Should I block it?

60%
60% of PCs block this file from running.
Possible reason:
Performance resource utilization

VersionsAdditional versions

5.15.4.23930 1.52%
5.15.4.23821 25.38%
5.15.2.23037 7.61%
5.15.1.22229 2.54%
5.14.1.20064 2.03%
5.14.1.20007 5.08%
5.13.2.19379 0.51%
1.4.445269 1.52%
1.4.445269 0.51%
1.4.342067 1.52%
1.4.236670 4.57%
1.4.134141 2.54%
1.4.1.29781 0.51%
1.4.1.28235 3.05%
1.4.0.25589 2.54%
1.2.536191 3.05%
1.2.436191 1.52%
1.2.436191 4.06%
1.2.435882 4.57%
1.2.333021 1.52%
1.2.333021 0.51%
1.2.6.45268 1.02%
1.2.6.45268 0.51%
1.2.6.44892 2.03%
1.2.5.42066 1.02%
View more

Updater.exe

Updater by Ask.com (Signed)

Remove Updater.exe
Version:   1.2.3.29495
MD5:   a94228a151dcd5364c214cc452268d2a
SHA1:   71cefa376db0df15f3135c5076e787b5001ecb7a
SHA256:   5f0cfe5e020fc012e39345e12b74ff3a6ff073d899ad51daaa1d45198b0352b6

What is Updater.exe?

The Ask Toolbar is a free browser add-on that allows you to search the Web using the Ask.com search engine directly from the Internet Explorer browser. The Ask Toolbar is integrated with the 3rd party software downloads. During the installation of some software, users are presented with an option of downloading the Ask Toolbar. This is the software update portion of teh toolbar which automatically checks for new versions and updates the toolbar.

About Updater.exe (from Ask.com)

The Ask Toolbar is a free browser add-on that allows you to search the Web using the Ask.com search engine directly from Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers. The toolbar software DOES NOT monitor th

DetailsDetails

File name:updater.exe
Publisher:Ask
Product name:Updater
Description:Ask Updater
Typical file path:C:\Program Files\ask.com\updater\updater.exe
File version:1.2.3.29495
Size:1.5 MB (1,573,576 bytes)
Certificate
Issued to:Ask.com
Authority (CA):VeriSign
Effective date:Monday, June 16, 2008
Expiration date:Friday, June 17, 2011
Digital DNA
Entropy:6.255219
File packed:No
.NET CLR:No
More details

ResourcesPrograms

The following programs will install this file
Ask.com
  75% remove
The Ask Toolbar Updater is designed to periodically (once a day) check for an install updates to the toolbar without the interaction of the user. The Ask Toolbar and other applications are increasingly being bundled with programs; most notably freeware. It's usually installed during the installation of a program, and it's easy to miss the step where you can un-check the Ask Toolbar option.
Ask.com
  81% remove
The Ask Toolbar is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. Ask.com has entered into partnerships with some software security vendors, whereby they are paid to distribute the toolbar alongside their software. When you use the Toolbar to submit a query, the Toolbar forwards such query inform...
Ask.com
  66% remove
aTube Toolbar Updater gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install the Auslogics Toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC. Sometimes aTube Toolbar has a habit of leaving numerious files, settings and useless registry entries behind which might cause some stability and performance issues. Unfortunately, this toolbar won’t be removed even you have uninstall the associa...
Ask.com
  67% remove
WebMinds Toolbar Updater is a software utility that installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. The toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC. Sometimes KMPlayer Toolbar has a habit of leaving numerious files, settings and useless registry entries behind which might cause ...
Ask.com
  80% remove
APN (Ask Parnter Network) Updater is a software utility that installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. The toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC. Sometimes the toolbar has a habit of leaving numerious files, settings and useless registry entries behind which might ca...
Ask.com
  68% remove
GOM Player + Ask Toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install the GOM Player Toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC. Sometimes Ask Toolbar has a habit of leaving numerious files, settings and useless registry entries behind which might cause some stability and performance issues. Unfortunately, this toolbar won’t be removed even you have uninstall the assoc...
Ask.com
  74% remove
Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection Updater installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. Avira SearchFree Toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC. Sometimes Avira SearchFree Toolbar has a habit of leaving numerious files, settings and useless ...
Ask.com
  82% remove
Avery Toolbar , powered by ASK, is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. The Ask Toolbar and other applications are increasingly being bundled with programs; most notably freeware. It's usually installed during the installation of a program, and it's easy to miss the step where you can u...
Ask.com
  77% remove
MAGIX Toolbar, powered by ASK, is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. The Ask Toolbar and other applications are increasingly being bundled with programs; most notably freeware. It's usually installed during the installation of a program, and it's easy to miss the step where you can un...
Ask.com
  81% remove
programma di aggiornamento Ask Toolbar Updater is an Ask.com powered toolbar update mechanism that is designed to keep the branded toolbar up to date. The Ask Toolbar is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed during the installation of 3rd party software. Ask.com has entered into partnerships with some software security vendors, whereby they are paid to distr...
Ask.com
  82% remove
MP3 Rocket Toolbar Updater installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. The Toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install the Toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC. Sometimes Avira SearchFree Toolbar has a habit of leaving numerious files, settings and useless registry entries behind which might cause some stability...
Hewlett-Packard
12% remove
The HP Power Manager Utility notifies you when the current notebook power settings do not match the settings that HP recommends.The utility also provides an easy way to restore notebook power settings to the HP recommended settings.

