Protected Toolbar
What is Protected Toolbar?
Protected is a Conduit distributed toolbar built on the community toolbar platform which provides web browser integration. This browser extension's primary purpose is to take control of the user's search functionality in order to generate a revenue share for the publisher and Conduit. In addition to search hijacking (although there should be options during bundle installation to prevent this), the toolbar will install itself in Internet Explorer as a toolbar and Browser Helper Object. Also, many installs contain 'Value Apps', which provide additional functionality as well as include various adware extensions such as Cash Back and Price Gong. As for distribution, the toolbar is typically bundled with 3rd party publishers in order to try to maximize install revenue as typically payouts per installation is between a few cents and a couple dollars depending on the geographical location of the host. The platform in many cases installs a service 'engine' that is designed to protect the toolbar as well as the modified search and home pages to Conduit's affiliate search partner.
From the License Agreement: "As part of the installation process of the Conduit Software and/or the Customized Software, we may change your Internet Browser settings and/or provide you with the ability to opt to make changes to your Internet Browser settings and/or your mobile device settings and/or your social network account settings."
About (from Conduit)
As part of the installation process of the Conduit Software and/or the Customized Software, we may change your Internet Browser settings and/or provide you with the ability to opt to make changes to your Internet Browser settings and/or your mobile device settings and/or your social network account settings. Change of ... Read more
Overview
- Malware detected in the program
- Integrates into the web browser
- Built on and distributed using the Conduit toolbar
- Known to reinstall itself
- Hijacks the web browser's home page
- The experts agree, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Protected Toolbar.
| tbProt.dll (5d80adbf9bcb50c9b488cced7f6525e1) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
| ESET-NOD32 |
8.9314 |
a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.B |
| Panda Antivirus |
14.01.26.11 |
Adware/Conduit |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
25628 |
Conduit (fs) |
| prxtbProt.dll (d0133250565180c9dc8ee0aecccbfd53) has been flagged by the following 12 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| Antiy-AVL |
1.0.0.1 |
GrayWare[WebToolbar:not-a-virus]/Win32.Agent.azm |
| AVware |
1.5.0.21 |
Conduit (fs) |
| Baidu-International |
3.5.1.41473 |
Adware.Win32.Conduit.M |
| Cyren |
5.4.16.7 |
W32/Conduit.TTAU-0102 |
| ESET-NOD32 |
11248 |
Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.N potentially unwanted |
| F-Prot |
4.7.1.166 |
W32/Conduit.A |
| G Data |
25 |
Win32.Application.Conduit.F |
| K7 AntiVirus |
9.199.15118 |
Trojan ( 004b219d1 ) |
| K7GW |
9.199.15118 |
Trojan ( 004b219d1 ) |
| Kaspersky |
15.0.1.10 |
not-a-virus:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent.azm |
| Panda Antivirus |
4.6.4.2 |
PUP/Conduit.A |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
37998 |
Conduit (fs) |
| ProtectedToolbarHelper.exe (943f313974a830d4634c73beb8103f5e) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| Comodo Security |
17313 |
Application.Win32.Conduit.~f |
| Dr.Web |
|
Adware.Toolbar.202 |
| Malwarebytes |
1.75.0.1 |
PUP.Optional.Conduit.A |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
23610 |
Conduit (fs) |
| uninstall.exe (b728fa6a309e5d18141947b95b730e95) has been flagged by the following 2 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
| Panda Antivirus |
10.0.3.5 |
PUP/Conduit.A |
| VIPRE Antivirus |
26380 |
Conduit (fs) |
View all 21 all detections
Program details
Displayed publisher: Protected
URL: Protected.OurToolbar.com
Help link: Protected.OurToolbar.com/help
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\protected
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\Protected\uninstall.exe toolbar
Estimated size: 7.82 MB
This is a Community Toolbar by Conduit, what does that mean?
