JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar
What is JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar?
JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar is an advertising-supported web browser toolbar that may modify the browser's home page, search provider and new tab pages. Changes to the browser include the following modifications:
- Change of the default home page and new tabs and protect your search settings
- Change of the default search engine in your Internet Browser, including the browser's built-in search box
- Addition of alternative error page functionality, such as “Page Not Found”
About (from Mindspark Interactive Network)
We may supply some of the information we collect from you to our affiliates and/or third parties so that we or they can provide certain elements or features in connection with the Toolbar. We may use search-query data to identify subject-matter search categories for use in classifying queries and targeting advertising ... Read more
Overview
Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. The program adds a toolbar to Microsoft Internet Explorer. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The main program executable is akBar.dll. A vast majority of those who have this installed end up removing it just after a couple weeks. The software installer includes 66 files and is usually about 11.83 MB (12,409,044 bytes).
- Possible malware installed by this program
- Automatically starts with Windows
- Loads into the web browser
- Installs a Windows Service
- May modify the web browser's home page
- Many experts agree, if you don't use it you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar.
| akBar.dll (96a060cf33a2c42617cf13224a47db07) has been flagged by the following 8 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
| avast! |
2014.9-140423 |
Win32:Mindspark-A [PUP] |
| AVG |
2015.0.3496 |
Zango |
| Baidu-International |
4.0.3.14530 |
Adware.Win32.Mindspark.81 |
| Kingsoft AntiVirus |
331020.49267 |
Win32.Troj.Undef.(kcloud) |
| Panda Antivirus |
14.05.30.12 |
Adware/WebSearch |
| Tencent |
1.0.0.1 |
Win32.Trojan.Falsesign.Hupc |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall |
7.2.150 |
TROJ_GEN.F47V0404 |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
29700 |
MyWebSearch.J (v) (not malicious) |
| akSrchMn.exe (466af3fbfdd028b3d90238425c367b7e) has been flagged by the following 8 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| AhnLab-V3 |
None |
Trojan/Win32.Buzus |
| avast! |
8.0.1489.320 |
Win32:Mindspark-A [PUP] |
| AVG |
13.0.0.3169 |
Zango |
| Kingsoft AntiVirus |
2013.04.09.267 |
Win32.Troj.Undef.(kcloud) |
| McAfee |
6.0.4.564 |
Artemis!466AF3FBFDD0 |
| McAfee-GW-Edition |
2013 |
Artemis!466AF3FBFDD0 |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall |
9.700-1001 |
TROJ_GEN.F47V0404 |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
28088 |
MyWebSearch.J (v) (not malicious) |
| akSrcAs.dll (31f0fd888f41c6e4b05a8a26a6257bbb) has been flagged by the following 7 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| avast! |
8.0.1489.320 |
Win32:Mindspark-A [PUP] |
| AVG |
14.0.0.3950 |
Zango |
| Baidu-International |
3.5.1.41473 |
Adware.Win32.Mindspark.45 |
| Panda Antivirus |
10.0.3.5 |
Adware/WebSearch |
| Tencent |
1.0.0.1 |
Win32.Trojan.Falsesign.Lkxk |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall |
9.700-1001 |
TROJ_GEN.F47V0404 |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
29442 |
MyWebSearch.J (v) (not malicious) |
| APPINTEGRATOR.EXE (660d435be4a48b8d941e5dcf30ac1974) has been flagged by the following 7 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| avast! |
8.0.1489.320 |
Win32:Mindspark-A [PUP] |
| AVG |
14.0.0.3950 |
Zango |
| Baidu-International |
3.5.1.41473 |
