About Toolbars….

Published on November 12, 2011 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

A recent post by RedneckDude (https://forums.wincustomize.com/413409), to encourage and help artists from Community mindedness, gave me the idea for this post: Thanks, Jim.

I remember when toolbars first came out. I naively thought, “What a helpful thing!”. They can be helpful, but they have a less altruistic side.

I install and uninstall many apps in the course of my job here on WinCustomize. One of the things that I have to deal with regularly are browser toolbars and junk software that publishers sneak into their products: The infamous “Ask toolbar”, that is notoriously difficult to remove, the Google toolbar and the Yahoo toolbar are the most common, but other crapware exists as well.

You need to be very alert when installing, and not miss a single step. You also have to explore the “Advanced setup” option, as this crapware will invariably be installed when you choose the “Express setup” option, and you’ll only find out after it’s too late.

The responsibility for what you choose to install (or not) resides with only you.

This is true for “Freeware” (you’ll never get a free lunch, folks) as well as “Paid for” software with rare exceptions: Stardock’s software is one such exception.

So why do developers and publishers do this? Well, that one’s easy: Money. This isn’t to chide the developers of freeware. They have to get some sort of return on their efforts, and sites like c|net did so for the same reason, although I feel that with their degree of advertising, etc. they needn’t resort to “bundling”. In fact, they’ve apparently stopped doing that due to consumer and developer protests (yes Virginia, market pressures do work).

So how does the money deal work?

First realize that bundled software packages are a steady source of income. The Ask toolbar, for instance, pays developers $1 for every installation. Google also give incentive to developers who are willing to include the Google toolbar into their products. Yahoo does as well, and many others are involved in this practice. One exception is Skype: Since Microsoft purchased Skype, the Google toolbar has magically disappeared. I wonder why?

So why would Google, Yahoo, etc. want to pay good )if not much) for each toolbar installation? To data mine your browsing habits, and sell to advertisers. I maintain that if they wish to know my browsing habits and pay me for them, that’s one thing. Telling me I’m getting “Freeware” is a falsehood, as I am paying for it with every single click. That’s why there’s no such thing as free lunch.

What’s even worse is that while some installers offer users the option to opt out of the toolbar installation (upper picture), others force it upon them so as not to miss the enticing benefits (lower picture).

Even if developers give users the liberty to decline installation of bundled software, hapless users who are unaware of this shady practice or are in a hurry to get through the numerous installation screens, inevitably wind up installing crapware they don’t really want or need. They then suddenly find their PCs slow or find half their browser screen covered with toolbars.

Well, what can help? Be alert during installation. “Great! Now he tells me!”, you reply. Well, here’s a present from me: “Toolbar Cleaner”. It’s free, but pay attention during installation: It has pre-selected options to change your homepage and to install “Anti-phishing Domain Advisor” protection on your system. If you do not want that make sure you disable the options on the completing the toolbar cleaner 1.0 setup wizard. This app can be a great help in removing unwanted toolbars and extensions as well as plug-ins.

You can get the free software here: http://toolbarcleaner.com/

Ask toolbar uninstall utility: http://autoclean.computersitter.com/documentation/li/ask-toolbar-remover

Below is a list of software which comes “bundled”:

