Many types of infections come from installing bad toolbars, average computer users don't know about the possible threats a toolbar may pose.
There are a lot of bad toolbars offered on the internet, this page has tips you can use to avoid installing bad toolbars, fix toolbar related problems, and some general information about toolbars that you may want to know.
Toolbars are a type of BHO. That means a malware toolbar can seriously damage your operating system and compromise your privacy. See my page on BHO\Browser Hijackers.
The #1 Tip to avoid toolbar related problems is that before you install any toolbar, you should Google search the name of the toolbar to see if it is a known malware. I usually enter the name of the toolbar and the words "security threat" (no quotes), if it's a bad toolbar then there's likely to be some results.
There's another tip on installing toolbars further down the page here, running a quick little program can give you a way to fix your computer if you screw it up with a bad toolbar. It only takes a minute to do, but can save a lot of time later if you do get a problem.
The My Web Search Toolbar is a malware that I frequently have to remove from computers.
Do NOT install My Web Search on your computer. It resides in memory, tracks your browsing and reports all of it, and it detects when you open a new window and then gets ads tailored to your browsing habits. It slows down your computer and generates pop up ads constantly. In my experience, My Web Search is always accompanied by other malware infections.
Sometimes System Restore can't be used to recover from certain infections because the infection can "hide' inside the system restore folders, and then re-create itself at the next system restart. That includes some BHO and Toolbars. Standard procedure when cleaning a confirmed infection is to turn off System Restore before attempting to clean.
Most toolbars merely add redundant features to programs or desktop, and many install malware.
Companies prey on computer illiterate consumers seeking maximum ease of use and make these tool bars seem to add convenient features, but they actually do more for the company that markets them.
For example, the Comcast Toolbar "helps you connect to comcast services better".
But the Comcast Toolbar also has algorithms that compile network access information whether or not you're connected to a Comcast gateway- like when you're traveling and accessing through a hot spot or some other connection. More and more people are using laptops, and it's common to access the internet from various locations. The Comcast Toolbar gathers data that Comcast doesn't need, it's more a tool to improve their customer model, rather than something useful for you.
I've also read forum postings claiming that the Comcast Toolbar installs viruses, and that McAfee anti-virus, which Comcast gives new customers a 15 day trial of, cannot remove the viruses installed by the toolbar, and users are then prompted to download and pay for a full version of McAfee.
I have had to clean numerous computers which had McAfee and the Comcast Toolbar installed, so in my opinion, both should be avoided.
The only toolbar I recommend is the Google Toolbar. It doesn't install malware.
In my opinion, Google is the best search engine. I use the internet mainly for information. I get the type of results I want with Google searches when I want information. usually when I do a search, I want an answer, not results about subject related books and T-Shirts for me to buy at amazon or ebay. Google is the most widely used search engine, and it delivers the best results.
The latest Google Toolbar (early 2009) added some new information collecting features in the latest Google Toolbar. You can turn that off in the toolbar's options, so you need to pay attention to which options you have enabled in the toolbar.
This only takes a minute to do and can save you time later if you develop a problem.
Before you install any toolbars, run Hijack This and save a log file. Then install the toolbar, run Hijack This again and save another log. Then if you have problems afterwards, it may simply fixing the problem later.
Hijack This information and download on the BHO page or in the Downloads links.
In case you install a malware, you may see entries in Hijack This which will allow you to quickly remove the problem. Normally it takes less than 1 minute to run a scan and save a log file, well worth the effort.
If you start experiencing browsing or other problems, such as your system slows down, run another scan, then use the 3 log files you've made to find the first entries made by your toolbar.
Google search any entries before you remove them, or ask someone who knows. If you remove the wrong entries with Hijack This, you can seriously screw up your system.
If you don't know what to do with the log files, there are several self help online forums that will assist you in reading the logs. Don't remove any entries unless you are sure you iknow what you're doing. More information is on the BHO page.
For further information about toolbars, use the FAQ/Glossary, links go to Wikipedia articles. See the BHO page also.
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