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The first version only include 3 files - system.js, application.js and packages.js which support over the web software packages delivery and basic system modifications.
The first version only include 3 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 integration of [[JQuery]] and CSS 2.1 for better UI design
The second version introduced debug capabilities, support for the different windows versions and web forms support; it also enabled integration of [[JQuery]] and CSS 2.1 for better UI design




== Features ==
== Features ==
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*Reporting and [[business intelligence]] module
*Reporting and [[business intelligence]] module


⚫
=== Criticism and Malware Classification ===

⚫
installCore and software packages relying on it have been classified as [[potentially unwanted program]] (PUP) or [[potentially unwanted application]] (PUA), by [[anti-malware]] product vendors <ref>[http://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/adware-and-puas/Install%20Core/detailed-analysis.aspx Detailed Threat Analysis] - Sophos, 8 Dec 2014</ref> and Windows Defender Antivirus <ref>[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/malware-encyclopedia-description?Name=PUA:Win32/InstallCore PUA:Win32/InstallCore] - Windows, Mar 11 2015</ref> in 2014-2015. It has been described as crossing "the line into full-blown malware" and a "nasty Trojan".<ref>[https://www.tomsguide.com/us/mac-osx-adware-trojan,news-20953.html Mac Adware Trojan Can Install Anything on OS X]</ref>


===JavaScript and HTML based user interface===
===JavaScript and HTML based user interface===
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OUT_EXE=\release\%EXE_CODE%Setup_v%VI_FILE_VER%.exe
OUT_EXE=\release\%EXE_CODE%Setup_v%VI_FILE_VER%.exe
</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>

⚫
== Criticism and Malware Classification ==

⚫
installCore and software packages relying on it have been classified as [[potentially unwanted program]] (PUP) or [[potentially unwanted application]] (PUA), by [[anti-malware]] product vendors <ref>[http://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/adware-and-puas/Install%20Core/detailed-analysis.aspx Detailed Threat Analysis] - Sophos, 8 Dec 2014</ref> and Windows Defender Antivirus <ref>[https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/malware-encyclopedia-description?Name=PUA:Win32/InstallCore PUA:Win32/InstallCore] - Windows, Mar 11 2015</ref> in 2014-2015. It has been described as crossing "the line into full-blown malware" and a "nasty Trojan".<ref>[https://www.tomsguide.com/us/mac-osx-adware-trojan,news-20953.html Mac Adware Trojan Can Install Anything on OS X]</ref>



==Generated installer==
==Generated installer==
Line 80: Line 84:
==Multilingual support==
==Multilingual support==
As of version 3.1 of the official release installCore fully support both Unicode and RTL but depended on Windows 2000 with SP 4 as minimum requirement to accurately present the UI.<ref>[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292246 List of languages supported in Windows 2000]</ref>
As of version 3.1 of the official release installCore fully support both Unicode and RTL but depended on Windows 2000 with SP 4 as minimum requirement to accurately present the UI.<ref>[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292246 List of languages supported in Windows 2000]</ref>



== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 00:47, 18 March 2021

InstallCore
Founded2010
Websitewww.installcore.com

installCore is an installation and content distribution platform, including a software development kit (SDK) for Windows and Mac OS X.[1] The program allows those using it for distribution to include monetization by advertisements, charging for installation, etc.. The platform and programs using it have been rated potentially unwanted program (PUP) or potentially unwanted application (PUA) by anti-malware product vendors [2] and Windows Defender Antivirus [3] in 2014-2015. The platform was primarily designed for efficient web based deployment of various type of application software. As of August 2012 installCore was managing 100 million installations every month,[4] offering services for paid, unpaid and free software (using the SDK version).[5] installCore is a product of ironSource which is headquartered in Tel Aviv with offices in San Francisco, CA in the United States and Beijing, China,[6]

History

The installCore team introduced the first version of the SDK at the beginning of 2011 [7] the SDK was a fork of the FoxTab installer and had only basic Installation features. The first version only include 3 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 integration of JQuery and CSS 2.1 for better UI design


Features

installCore development platform provides a software development kit (SDK) based on JavaScript and HTML/HTML 5.0. Installation project can be compiled into a windows executable file and used for the software installation and distribution. The platform supports the following features:[8]


JavaScript and HTML based user interface

Version 2.1 introduced a fully customizable design interface based on HTML, CSS and a JavaScript SDK. 

<head>
	<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
	<!-- sdk - include here the minimum required scripts -->
	<script type="text/javascript" src="sdk/debug.js"></script>
	<script type="text/javascript" src="sdk/form.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
	<div id="irsoForm" irsoTransition="fade" irsoWidth="620" irsoHeight="380" 
	irsoBorderStyle="bsNone" irsoStayOnTop="true">
	
	<div id="main">
		<div id="topPanel" class="irsoDragHandle">
			<div id="closeIcon" onclick="closeWindow()"></div>
			<div id="TOP_TITLE" class="irsoDragHandle" style="display:none"></div>
			<div id="logo" class="irsoDragHandle">Hello World!</div>
		</div>
	</div>
</body>

Since installCore version 4.10 the SDK integrated 12 fully pre-designed templates and a customization tool to create a WYSIWYG design.

Monetization features

The program has features supporting generation of revenue for users by advertising, charging for program installation, etc.

  • Full Windows API support, including full file system and registry access, loading and execution of dynamic link libraries and executing files.
  • Ad server technology, named FlowAutomator, to support optional 3rd party products during installations
  • Client side profiling algorithms, including data of previous downloads.
  • Full Html UI support including JQuery, Zepto.js and CSS 4.0
  • Optional Pay-per-install (PPI) monetization component

Compiler make script

The installCore compiler program HtmlUiMaker uses a make script , such as the following example, 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 software packages relying on it have been classified as potentially unwanted program (PUP) or potentially unwanted application (PUA), by anti-malware product vendors [9] and Windows Defender Antivirus [10] in 2014-2015. It has been described as crossing "the line into full-blown malware" and a "nasty Trojan".[11]


Generated installer

The generated installer is a Portable Executable which contains the installation script. The installer can be configured to function as full installer or a bootstrap installer. As the installation script is compiled, it cannot be obtained from the delivered executable without reverse-engineering the binary.

Multilingual support

As of version 3.1 of the official release installCore fully support both Unicode and RTL but depended on Windows 2000 with SP 4 as minimum requirement to accurately present the UI.[12]


See also

References

  1. ^ "ironSource's installCore launches Mac OS installer to offer comprehensive, cross-platform solution for developers". Software Developer Times. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  2. ^ Detailed Threat Analysis - Sophos, 8 Dec 2014
  3. ^ PUA:Win32/InstallCore - Windows, Mar 11 2015
  4. ^ installCore hits new high with 100 million monthly installs
  5. ^ "installCore Introduces Super Targeting for Freemium-Model Desktop Applications". PRWeb. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. ^ Xiang, Tracey (Jun 6, 2014). "Israeli Application Distribution Service ironSource Set up Office in China to Help the Chinese Go Global". technode.
  7. ^ InstallCore SDK documentation
  8. ^ installCore Features
  9. ^ Detailed Threat Analysis - Sophos, 8 Dec 2014
  10. ^ PUA:Win32/InstallCore - Windows, Mar 11 2015
  11. ^ Mac Adware Trojan Can Install Anything on OS X
  12. ^ List of languages supported in Windows 2000
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