BehaviorsBehaviors

Startup files (all users) run
Runs under the registry key 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run'
  • 'ApnUpdater' → "C:\Program Files\Ask.com\Updater\Updater.exe"

ResourcesResource utilization

(Note: statistics below are averages based on a minimum sample size of 200 unique participants)
Averages
 
CPU
Total CPU:0.00115218%
0.028634%
Kernel CPU:0.00042008%
0.013761%
User CPU:0.00073210%
0.014873%
Kernel CPU time:33,746,806 ms/min
100,923,805ms/min
Context switches:18/sec
284/sec
Memory
Private memory:5.17 MB
21.59 MB
Private (maximum):7.69 MB
Private (minimum):1.78 MB
Non-paged memory:5.17 MB
21.59 MB
Virtual memory:77.09 MB
140.96 MB
Virtual memory (peak):85.86 MB
169.69 MB
Working set:2.35 MB
18.61 MB
Working set (peak):9.1 MB
37.95 MB
Resource allocations
Threads:6
12
Handles:216
600
GUI GDI count:16
103
GUI GDI peak:20
142
GUI USER count:8
49
GUI USER peak:10
71

BehaviorsProcess properties

Integrety level:High
Platform:32-bit
Command line:"C:\Program Files\ask.com\updater\updater.exe"
Owner:User
Parent process:Explorer.EXE (by Microsoft)

ResourcesThreads

Averages
 
Updater.exe (main module)
Total CPU:0.00325788%
0.272967%
Kernel CPU:0.00160564%
0.107585%
User CPU:0.00165224%
0.165382%
CPU cycles:595,950/sec
5,741,424/sec
Memory:1.52 MB
1.16 MB
ntdll.dll
Total CPU:0.00000211%
Kernel CPU:0.00000000%
User CPU:0.00000211%
CPU cycles:21/sec
Memory:1.66 MB

Windows OS versionsDistribution by Windows OS

OS versiondistribution
Windows 7 Ultimate 33.33%
Microsoft Windows XP 16.67%
Windows 7 Home Premium 12.96%
Windows 7 Professional 9.26%
Windows 8 9.26%
Windows XP Professional 3.70%
Windows 7 Ultimate N 3.70%
Windows 7 Home Basic 1.85%
Windows Vista Home Premium 1.85%
Windows 7 Enterprise 1.85%
Windows 8 Pro with Media Center 1.85%
Windows 7 Starter 1.85%
Windows Vista Ultimate 1.85%

Distribution by countryDistribution by country

United States installs about 26.53% of Updater.

OEM distributionDistribution by PC manufacturer

PC Manufacturerdistribution
Hewlett-Packard 28.57%
Dell 17.86%
Acer 14.29%
Lenovo 14.29%
Sony 7.14%
GIGABYTE 5.36%
Samsung 3.57%
Toshiba 3.57%
ASUS 3.57%
Sahara 1.79%
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