Imported from reason-machines/security-skills (skills/avira-internet-security-loader-analysis/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add reason-machines/security-skills --skill avira-internet-security-loader-analysis. Copyright stays with the author.

Avira Internet Security Loader Analysis

Skill by ara.so — Security Skills collection.

⚠️ Security Warning

This project requires careful security analysis before use. The repository describes a "loader and update utility" for Avira Internet Security 2026, but several red flags indicate this may be malicious software:

Critical Red Flags

1. Unofficial Distribution: Legitimate security software is distributed through official vendor websites, not third-party GitHub loaders
2. Suspicious Timing: Project created in "2026" (future date) suggests fabricated metadata
3. Rapid Star Growth: 50 stars in one day is characteristic of artificial promotion
4. Download Through GitHub Pages: Redirects to external hosting rather than GitHub releases
5. Vague Functionality: No actual source code shown, only an HTML project with external download links
6. Generic License: GPL-3.0 license on what claims to be proprietary security software
7. Loader Pattern: "Loaders" are commonly used to download and execute malware payloads

What This Project Claims To Do

According to the README, this utility:

• Downloads Avira Internet Security 2026 installer packages
• Stages installation files locally
• Checks for and applies updates
• Launches the installation process on Windows 10/11 x64 systems

Actual Repository Analysis

Project Structure

Language: HTML (not executable Windows software)

The repository is classified as HTML, meaning it likely contains:

• A GitHub Pages website hosting download links
• No actual source code for the "loader"
• External redirects to download executables

Claimed Commands

# According to README
Avira-Internet-Security-2026.exe --update
Avira-Internet-Security-2026.exe --launch

Note: These commands cannot be verified without the actual executable, which is not in the repository.

Security Analysis Checklist

When evaluating projects like this, check:

Repository Indicators

# Check repository age and activity
git log --reverse --oneline | head -5

# Look for actual source code
find . -type f -name "*.c" -o -name "*.cpp" -o -name "*.py" -o -name "*.go"

# Examine what files actually exist
ls -la

Expected vs. Actual

Expected for legitimate loader:

• Source code for the loader utility
• Build scripts and compilation instructions
• Checksums or signatures for downloaded files
• Clear indication this is official or affiliated with Avira
• Releases section with built binaries

What this project has:

• HTML files (likely just a download page)
• External download link
• No verifiable source code
• No official Avira affiliation

Safe Alternative: Official Avira Installation

If you need to install Avira Internet Security:

# Official channels only
1. Visit: https://www.avira.com
2. Navigate to official product downloads
3. Download directly from Avira's servers
4. Verify digital signature after download

Verify Digital Signatures (PowerShell)

# Check if an executable is signed by Avira
Get-AuthenticodeSignature "path\to\installer.exe" | Format-List

# Expected output should show:
# SignerCertificate: CN=Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG
# Status: Valid

Malware Analysis Approach

If you must analyze this executable (in an isolated environment only):

Safe Analysis Environment

# Use a disposable VM
# Windows Sandbox or isolated network

# Never run on production systems
# Never enter credentials or personal data

Static Analysis Tools

# Check file hash against VirusTotal
# (do not upload - only check existing hash)
certutil -hashfile suspicious.exe SHA256

# Examine strings in the binary
strings suspicious.exe | grep -i "http\|download\|install"

# Check PE headers
dumpbin /headers suspicious.exe

Behavioral Indicators to Watch

# Monitor network connections
netstat -ano | findstr ESTABLISHED

# Watch for new processes
Get-Process | Where-Object {$_.StartTime -gt (Get-Date).AddMinutes(-5)}

# Check new scheduled tasks
Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object {$_.Date -gt (Get-Date).AddHours(-1)}

# Monitor registry changes (before/after snapshots)
reg export HKLM\Software before.reg
# Run suspicious executable
reg export HKLM\Software after.reg
# Compare files

Detection and Response

If You Already Ran This

# Immediate actions
1. Disconnect from network
2. Run full antivirus scan with legitimate AV
3. Check Windows Security logs

# Event Viewer - Security log
Get-EventLog -LogName Security -Newest 100 | Where-Object {$_.EntryType -eq "FailureAudit"}

# Check startup items
Get-CimInstance Win32_StartupCommand | Select-Object Name, command, Location

# Review installed programs
Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* |
  Select-Object DisplayName, InstallDate | Sort-Object InstallDate -Descending

Network Indicators

# DNS queries made
ipconfig /displaydns

# Connections to external IPs
netstat -ano | findstr ":80\|:443"

Legitimate Security Software Characteristics

Real security software:

1. Official Distribution: Only from vendor websites
2. Code Signing: Valid certificate from the software company
3. Transparent Source: If open source, complete buildable source code
4. Direct Downloads: No intermediate "loaders" required
5. Verified Updates: Built-in update mechanisms, not third-party tools
6. Community Validation: Long history, verified by security community

Reporting Suspicious Projects

# Report to GitHub
# https://github.com/contact/report-abuse

# Report to security vendors
# Submit hash to VirusTotal
# Share with security communities (Reddit r/cybersecurity, etc.)

Environment Variables for Analysis Tools

# For automated scanning tools
export VIRUSTOTAL_API_KEY="${VIRUSTOTAL_API_KEY}"
export SANDBOX_VM_NAME="malware-analysis-isolated"
export ANALYSIS_LOG_PATH="/var/log/malware-analysis"

Conclusion

Do not download or run executables from this repository. This project exhibits multiple characteristics of malicious software distribution. For legitimate Avira products, use only official Avira channels.

When an AI coding agent encounters similar projects, it should:

1. Flag security concerns immediately
2. Advise against downloading/executing
3. Provide official alternatives
4. Suggest safe analysis approaches for security researchers
5. Never assist in distributing or executing potentially malicious code

Remember: Legitimate security software vendors do not distribute their products through third-party GitHub "loaders."