Should I remove Search Enhancement Tool?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
65% remove it35% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #44,381
United States Rank #41,058
Reach 0.0019%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 10.30 days
303.82 days >
Average installed length: 159.63 days
Versions
Version | Distribution |
1.3.14 |
21.05% |
|
1.3.13 |
5.26% |
|
1.3.12 |
65.79% |
|
1.2.2 |
5.26% |
|
1.0.0.1 |
2.63% |
|
Rankings
- #44,376 PlayNC Launcher by NCsoft
- #44,377 ETDWare PS/2-X86 8.0.5.2_WHQL by ELAN Microelectronic
- #44,378 Easy Web Cam by UK Software
- #44,379 WildTangent ORB Game Console
- #44,380 Community Smartbar Engine by Linkury
- #44,381 Search Enhancement Tool
- #44,382 Bitcasa version beta
- #44,383 Alice Greenfingers [PopCap]
- #44,384 Reprisal Universe by electrolyte
- #44,385 Joint Task Force by HD Publishing
- #44,386 Shockwave Game Bar by Ask.com
Search Enhancement Tool
What is Search Enhancement Tool?
The toolbar is powered by the Besttoolbars platform. It is a potentially unwanted web browser extension that is designed to deliver search-based hijacking/injection as well as contextual advertising. The program does this by modifying the user's home and search page in order to monetize a user's search activities. By installing a Browser Helper Object (BHO) in Internet Explorer, the extension has the ability to monitor and track a user web browsing activities and display various banner and link-context ads in addition to its search redirection.
Overview
The most used version is 1.3.12, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. The main program executable is BackgroundHost.exe. A vast majority of those who have this installed end up removing it just after a couple weeks. The software installer includes 15 files and is usually about 1.22 MB (1,281,889 bytes).
- Possible malware installed by this program
- Loads into the web browser
- Many experts agree, if you don't use it you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Search Enhancement Tool.
ScriptHost64.dll (f08d13281806d40ea4cb0a6018a4bebf) has been flagged by the following 2 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
SUPERAntiSpyware |
10650 |
Trojan.Hoster |
VIPRE Antivirus |
26180 |
Besttoolbars (fs) |
Program details
Displayed publisher: Search Enhancement Tool
URL: www.searchenhancementtool.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\search enhancement tool
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\Search Enhancement Tool\uninstall.exe
Estimated size: 1.22 MB
Files installed by Search Enhancement Tool
Program executable: | BackgroundHost.exe |
Name: | Add-ons Framework |
| BackgroundHost |
Path: | C:\Program Files\search enhancement tool\BackgroundHost.exe |
MD5: | db30ba7bf48236a5f946f4c5bed1bcd2 |
Additional files:
-
ScriptHost.dll - Add-ons Framework (ScriptHost)
-
(Malware detected) ScriptHost64.dll
-
npTBUtils.dll (by Besttoolbars) - Besttoolbars NPAPI utils
-
AddonsFramework.Typelib.dll (by Besttoolbars)
-
AddonsFramework.Typelib64.dll
-
BackgroundHost.exe - BackgroundHost
-
BackgroundHost64.exe
-
ButtonSite.dll - ButtonSite
-
ButtonSite64.dll
-
uninstall.exe
Behaviors exhibited
Google Chrome Plugin
- npTBUtils.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'npTBUtils.dll'.
2 Internet Explorer BHOs
- ScriptHost.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Search Enhancement Tool' with the class of {8E0B5CFE-A7EB-4F19-848A-C862F2AD464D}.
- ScriptHost64.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Search Enhancement Tool' with the class of {8E0B5CFE-A7EB-4F19-848A-C862F2AD464D}.
Mozilla Plugin
- npTBUtils.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name '@getadverts.com/npTBUtils' with a plugin key of '@getadverts.com/npTBUtils' for all users of the PC.
How do I remove Search Enhancement Tool?
You can uninstall Search Enhancement Tool 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 Search Enhancement Tool, 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 Search Enhancement Tool.
- 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 Search Enhancement Tool 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) 63%
Win XP 3%
|
|
HOW DOES IT RUN?
|
Plugs into Mozilla Firefox
|
|
|
USER ACTIONS
|
Uninstall it 65%
Keep it 35%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 |
63.16% |
|
Windows 10 |
18.42% |
|
Windows XP |
13.16% |
|
Windows Vista |
5.26% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows 7 Home Premium |
47.37% |
|
Windows 8 |
13.16% |
|
Microsoft Windows XP |
13.16% |
|
Windows 7 Ultimate |
7.89% |
|
Windows 7 Professional |
5.26% |
|
Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
2.63% |
|
Geography
51.11% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
51.11% |
United Kingdom |
44.44% |
Iran |
4.44% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Dell |
26.47% |
|
Hewlett-Packard |
20.59% |
|
GIGABYTE |
11.76% |
|
ASUS |
8.82% |
|
Samsung |
8.82% |
|
Sony |
8.82% |
|
Toshiba |
5.88% |
|
Acer |
5.88% |
|
Intel |
2.94% |
|
Common models |
Sony SVF14N13CXB |
2.86% |
|
Sony SVE14A390X |
2.86% |
|
Samsung 300E4C/300E5C/300... |
2.86% |
|
Hewlett-Packard s5710f |
2.86% |
|
Hewlett-Packard p7-1234 |
2.86% |
|
Gigabyte M61PME-S2 |
2.86% |
|