4 shared Desktop - Toolbar.
Ad-Aware - Google Chrome
Adobe Flash Player - Google Toolbar
Adobe Reader - eBay Desktop
Advanced SystemCare formerly known as Iobit advanced one care - Yahoo Toolbar (selecting no will still do changes on the system)
Aero Fox addon for Firefox - Ask toolbar.
Any Video Converter – Google Chrome.
AnVir TaskManager - Dealio Toolbar, RegistryCleanerPro and some other third party applications.
AOL Instant Messenger - AOL Toolbar
Apple’s Software Updater - Safari Browser, QuickTime, iTunes
Applian FLV Player - Yahoo Toolbar
Auslogics Disk Defrag - Ask Toolbar.
Auslogics Duplicate File Finder - Ask Toolbar.
Auslogics Registry Defrag - Ask Toolbar
Auslogics System Information - Ask Toolbar
Avast - Google Chrome but not pre-selected.
AVG LinkScanner, AVG Free, AVG 9 - Yahoo Toolbar
BitComet - Google Toolbar
BitTorrent 6.1.2/6.3 - Ask Toolbar
BurnAware Free - Ask Toolbar.
CCleaner (standard installer) - Yahoo Toolbar
CDBurnerXP - Ask toolbar, SpywareTerminator and Uniblue Registry Booster.
ChrisTV Lite - ChrisTV Toolbar/Relevant Knowledge adware.
ClamWin - Ask Toolbar
Corel Paint Shop Pro X - Yahoo! Toolbar but not pre-checked.
CPU-Z - Ask Toolbar
CSmenu - Ask Toolbar.
Cyberlink BD Advisor - Google Toolbar.
Cyberlink PowerDVD 8 - Google Toolbar and BETA of Moovielive
Daemon Tools - Search tool and sponsor ad module
Defraggler - Yahoo Toolbar
DexTop - RegistryBooster.
Digsby instant messenger – Yahoo Toolbar, MyFreeze NetAssistant for Firefox, Smart Shopper, WeatherBug, Regsitry Power Cleaner, Relevant Knowledge Toolbar, changes browser homepgae to My Freeze. Additionally, if uses your bandwidth to crawl the web for stock market research.
DivX - Yahoo Toolbar/Norton Security Scan
Driver Sweeper - Open Candy.
Duplicate Cleaner - Bing Toolbar and Search Helper Extension in Firefox.
DVDx - Ask Toolbar
FLV Player - Yahoo! Toolbar.
FormatFactory - ebay shorcut and/or Ask toolbar.
Foxit Pdf Reader - Ask Toolbar and ebay shortcut in desktop
Freecommander - ebay shortcuts.
Free Download Manager - prechecked and bundles Software Informer
Free YouTube to MP3 Converter - DVDSoft Toolbar, search engine.
Game House Installers - Google Desktop Search and/or Google Toolbar for IE.
GameVance Installer - Ask Toolbar and Weather Channel Desktop
GetGo Download Manager - Ask Toolbar.
Glary Utilities - Ask Toolbar
GOM Player - Ask Toolbar.
Google Earth - Pre checked Google Toolbar installation or Chrome browser.
Google Talk - no addon but will change default search setting of IE
Hotspot Shield - Hotspot Shield Community Toolbar (by default) from Conduit.
ICQ - ICQ Toolbar
IE7Pro - Offering ProgSense. Installed Grab Pro Toolbar (using Ask search).
IM ToolPack - Crawler toolbar.
ImgBurn - Ask Toolbar and Uniblue Desktop icons.
IMMUNET - Ask Toolbar.
Incredimail - MyStart Homepage and Search Page
IOBit Security 360 - IObit Toolbar.
IOBit Smart Defrag - Yahoo Toolbar/Search Settings.
IObit Advanced SystemCare - Yahoo Toolbar.
IrfanView - Google Toolbar for IE and Google Desktop Search
Isobuster - Ask Toolbar
IZArc - RegistryBooster.
Logitech Setpoint - Logitech Yahoo! Toolbar
ManyCam Virtual Webcam - Ask Toolbar and Norton Security Scan.
Maxathon 2 - Facebook Sidebar Plugin
McAfee Site Advisor update - Yahoo! default browser search
MediaCoder - Registry Reviver.
MessengerPlus! Live - Ask Toolbar.
Miro - Ask Toolbar.
MP3 WMA Converter - Yahoo Search and Delio Comparsion Shopping Toolbar
MooO Connection Watcher - AutoComplete Pro
MyPhoneExplorer - offering ebay shortcuts
Nero Free, Nero Burning Rom or Nero 9 Essentials and Nero BurnLite 10 - Ask Toolbar
Norton products - Ask Search in Norton toolbar. No option to remove and it was pushed by including in a Norton patch.
Office Live add-in - includes Silverlight as add-on
OpenCandy - offering third party software. Report says that even if you do not install the 3rd party software, there is modification in the registry, files and will add tracking cookies. There's also Conduit Toolbar in the page
PalTalk - Ask Toolbar. There's a nag screen prompting to upgrade from free to paid edition. No way to turn off the nag.
Panda Cloud AV - Yahoo Search Assistant and a pre-checked toolbar.
PC Tools Spyware Doctor - Google Toolbar
PC Tools Firewall Plus - Google Toolbar and Threatfire
PC Tools ThreatFire - Google Toolbar.
PC Wizard 2010 - Ask Toolbar.
PDFCreator - Yahoo Toolbar. Also offers PDFforger Toolbar and Widgi Toolbar (mybrowser bar).
PDF-XChangeViewer - Ask Toolbar.
Perfect Utilities - Relevant Knowledge (RK) toolbar
PhotoFiltre - Ask Toolbar.
Picpick - Ask Toolbar.
Quick Media Converter HD - Ask Toolbar, Ask Search, Ask Homepage (by default).
Quicksys RegDefrag - Ask Toolbar.
RapidTyping - Bing Toolbar.
Recuva - Yahoo toolbar
RealPlayer - Google Chrome pre-checked.
Risingware Fast Start Genie - installs Fast Start Genie and Risingware i-Desktop.
Shockwave Player - Norton Security Scan or Google Toolbar
SIW (System Information for Windows) - Crawler Toolbar. The installer of SIW (free version) will offer SnagIt (report here)or PC Tools Registry Mechanic (report here) but not pre-checked.
Skype - Google Toolbar and Browser Highlighter
Spiderplayer - Bing Toolbar.
Spyware Terminator - Web security guard, Crawler
StarBurn - installs StarPort DVD-ROM Emulator and SaveTubeVideo tools
Sun Java RE (online installer) - Google Toolbar / Live Search for Windows Toolbar. There's report too that Carbonite Backup is being offered (depends on your location)
Sun Java - OpenOffice.org
Thoosje Sidebar - Amazon or eBay toolbar.
Trillian - Ask Toolbar, Weather Channel Desktop and RegistryBooster
Unlocker 1.90 - eBay Desktop shortcuts and Bing Toolbar (with 30 seconds waiting for proceeding to install if you'll uncheck Bing Toolbar install).
uTorrent - Ask Toolbar.
Vdownloader Plus - Ask Toolbar and eBay shortcuts.
Veoh media player - Yahoo toolbar, search engine change & search protection
VSO Image Resizer - Ask Toolbar.
WeatherBug - Ask Toolbar.
Webroot SpySweeper - Ask Toolbar
Wildfire CD Ripper - Download Energy Torrent toolbar
Winamp - Winamp Toolbar
Windows Live Installer - Windows Live Toolbar and Sign-in Assistant
Windows SteadyState - Windows Live Toolbar
Winzip - RegistryBooster and Google Toolbar
xplorer2Lite - Conduit toolbar
XP-Antispy - eBay Shortcuts.
YaHoo! Instant Messenger - YaHoo! toolbar, with ‘YaHoo! Search Protection’ and homepage change to YaHoo!
ZoneAlarm - Conduit toolbar. Search powered by Google.

