Should I remove Softonic France Toolbar?

What percent of users and experts removed it?

68% remove it32% keep it

Overall Sentiment

Bad

What do people think about it?

(click star to rate)

How common is it?

Reach 0.0003%

Versions

Version	Distribution
6.3.0.26	20.00%
6.2.3.0	20.00%
5.7.2.2	60.00%

Other programs by Conduit

Softonic France Toolbar

from Conduit Ltd.

Remove Softonic France Toolbar by Conduit

What is Softonic France Toolbar?

This is a Conduit toolbar installed in the user's Web browsers (IE, Chrome and Firefox) that collects and stores information about your web browsing habits and sends this information to Conduit so they can suggest services or provide ads via the toolbar. The toolbar itself which is typically bundled with free software is an is an ad-supported (users may see additional banner and in-text link advertisements) web browser plugin distributed through various monetization platforms during installation. The browser extension includes various features that will modify the default or custom settings of the browser including the home page and search settings.

What the toolbar does:
- Changes the default search engine in your web browser's built-in search box.
- Changes the default home page of your web browser.
- Enable search from the address bar of your web browser.
- Adds alternative "page not found" functionality.

"By Using a Conduit Software you may enable Conduit to access, use and collect a variety of information, both personal and non-personal, regarding your Internet Browser, your browsing habits, and information about your computer." - from the EULA.

Overview

The most common release is 5.7.2.2, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. Upon being installed, the software adds a Windows Service which is designed to run continuously in the background. Manually stopping the service has been seen to cause the program to stop functing properly. 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 software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. The primary executable is named tbSoft.dll. Many users end up uninstalling this after less than a month of it being installed. It also bundles additional software in the form of the Conduit Engine, which installs a potentially unwanted toolbar, and makes homepage and default search engine changes to a user's web browser. The setup package generally installs about 12 files and is usually about 3.94 MB (4,136,470 bytes).

Malware detected in the program
Integrates into the web browser
This toolbar is distributed via Conduit (potentially unwanted)
Adds a background Windows Service
Displays advertisements unassociated with the underlying web page
May modify the web browser's home page
The wisdom of the experts agree, if you don't use it you should remove it!

Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Softonic France Toolbar.

tbSoft.dll (469b44ae63d2ae02b512ec92c64d4a06) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners:
Anti-Virus software	Version	Detection
Bkav FE	1.3.0.4246	HW32.Stranact
ESET-NOD32	7.9314	a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.B
Panda Antivirus	14.01.26.11	Adware/Conduit
VIPRE Antivirus	25620	Conduit (fs)
tbSof0.dll (975993043e355206a1fba5a702044f0c) has been flagged by the following 6 scanners:
Anti-Virus software	Software version	Detection
Comodo Security	17676	Application.Win32.Conduit.~A
ESET-NOD32	9338	a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.B
Malwarebytes	1.75.0.1	PUP.Optional.Conduit
Panda Antivirus	10.0.3.5	Adware/Conduit
TrendMicro-HouseCall	9.700.0.1001	TROJ_GEN.F47V1113
VIPRE Antivirus	25818	Conduit (fs)
prxtbSoft.dll (3a5627e0ab06f3ca7fb238ce5ee8cdf9) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners:
Anti-Virus software	Software version	Detection
AVware	1.5.0.21	Conduit (fs)
Baidu-International	3.5.1.41473	Adware.Win32.Conduit.Y
G Data	24	Win32.Application.Conduit.F
Panda Antivirus	4.6.4.2	PUP/Conduit.A
VIPRE Antivirus	34822	Conduit (fs)
Softonic_FranceToolbarHelper.exe (a320df2b47cfcaf98d06eb59cd72084c) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners:
Anti-Virus software	Software version	Detection
Bkav FE	1.3.0.6379	W32.HfsAdware.C534
Dr.Web	7.0.12.3050	Adware.Conduit.300
G Data	25	Win32.Adware.Conduit.B
IKARUS anti.virus	T3.1.6.1.0	PUA.ClientConnect
Panda Antivirus	4.6.4.2	PUP/Conduit.A
prxtbSof0.dll (59f4aa1a1ecf4c023f44872a9aae3b76) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners:
Anti-Virus software	Software version	Detection
Dr.Web		Adware.Conduit.16
Malwarebytes	1.75.0.1	PUP.Optional.Conduit
Panda Antivirus	10.0.3.5	Adware/Conduit
VIPRE Antivirus	25282	Conduit (fs)
Softonic_FranceToolbarHelper1.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)
tbSof1.dll (0210a8ccafcb04413748b6cc8744b452) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners:
Anti-Virus software	Software version	Detection
AVware	1.5.0.21	Conduit (fs)
ESET-NOD32	10689	a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.B
VIPRE Antivirus	34608	Conduit (fs)

View all 31 all detections

Program details

Displayed publisher: Softonic France

URL: SoftonicFrance.GreatToolbars.com

Help link: SoftonicFrance.GreatToolbars.com/help

Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Softonic_France

Uninstaller: C:\Program Files2\SOFTON~1\UNWISE.EXE /U C:\Program Files2\SOFTON~1\INSTALL.LOG

(Wise Installer is used for installing and uninstalling this software.)