Adware.Win32.Mindspark.81 |
| Panda Antivirus |
10.0.3.5 |
Adware/WebSearch |
| Tencent |
1.0.0.1 |
Win32.Trojan.Falsesign.Wlzh |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall |
9.700.0.1001 |
TROJ_GEN.F47V0404 |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
29442 |
MyWebSearch.J (v) (not malicious) |
| akbarsvc.exe (54d6bc524f1fb026d6eb569581e38885) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| avast! |
8.0.1489.320 |
Win32:Mindspark-A [PUP] |
| AVG |
13.0.0.3169 |
Zango |
| Malwarebytes |
1.75.0001 |
PUP.Optional.AudioToAudioToolBar.A |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall |
9.700-1001 |
TROJ_GEN.F47V0404 |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
28088 |
MyWebSearch.J (v) (not malicious) |
| akmedint.exe (bb601f008cda03b0cdc8188d084d9960) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| avast! |
8.0.1489.320 |
Win32:Mindspark-A [PUP] |
| AVG |
13.0.0.3169 |
Zango |
| NANO AntiVirus |
0.28.0.58873 |
Trojan.Win32.FUbu2.cudmon |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall |
9.700-1001 |
TROJ_GEN.F47V0405 |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
28088 |
MyWebSearch.J (v) (not malicious) |
| AppIntegrator64.exe (f68778b356218f4cbfd5c2c19419c0a0) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| avast! |
8.0.1489.320 |
Win32:Mindspark-A [PUP] |
| AVG |
13.0.0.3169 |
Zango |
| ESET-NOD32 |
9637 |
a variant of Win64/Toolbar.MyWebSearch.A |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
28020 |
MyWebSearch.J (v) (not malicious) |
View all 44 all detections
Program details
URL: support.mindspark.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\JokeFanatic_ak\bar\1.bin
Uninstaller: rundll32 "C:\Program Files\JokeFanatic_ak\bar\1.bin\akBar.dll",O mindsparktoolbarkey="JokeFanatic_ak" uninstalltype=IE
Estimated size: 11.83 MB
Files installed by JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar
| Program module: | akBar.dll (Malware detected) |
| Name: | Mindspark Toolbar Platform for Internet Explorer and Firefox |
| Mindspark Toolbar Platform |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\JokeFanatic_ak\bar\1.bin\akBar.dll |
| MD5: | 96a060cf33a2c42617cf13224a47db07 |
Additional files:
-
(Malware detected) akbar.dll - Mindspark Toolbar Platform for Internet Explorer and Firefox (Mindspark Toolbar Platform)
-
akregfft.dll
-
akregiet.dll
-
T8EPMSUP.DLL
-
akhkstub.dll - Mindspark Toolbar Platform IE Search Box Protector Stub
-
akreghk.dll - Mindspark Toolbar Platform IE Search Box Protector
-
akbarsvc.exe - Mindspark Toolbar Platform for Internet Explorer
-
akbprtct.dll
-
akdatact.dll
-
akdlghk.dll
-
akdlghk64.dll
-
akfeedmg.dll
-
akhighin.exe
-
akhtmlmu.dll
-
akhttpct.dll
-
akidle.dll
-
akmedint.exe
-
akmlbtn.dll
-
akPlugin.dll
-
akscript.dll
-
akskin.dll
-
akskplay.exe
-
(Malware detected) akSrcAs.dll - Mindspark Search Assistant for Internet Explorer (Mindspark Search Assistant)
-
AppIntegrator.exe
-
AppIntegrator64.exe
-
AppIntegratorStub.dll
-
AppIntegratorStub64.dll
-
AssistMonitor.dll
-
AssistMonitor64.dll
-
CrExt.dll
-
CrExtPak.exe
-
DpnMngr.dll
-
HiddenToolbarReminder.dll
-
HkFxMgr.dll
-
HkFxMgr64.dll
-
T8EXTEX.DLL
-
T8EXTPEX.DLL
-
T8HTML.DLL
-
t8Res.dll
-
T8TICKER.DLL
-
ToolbarGuard.dll
-
(Malware detected) akSrchMn.exe - Mindspark Toolbar Platform SearchScope Monitor
-
aksrchmr.dll
-
NPakStub.dll - Mindspark Toolbar Platform Plugin Stub (Mindspark Toolbar Platform Plugin Stub for 32-bit Windows)
-
akauxstb.dll - Mindspark Toolbar Platform
-
akauxstb64.dll
-
akieovr.dll
-
akradio.dll - Mindspark Radio
-
aktpinst.dll - ThirdPartyInstaller Module
Behaviors exhibited
2 Internet Explorer BHOs
- akSrcAs.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'SoccerInferno' with the class of {73b8e1fd-331f-4c17-8613-8a3034d3b0ca}.
