1Clickdownload

Category: adware · Aliases: SoftwareBundler:Win32/1ClickDownload, PUA:Win32/1ClickDownload, Adware:Win32/1ClickDownload, Win32/1ClickDownload, 1ClickDownload Bundler · Sample count (EMBER 2018): 26 · Enrichment: curated_sourced · Updated: 2026-10-15
Category: AdwareStatus: Automated SignatureFirst seen: 2013Motivation: Advertising Monetization, PPI Affiliate Revenue & Telemetry Collection🕸 Explore Relationship Graph⚙ API JSON⚡ Sigma Rule💾 YARA RuleOS: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1
Executive Summary
1ClickDownload (classified across security intelligence databases under signatures including SoftwareBundler:Win32/1ClickDownload, PUA:Win32/1ClickDownload, and Adware:Win32/1ClickDownload) is an aggressive software monetization wrapper and adware bundler active since 2013.

Table of Contents

Overview

1ClickDownload (classified across security intelligence databases under signatures including SoftwareBundler:Win32/1ClickDownload, PUA:Win32/1ClickDownload, and Adware:Win32/1ClickDownload) is an aggressive software monetization wrapper and adware bundler active since 2013. Designed to monetize media downloads from video streaming and file-sharing sites, 1ClickDownload presents itself as a streamlined single-click download acceleration client. During installation, it employs deceptive user interface patterns (dark patterns) with pre-checked opt-in boxes to download and install secondary advertising payloads, search hijackers, and unauthorized browser helper objects. Once active on the host, 1ClickDownload intercepts browser HTTP traffic, redirects default search engine queries to sponsored monetization endpoints, and periodically pops up full-screen promotional ads, degrading system responsiveness and compromising user browsing privacy.

Known aliases

Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:

Family Pedigree & Lineage

Malware authors regularly fork and iterate upon existing codebases. Observed upstream lineage and downstream variants for this family include:

Known Derivatives & Downstream Variants: Softwarebundler:Win32/1Clickdownload.A · Pua:Win32/1Clickdownload.Gen

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

This family has been observed using the following ATT&CK techniques: T1176 · T1059.007 · T1112 · T1071.001 · T1547.001

→ Explore the complete 226-Technique ATT&CK Threat Matrix

Tactical Mitigations

Based on the techniques used by this family, consider the following defensive strategies:

MITRE D3FEND™ Defensive Countermeasures

Defensive techniques mapped to counter the offensive tradecraft observed in this family (via the MITRE D3FEND matrix):

D3FEND IDCountermeasure NameTacticCountered ATT&CKDefensive Guidance
D3-SEAScript Execution AnalysisDetectT1059.007Analyze script block syntax and command arguments at runtime to detect malicious automation.
D3-WAFWeb Content Filtering & InspectionFilterT1071.001Block newly registered domains (NRDs) and inspect HTTP Host and URI headers for known C2 profiles.
D3-RVMRegistry Value Modification AnalysisDetectT1112Log Windows Event ID 4657 to monitor unauthorized modifications to system configuration and security settings.
D3-BEABrowser Extension AllowlistingHardenT1176Deploy enterprise browser policies via GPO or Intune to block unauthorized side-loaded extensions and add-ons.
D3-RPMRegistry Persistence MonitoringDetectT1547.001Audit and restrict write privileges to user and machine-level Registry Run/RunOnce keys using Endpoint Privilege Management.

Tiered Detection Rules (Cisco CAIRN Model)

Modern threat detection requires multi-layered rule engineering. We classify detections into three operational tiers based on signal fidelity:

Tier 1 Primitive Artifact Rule (Fast Triage)

Matches raw strings and file markers. Vulnerable to binary repacking and simple obfuscation.

rule MALWARE_WIN_1CLICKDOWNLOAD_T1_ARTIFACT {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 1 Primitive Artifact: Raw string matches for 1Clickdownload"
        tier = "T1 - Primitive Artifact"
        confidence = "Low-Medium (Fast Triage)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        $s1 = "1clickdownload" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "softwarebundler:win32/1clickdownload" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = "pua:win32/1clickdownload" ascii wide nocase
        $s4 = "adware:win32/1clickdownload" ascii wide nocase
        $s5 = "win32/1clickdownload" ascii wide nocase
        $s6 = "1clickdownload bundler" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}