Estimated size: 3.94 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 SoftonicFrance.GreatToolbars.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...

Files installed by Softonic France Toolbar

Program module:	tbSoft.dll (Malware detected)
Name:	Conduit Toolbar
Path:	C:\Program Files\Softonic_France\tbSoft.dll
MD5:	469b44ae63d2ae02b512ec92c64d4a06

Additional files:

(Malware detected) Softonic_FranceToolbarHelper1.exe - ToolbarHelper Application
uninstall.exe - Conduit Engine Uninstall
hk64tbSof0.dll - Conduit Toolbar
hktbSof0.dll
ldrtbSof0.dll
(Malware detected) prxtbSof0.dll
(Malware detected) prxtbSoft.dll
(Malware detected) tbSof0.dll
(Malware detected) tbSof1.dll
(Malware detected) tbSoft.dll
(Malware detected) Softonic_FranceToolbarHelper.exe
UNWISE.EXE

Behaviors exhibited

4 Internet Explorer BHOs

prxtbSof0.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with the class of {18272225-4c7f-4445-a7e3-8b260662e407} (Produtools Maps B).
tbSof1.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'softonic-de3 Toolbar' with the class of {cc05a3e3-64c3-4af2-bfc1-af0d66b69065}.
tbSoft.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'ToggleSW Toolbar' with the class of {6dabbda0-1da5-4a2f-bc89-2ae084c572fa}.
prxtbSoft.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'VideoCommunity Toolbar' with the class of {ae75cea9-579a-43e7-8d22-4d5dea612c5c} (VideoCommunity).

Internet Explorer Bar

tbSoft.dll installs an Explorer Bar in Internet Explorer called 'HotSpot International Findbar' with a class of {E7B933F6-FC68-4603-8C33-69AF90051503}.

4 Internet Explorer Toolbars

prxtbSof0.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with the class of {18272225-4c7f-4445-a7e3-8b260662e407}.
tbSoft.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'ToggleSW Toolbar' with the class of {6dabbda0-1da5-4a2f-bc89-2ae084c572fa}.
tbSof1.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Softonic France Toolbar' with the class of {364d4e0c-543f-4b85-abe3-19551139da4f}.
prxtbSoft.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'VideoCommunity Toolbar' with the class of {ae75cea9-579a-43e7-8d22-4d5dea612c5c}.

4 Internet Explorer URL Search Hooks

prxtbSof0.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with a class of {18272225-4c7f-4445-a7e3-8b260662e407} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
tbSof1.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'softonic-de3 Toolbar' with a class of {cc05a3e3-64c3-4af2-bfc1-af0d66b69065} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
tbSoft.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'ToggleSW Toolbar' with a class of {6dabbda0-1da5-4a2f-bc89-2ae084c572fa} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
prxtbSoft.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'VideoCommunity Toolbar' with a class of {ae75cea9-579a-43e7-8d22-4d5dea612c5c} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.

4 Internet Explorer Web Browsers

prxtbSof0.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with a class of {18272225-4C7F-4445-A7E3-8B260662E407}.
tbSoft.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'ToggleSW Toolbar' with a class of {6DABBDA0-1DA5-4A2F-BC89-2AE084C572FA}.
tbSof1.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'Softonic France Toolbar' with a class of {364D4E0C-543F-4B85-ABE3-19551139DA4F}.
prxtbSoft.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'VideoCommunity Toolbar' with a class of {AE75CEA9-579A-43E7-8D22-4D5DEA612C5C}.

2 Scheduled Tasks

UNWISE.EXE is scheduled as a task with the class '{F71A9918-1861-4EFE-AE94-530BDDE46DD4}' (runs on registration).
Softonic_FranceToolbarHelper.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{B8E8E278-F25D-478A-BAB2-24A5EDB01F6C}' (runs on registration).

Service

UNWISE.EXE runs as a service named 'Browser System Enahncer' (671c50b0).

2 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs

UNWISE.EXE is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\UNWISE.EXE'.
Softonic_FranceToolbarHelper1.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\eTvOnline.ro\eTvOnline.roToolbarHelper.exe'.

How do I remove Softonic France Toolbar?

You can uninstall Softonic France 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 Softonic France 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 Softonic France 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 Softonic France Toolbar you can restore them to their previous default settings.

Microsoft Internet Explorer