Should I remove Kiwee Toolbar?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
76% remove it24% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Reach 0.0005%
Versions
Version | Distribution |
2.9.201 |
33.33% |
|
2.8.167 |
33.33% |
|
2.6.156 |
11.11% |
|
Other programs by AG Interactive
Kiwee Toolbar
What is Kiwee Toolbar?
The Kiwee Toolbar is a brower based add-on owned by American Greetings. Once installed in Microsoft Windows, this toolbar cannot be removed by regular means. There are a large number of questions posted in different Internet forums asking how to remove it, as well as specialized guides and videos showing how achieve this. Kiwee toolbar is potentially dangerous because it may install additional malware onto the compromised computer and collect user-identifying information possibly resulting in privacy violations and identity theft. American Greetings bundled the toolbar with the Webshots Desktop Application (a free program that users could then download from their site to manage their online pictures) to help install the controverted Kiwee Toolbar as part of a software update for this program.
Overview
The most used version is 2.9.201, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. The main program executable is agicore.dll. Typically most users end up uninstalling this just after a few days. The software installer includes 23 files and is usually about 5.85 MB (6,137,067 bytes).
- Loads into the web browser
- Adds a background Windows Service
- The experts agree, you should remove it!
Program details
Displayed publisher: AG Interactive
URL: www1.kiwee.com
Help link: forum.kiwee.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\agi\core\4.2.0.10755
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\AGI\core\4.2.0.10755\InstallerGUI.exe uninstall KiweeToolbar
Estimated size: 5.85 MB
Files installed by Kiwee Toolbar
Program module: | agicore.dll |
Name: | agicore |
Path: | C:\Program Files\agi\core\4.2.0.10755\agicore.dll |
MD5: | 0c4cf4d4a914b092fbe9facef606d378 |
Additional files:
-
SearchProtectionServicePlugin.dll - SearchProtectionServicePlugin.Properties
-
AutoUpdateServicePlugin.dll - AutoUpdateServicePlugin
-
FlashTrustServicePlugin.dll - FlashTrustServicePlugin
-
InstallLibrary.dll - InstallLibrary
-
AGCoreService.exe - AGCoreService
-
BrowserHelper.dll - BrowserHelper
-
Installer.exe - Installer
-
InstallerGUI.exe
-
Notifier.exe - Notifier
-
delight.dll - delight
-
agcutils.dll
-
bootstrapper.exe
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- BrowserHelper.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a Browser Helper Object with the class of {0bc6e3fa-78ef-4886-842c-5a1258c4455a}.
Internet Explorer URL Search Hook
- agcutils.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'AGSearchHook Class' with a class of {0BC6E3FA-78EF-4886-842C-5A1258C4455A} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
Service
- AGCoreService.exe runs as a service named 'AG Core Services' (AGCoreService).
How do I remove Kiwee Toolbar?
You can uninstall Kiwee 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 Kiwee 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 Kiwee 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 Kiwee 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 Vista (SP2) 56%
Win 10 11%
|
|
HOW IT RUNS
Windows Service? Yes
(Installs a service)
|
|
USER ACTIONS
|
Uninstall it 76%
Keep it 24%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows Vista |
66.67% |
|
Windows XP |
11.11% |
|
Windows 7 |
11.11% |
|
Windows 10 |
11.11% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
55.56% |
|
Windows 7 Home Premium |
11.11% |
|
Microsoft Windows XP |
11.11% |
|
Windows 10 Home |
11.11% |
|
Windows Vista Home Basic |
11.11% |
|
Geography
36.36% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
36.36% |
France |
18.18% |
Norway |
9.09% |
Spain |
9.09% |
Canada |
9.09% |
Italy |
9.09% |
United Kingdom |
9.09% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
57.14% |
|
Acer |
14.29% |
|
GIGABYTE |
14.29% |
|
Dell |
14.29% |
|
Common models |
HP-Pavilion NF457AA-ABF a... |
12.50% |
|
HP Pavilion HDX9000 Noteb... |
12.50% |
|
HP Pavilion dv6500 Notebo... |
12.50% |
|
Hewlett-Packard Compaq Pr... |
12.50% |
|
GBT AWRDACPI |
12.50% |
|
DIXONSXP DIXONSXP... |
12.50% |
|