Sources:

http://www.calendarofupdates.com/updates/index.php?act=calendar&cal_id=1&code=showevent&event_id=44514 (Slightly edited. Entry corrections adopted)

http://www.ghacks.net/2011/07/04/toolbar-cleaner-remove-unwanted-toolbars-from-chrome-firefox-internet-explorer/

Comments (Page 2)

DrJBHL

on Nov 12, 2011

RedneckDude

reply 14

I'll take this opportunity to mention that the WinCustomize Toolbar has no spyware at all. And it's handy as hell.

https://www.wincustomize.communitytoolbars.com/

This is true for “Freeware” (you’ll never get a free lunch, folks) as well as “Paid for” software with rare exceptions: Stardock’s software is one such exception.

And here I was being so nice to you...

@BDBF: "marked"

*uh-oh.

RedneckDude

on Nov 12, 2011

Is it me, or is that quote a tad wonky?

So, you were nice to me, or to BDBF?

I B confewzed.

RedneckDude

on Nov 12, 2011

And you fixed it whilst I posted....you sly dog, you.

theAVMAN

on Nov 12, 2011

Great info and advice!!!!

harpo99999

on Nov 12, 2011

Drjbl, There is one more piece of information about the 'toolbars', and that is they are programs that also start up during the windows boot, so ARE SLOWING DOWN your computer as well as your browser(other than opera,chrome & dragon) and also use your internet bandwidth to report back to the maker of the bar.