- akbar.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Search-Results Toolbar' with the class of {503e067f-2914-4edd-8432-2d6c52635e23}.
Internet Explorer Toolbar
- akbar.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Search-Results Toolbar' with the class of {503e067f-2914-4edd-8432-2d6c52635e23}.
Internet Explorer URL Search Hook
- akSrcAs.dll is loaded in Internet Explorer as a URL search hook using the CLSID {792d1703-9131-4929-9b08-57eca435f68b} and is used by IE to redirect the address of an unknown typed URLs.
Internet Explorer Web Browser
- akbar.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'PuzzleGamesDaily' with a class of {C3E49807-F612-45DB-AEF6-B0F5B68FAE27}.
Mozilla Plugin
- NPakStub.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name '@JokeFanatic_ak.com/Plugin' with a plugin key of '@JokeFanatic_ak.com/Plugin' for all users of the PC.
Scheduled Task
- AppIntegrator64.exe is scheduled as a task named 'Price Fountain' (runs daily at 4:45 PM).
3 Scheduled Tasks (Boot/Login)
- AppIntegrator64.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named 7.
- akSrchMn.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named 3.
- akmedint.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named 2.
Service
- akbarsvc.exe runs as a service named 'WebfettiService' (Webfetti_52Service).
5 Startup Files (All Users Run)
- akSrchMn.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'YourLocalLotto Toolbar EPM Support' which loads as "C:\Program Files2\YOURLO~2\bar\1.bin\20medint.exe" T8EPMSUP.DLL,S.
- akmedint.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'InboxAce Search Scope Monitor' which loads as "C:\Program Files2\INBOXA~2\bar\1.bin\1gsrchmn.exe" /m=2 /w /h.
- APPINTEGRATOR.EXE is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'Astrology Home Page Guard 32 bit' which loads as "C:\Program Files1\ASTROL~2\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator.exe".
- AppIntegrator64.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'SoccerInferno Home Page Guard 64 bit' which loads as "C:\Program Files2\SOCCER~2\bar\1.bin\AppIntegrator64.exe".
- akbar.dll is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'RadioRage' which loads as rundll32 C:\Program Files1\RadioRage_4j\bar\1.bin\4jbar.dll,S.
How do I remove JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar?
You can uninstall JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar.
- If for some reason uninstallation fails, please install Microsoft's uninstall fixer utility which will help fix problems with programs that can't be uninstalled at support.microsoft.com.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by JokeFanatic Internet Explorer Toolbar you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
- When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win 10 78%
Win 7 (SP1) 11%
|
|
HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
|
|
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 61%
Keep it 39%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 10 |
77.78% |
|
| Windows Vista |
11.11% |
|
| Windows 7 |
11.11% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 10 Home |
33.33% |
|
| Windows 8 Single Language |
22.22% |
|
| Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
11.11% |
|
| Windows 8 Pro |
11.11% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
11.11% |
|
| Windows 8.1 |
11.11% |
|
Geography
81.25% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
81.25% |
| Australia |
6.25% |
| India |
6.25% |
| Canada |
6.25% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| ASUS |
37.50% |
|
| Acer |
25.00% |
|
| Dell |
12.50% |
|
| Lenovo |
12.50% |
|
| Toshiba |
12.50% |
|
Common models |
| TOSHIBA Satellite C655 |
14.29% |
|
| LENOVO 20245 |
14.29% |
|
| Gateway NE56R |
14.29% |
|
| Gateway LT40 |
14.29% |
|
| Dell Inspiron 570 |
14.29% |
|
| ASUSTeK S400CA |
14.29% |
|
About Mindspark Interactive Network
Mindspark is a business unit of IAC that focuses on interactive products and web portals and operates IAC's interactive products and web portals such as Life123, Myway.
Publisher URL: www.mindspark.com