Tier 2 Behavioral Context Rule (Process Chains & Sigma)

Tracks parent-child process anomalies and suspicious scripting telemetry. Resilient against file renames.

title: SystemHelpDesk Detection - 1clickdownload (Adware) Execution & Triage
id: f2b721eb-944f-514d-831c-478cf62e2b49
status: production
description: Detects execution, defense evasion, and persistence behaviors associated
  with the 1clickdownload malware family. Detects suspicious execution from temporary
  user directories with hidden window flags and background transfer utilities.
references:
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/families/1clickdownload
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/defensive/ransomware-protection
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/
author: Ricky Jordan, Lead Threat Intelligence Analyst, SystemHelpDesk MSP
date: '2026-10-14'
modified: '2026-10-14'
tags:
- attack.adware
- author.ricky-jordan
- source.systemhelpdesk-mfc
- attack.t1176
- attack.t1059_007
- attack.t1112
- attack.t1071_001
- attack.t1547_001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_process:
    Image|endswith:
    - \cmd.exe
    - \powershell.exe
    - \cscript.exe
    - \wscript.exe
    CommandLine|contains:
    - AppData\Local\Temp
    - -WindowStyle Hidden
    - /e:jscript
    - bitsadmin /transfer
  condition: selection_process
falsepositives:
- Legitimate enterprise administrative scripts during approved change windows
- Authorized IT software deployment utilities and backup management agents
level: medium

Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint Rule (High Fidelity)

Deep signature matching distinctive operational fingerprints and payload characteristics.

rule MALWARE_WIN_1CLICKDOWNLOAD_T3_ATTRIBUTION {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint: Heuristic detection for 1Clickdownload tradecraft"
        tier = "T3 - Attribution Fingerprint"
        confidence = "High (Confirmed Family Signature)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        // Core family identifier & heuristic payload signatures
        $attrib_str = "1clickdownload" ascii wide nocase
        $pe_magic = "MZ" ascii
        $net_marker = "http" ascii nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and ($attrib_str and $net_marker) and filesize < 15MB
}
SOC & SIEM Rule Downloads: ⬇ Download YARA Rule (.yar) ⬇ Download Sigma Rule (YAML) ⬇ Download Sigma Rule (JSON) ⚙ Threat Profile API (JSON)

References & External Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SoftwareBundler:Win32/1ClickDownload?

1ClickDownload is a deceptive software bundler and adware program that installs unwanted advertising payloads and hijacks browser searches.

How does 1ClickDownload get installed onto computers?

It is bundled with free media players, video downloaders, and file-sharing utilities using deceptive pre-checked opt-in screens.

What changes does 1ClickDownload make to web browsers?

It modifies default search providers, alters browser homepages, and installs rogue extensions that inject banner advertisements.

How does 1ClickDownload maintain persistence on Windows?

It creates autostart registry entries in CurrentVersion\Run and registers background scheduled tasks to keep itself running.

How do you remove 1ClickDownload completely?

Uninstall rogue entries via Windows Installed Apps, reset browser settings to factory defaults, and run a full scan with Microsoft Defender.

Is 1Clickdownload a virus or an Adware?

1Clickdownload is classified as an Adware. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like 1Clickdownload typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.

What are the main symptoms of a 1Clickdownload infection?

Symptoms of 1Clickdownload can include unexpected system slowness, unauthorized outbound network traffic to unknown IP addresses, disabled security software, and suspicious background processes running from AppData or Temp directories.

Protect Your Network Against Adwares

Want to prevent 1Clickdownload and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Adware & Unwanted Software Protection.

📣 Threat Intel Correction or Update?

Notice an outdated IOC, unlisted alias, or disputed attribution? Threat researchers are invited to propose an update on GitHub or contact the SystemHelpDesk research desk. All community revisions are credited in our public CHANGELOG.

Need help with an active incident? Published by the SystemHelpdesk Threat Intelligence Team.

Machine-readable

Get this profile as JSON: https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/api/1clickdownload.json

Ecosystem & Interactive Environments

This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.