I have used various anti-spyware programs to remove tolbars for my customers when they are commenting upon how slow the computer has become, and usually after cleaning the spyware from the computer, it is usually as fast as it was when new.

harpo

Stant123

on Nov 12, 2011

I remember reading in the EULA of a toolbar in the early days of their proliferation, I forget which one it was, but it had some verbiage like it would monitor your PC at all times (not just when you were browsing the net) and create a profile to tailor offers and product advertisements specific to your habits. Yeah, don't need that. ;]

DrJBHL

on Nov 12, 2011

The infamous “Ask toolbar”, that is notoriously difficult to remove, the Google toolbar and the Yahoo toolbar are the most common, but other crapware exists as well. [/quote][quote who="Stant123" reply="21" id="3023451"]I've been telling my family and friends since the first toolbar popped up that it is just a program to spy on you and that you agreed to let them... It's nice to see other people hating on toolbars as much as I always have.

I remember reading in the EULA of a toolbar in the early days of their proliferation, I forget which one it was, but it had some verbiage like it would monitor your PC at all times (not just when you were browsing the net) and create a profile to tailor offers and product advertisements specific to your habits. Yeah, don't need that. ;]

Hi harpo99999. Haven't seen you in a while. You make a good point which I thought I had written in the OP, but now I don't. Hmmm... the years are catching up. It was supposed to come in right after:

The infamous “Ask toolbar”, that is notoriously difficult to remove, the Google toolbar and the Yahoo toolbar are the most common, but other crapware exists as well.

Thanks again for catching that and adding.

starkers

on Nov 14, 2011

Great post, Doc, and hopefully it will prompt people to be more vigilant and thoroughly inspect program installers for things that they'd be much better off without.

I got caught with the Ask toolbar some years ago.. it covertly installed with an image viewer/resizer - and it was a real pain in the arse to get rid of. I wouldn't wish that pain and frustration on anyone [except effin' bankers], so here's hoping readers will take note and exercise due care when installing new apps.

Alpensopath

on Dec 06, 2011

DrJBHL

reply 22

The infamous “Ask toolbar”, that is notoriously difficult to remove, the Google toolbar and the Yahoo toolbar are the most common, but other crapware exists as well.

Stant123

reply 21

I've been telling my family and friends since the first toolbar popped up that it is just a program to spy on you and that you agreed to let them... It's nice to see other people hating on toolbars as much as I always have.

I remember reading in the EULA of a toolbar in the early days of their proliferation, I forget which one it was, but it had some verbiage like it would monitor your PC at all times (not just when you were browsing the net) and create a profile to tailor offers and product advertisements specific to your habits. Yeah, don't need that. ;]

Hi harpo99999. Haven't seen you in a while. You make a good point which I thought I had written in the OP, but now I don't. Hmmm... the years are catching up. It was supposed to come in right after:

The infamous “Ask toolbar”, that is notoriously difficult to remove, the Google toolbar and the Yahoo toolbar are the most common, but other crapware exists as well.

Thanks again for catching that and adding.

You can remove Yahoo! Toolbar just like any other Firefox Add-on (also called an Extension in older versions of Firefox).

Here are the steps:

Click the Tools menu at the top of the Firefox browser.
Click Add-ons or Extensions in the Tools menu (depending on which version of Firefox you have).
In the window that opens, scroll until you find Yahoo! Toolbar and click on it.
Click Uninstall.
Click again when you are prompted to confirm.
Close the Add-ons Manager or Extensions Manager, and restart your browser.

http://www.techyv.com/questions/unable-delete-yahoo-add-ons-firefox

harpo99999

on Dec 06, 2011

alpensopath, your instructions only stop the toolbar INSIDE firefox and do NOT have any effect on the VERY EARLY in the system startup operation of the toolbar loader/primary spy modules that can be stopped with hijackthis, and also can be removed with the spyware removing tools like spybot search and destroy, malwarebytes anti-malware and the iobits malware fighter and advanced system care (the last two offer to install a toolbar but it is possible to refuse the toolbar and the other offered softwarem but they are not as thourough as the first two)

harpo

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