, Matt (10 November 2008), OpenCandy inserts recommendations when you install software, https://venturebeat.com/2008/11/10/opencandy-recommends-software-when-youre-installing-stuff/, retrieved 2009-08-18
9. ↑ "What is OpenCandy and How to remove it?" (in en-US). 2016-01-24. https://appuals.com/remove-opencandy/.
10. ↑ "OpenCandy". 7 December 2023. http://www.ac3filter.net/wiki/OpenCandy/.
11. ↑ "Antivirus notes". 7 December 2023. http://www.ac3filter.net/wiki/Antivirus_notes/.
12. ↑ "Inquiry about detection of Auslogics Defrag Free Edition – ESET NOD32 Antivirus". 22 January 2014. https://forum.eset.com/topic/1783-inquiry-about-detection-of-auslogics-defrag-free-edition/.
13. ↑ "Complete Version history / Release notes / Changelog". http://www.videohelp.com/software/CamStudio/version-history#history.
14. ↑ "CDBurnerXP: FAQ". https://cdburnerxp.se/help/Intro/faq.
15. ↑ "FileZilla OpenCandy". https://malwaretips.com/threads/sourceforge-net-adds-adware-installers-provided-by-ask-com.17247/.
16. ↑ "Format Factory – Free media file format converter". http://www.pcfreetime.com/.
17. ↑ "Does Foxit Reader free 6.1.4.0217 have malware?". Foxit Corporation Forums. http://forums.foxitsoftware.com/forum/portable-document-format-pdf-tools/foxit-reader/18349-does-foxit-reader-free-6-1-4-0217-have-malware.
18. ↑ Zenju. "FreeFileSync". https://www.freefilesync.org/faq.php.
19. ↑ "FrostWire: Downloader, BitTorrent Client and Media Player". http://www.frostwire.com/.
20. ↑ "GOMlab.com include technical information and download link of GOM Player, GOM Audio, GOM Video Converter and GOM Remote.". https://www.gomlab.com/.
21. ↑ LIGHTNING UK! (2013-06-16). "The Official ImgBurn Website: Change log". http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=changelog. "Changed: No longer bundling/offering the Ask.com toolbar in the setup program, OpenCandy now handles product offerings during installation."
22. ↑ LIGHTNING UK! (2013-06-16). "The Official ImgBurn Website: Download". http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download.
23. ↑ "MD5 doesn't match any downloadable installers – ImgBurn General". 2016-10-29. http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?/topic/24395-md5-doesnt-match-any-downloadable-installers/.
24. ↑ "Wrong hash? – ImgBurn Support". 2016-06-23. http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?/topic/24265-wrong-hash/.
25. ↑ "Wrong Hash 2 – ImgBurn Support". 2017-01-31. http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?/topic/24503-wrong-hash-2/.
26. ↑ "ImgBurn". 2013-06-17. https://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/ImgBurn/1128426215/1. "CLEAN INSTALL! No OpenCandy bundled."
27. ↑ "ImgBurn Download: Changelog". 2017-03-31. http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Data-CD-DVD-Burning/ImgBurn.shtml. "no more 'opencandy' adware!"
28. ↑ "Codecs.com | Downloads for ImgBurn 2.5.8". 2016-06-20. http://www.free-codecs.com/imgburn_download.htm. "Download ImgBurn 2.5.8 – without OpenCandy!"
29. ↑ "ImgBurn". 2016-06-23. http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/imgburn.html. "This is a clean, no OpenCandy version."
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 gizmo, richards (2014-02-08). "Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software". Gizmo's Freeware. http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/controversial-advertising-program-now-being-embedded-more-software.htm. "OpenCandy (OC) is a relatively new advertising product that more and more software developers are bundling with their programs. It can now be found in the installers of dozens of popular programs including IZArc, mirC, PrimoPDF, Trillian Astra and more."
31. ↑ "MP3 Support Analysis – herdProtect". http://www.herdprotect.com/signer-mp3-support-146c2e323177663b9df87fff1b9c31d8.aspx.
32. ↑ [1] On the Help/Facts page
33. ↑ Discussions on pdfforge Forums
34. ↑ [2] PhotoScape – Virus and Malware
35. ↑ Schember, John (21 January 2012). "Sigil 0.5.0 Released". http://sigildev.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/sigil-050-released.html.
36. ↑ "Malware on Install". 29 March 2014. https://forum.utorrent.com/topic/90702-malware-on-install/.
37. ↑ "WinSCP – OpenCandy". http://winscp.net/eng/docs/opencandy.
38. ↑ Found in FL Studio 12.1.2 Installer – By Windows Defender: PUA:Win32/CandyOpen / OCSetupHlp.dll
39. ↑ "OpenCandy explained: what you need to know about the technology". 2021-08-06. https://www.ghacks.net/2012/08/06/opencandy-explained-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-technology/.

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