InstallCore
{{Short description|Content distribution platform}}
{{unreliable sources|date=November 2024}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=September 2017}}
{{lowercase title}}
{{Infobox software
| developer = IronSource
| discontinued = yes
| logo = File:Installcore_logo.png
| website = {{URL|https://www.installcore.com}}
| released = 2009 }}
InstallCore (stylized as installCore) was an installation and content distribution platform created by ironSource, including a software development kit (SDK) for Windows and Mac OS X.{{cite web|title=ironSource's installCore launches Mac OS installer to offer comprehensive, cross-platform solution for developers|url=http://sdtimes.com/ironsources-installcore-launches-mac-os-installer-offer-comprehensive-cross-platform-solution-developers/|website=Software Developer Times|date=25 November 2014 |accessdate=25 November 2014}} 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.{{cite web|title=Automated Malware Analysis Report|url=https://www.joesandbox.com/analysis/279430/0/lighthtml}}
The platform and its programs have been rated potentially unwanted programs (PUP) or potentially unwanted applications (PUA) by anti-malware product vendors since 2014,{{Cite web |title=Detailed Analysis - Install Core - Adware and PUAs - Advanced Network Threat Protection {{!}} ATP from Targeted Malware Attacks and Persistent Threats {{!}} sophos.com - Threat Center |url=http://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/adware-and-puas/Install%20Core/detailed-analysis.aspx |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=www.sophos.com |language=en}} and by Windows Defender Antivirus since 2015.[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/malware-encyclopedia-description?Name=PUA:Win32/InstallCore PUA:Win32/InstallCore] - Windows, Mar 11 2015
The platform was primarily designed for efficient web-based deployment of various types of application software. {{As of|2012|8}}, InstallCore was managing 100 million installations every month, offering services for paid, unpaid, and free software by using the SDK version.{{cite web|title=installCore Introduces Super Targeting for Freemium-Model Desktop Applications|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/installcore_from_ironsource_to_introduce_super_targeting_for_freemium_model_desktop_applications/prweb10295550.htm|publisher=PRWeb|access-date=9 January 2014}} InstallCore was a product of ironSource, which is headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in San Francisco, California, and Beijing, China.{{cite news|last1=Xiang|first1=Tracey|title=Israeli Application Distribution Service ironSource Set up Office in China to Help the Chinese Go Global|url=http://technode.com/2014/06/06/israli-software-development-service-provider-ironsource-plan-china/|publisher=technode|date=Jun 6, 2014}}
InstallCore was discontinued as part of a company flotation in late 2020.{{cite news |last=Gilead |first=Assaf |date=29 June 2021 |title=Giving up its cash cow paved ironSource's way to NYSE |language=en |work=Globes |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-giving-up-its-cash-cow-paved-ironsources-way-to-nyse-1001376256 |access-date=15 July 2022}}
History
The InstallCore team introduced the first version of the SDK at the beginning of 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.installcore.com/sdk/|title=The InstallCore SDK | InstallCore – Professional installation creation platform|date=August 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820135846/http://www.installcore.com/sdk/ |archive-date=2011-08-20 }} The SDK was a fork of the FoxTab installer and had only basic Installation features.
The first version only includes three files: system.js, application.js, and packages.js, which support over-the-web software packages delivery and basic system modifications. The second version introduced debug capabilities, support for the different Windows versions, and web forms support; it also enabled the integration of JQuery and CSS 2.1 for better UI design.
Features
InstallCore's software development kit (SDK) is based on JavaScript and HTML 5.0.
=JavaScript and HTML based user interface=
Version 2.1 introduced a fully customizable design interface based on HTML, CSS, and a JavaScript SDK.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023|reason=Any chance there might be an update log?}}
irsoBorderStyle="bsNone" irsoStayOnTop="true">
Since InstallCore version 4.10, the SDK integrated 12 fully pre-designed templates and a customization tool to create a WYSIWYG design.
=Compiler make script=
The InstallCore compiler program HtmlUiMaker uses a make script, shown below, in order to compile a JavaScript and HTML skin into executable installation programs.
; Example Make script - Set Parameters
[APP_MAKER]
; App_Maker parameters used to create output EXE file
SKIN="\skin"
; Set installer icon
APP_ICON="\resources\installer.ico"
RAW_EXE=Setup32.exe
COMPRESS=1
OUT_EXE=\release\%EXE_CODE%Setup_v%VI_FILE_VER%.exe
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 and Windows Defender Antivirus from 2014–2015 onwards, with many stating that it installs adware and other additional PUPs.{{cite news|last1=Macgregor|first1=Jody|title=Unity is merging with a company who made a malware installer|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/unity-is-merging-with-a-company-who-made-a-malware-installer|access-date=15 July 2022|work=PC Gamer|date=14 July 2022|language=en}} Malwarebytes identified the program as "a family of bundlers that installs more than one application on the user's computer".{{cite news|title=Adware.InstallCore|url=https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/adware-installcore|access-date=15 July 2022|work=Malwarebytes Labs}} It has been described as "crossing the line into full-blown malware" and a "nasty Trojan".{{Cite web|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/mac-osx-adware-trojan,news-20953.html|title=Mac Adware Trojan Can Install Anything on OS X|author1=Paul Wagenseil|date=May 20, 2015|website=Tom's Guide}}
Multilingual support
As of version 3.1, InstallCore fully supported both Unicode and RTL, but depended on Windows 2000 with SP 4 as a minimum requirement to accurately present the UI.{{Cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292246|title=List of languages supported in Windows 2000}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.installcore.com/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110820135846/http://www.installcore.com/sdk/ Historical SDK Documentation ]