Conduit is a toolbar monetization platform for software publishers. It provides a utility for developers to create branded generic web browser toolbars. Publishers can bundle these toolbars with their software programs or provide access to download them separately through Protected.OurToolbar.com. Once installed, the toolbar modifies the browser's home page and search settings in order to redirect searches through the Conduit portal (which utilizes Bing or Yahoo! Search engines). Read more...Each publisher enters into a 'Publisher Agreement' with Conduit which defines the revenue structure, known as the 'incentive amount', to be paid each calendar month in which the user has an active toolbar installed. Typically payout is based on the geographic origin of the user and ranges from $2 for a US user per month to just a few cents for other countries. Is it considered dangerous? Well, it's not malware or even spyware, however it changes the browser’s search provider in order to display, but if you read the EULA that is mentioned and presumably agreed on when installing. Users should decide if you need the functionality the toolbar has to offer. But remember, if you uninstall it make sure you reset your web browser, see how.
Files installed by Protected Toolbar
| Program module: | tbProt.dll (Malware detected) |
| Name: | Conduit Toolbar |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\protected\tbProt.dll |
| MD5: | 5d80adbf9bcb50c9b488cced7f6525e1 |
Additional files:
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(Malware detected) ProtectedToolbarHelper.exe - ToolbarHelper Application
-
(Malware detected) uninstall.exe - Conduit Toolbar Uninstall
-
hk64tbPro0.dll - Conduit Toolbar
-
hk64tbProt.dll
-
hktbPro0.dll
-
hktbProt.dll
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ldrtbPro0.dll
-
ldrtbProt.dll
-
(Malware detected) prxtbProt.dll
-
tbPro0.dll
-
(Malware detected) tbProt.dll
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- prxtbProt.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Produtools Manuals Toolbar' with the class of {16bb67e0-6319-4077-be84-f41269e051f3} (Produtools Manuals).
Internet Explorer Toolbar
- prxtbProt.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Produtools Manuals Toolbar' with the class of {16bb67e0-6319-4077-be84-f41269e051f3}.
Internet Explorer URL Search Hook
- prxtbProt.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'Produtools Manuals Toolbar' with a class of {16bb67e0-6319-4077-be84-f41269e051f3} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
Internet Explorer Web Browser
- prxtbProt.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'Produtools Manuals Toolbar' with a class of {16BB67E0-6319-4077-BE84-F41269E051F3}.
Scheduled Task
- uninstall.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{C247631C-606C-44F8-9B4E-C25B77177427}' (runs on registration).
Windows Firewall Allowed Program
- ProtectedToolbarHelper.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\eTvOnline.ro\eTvOnline.roToolbarHelper.exe'.
How do I remove Protected Toolbar?
You can uninstall Protected 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 Protected 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 Protected 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 Protected 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 7 (SP1) 50%
Win 10 50%
|
|
HOW DOES IT RUN?
 |
Plugs into Internet Explorer
|
|
|
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 77%
Keep it 23%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
50.00% |
|
| Windows 10 |
50.00% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
33.33% |
|
| Windows 8 |
16.67% |
|
| Windows 10 Pro |
16.67% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
16.67% |
|
| Windows 8.1 |
16.67% |
|
Geography
63.64% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
63.64% |
| Canada |
36.36% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Hewlett-Packard |
33.33% |
|
| Toshiba |
16.67% |
|
| Acer |
16.67% |
|
| Sony |
16.67% |
|
| Gateway |
16.67% |
|
Common models |
| TOSHIBA Satellite S875D |
16.67% |
|
| Sony VPCSE2DGX |
16.67% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard p7-1234 |
16.67% |
|
| Gateway DX4720-01h |
16.67% |
|
| Acer Aspire T3-600 |
16.67% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard p7-1549 |
16.67% |
|
About Conduit
Conduit is an online platform that allows web publishers to create custom toolbars, web apps, and mobile apps at no cost.
Publisher URL: www.conduit.com