Should I remove Apps Hat Madness?

Versions

Version	Distribution
1.32.153.0	100.00%

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from Bright circle investments Ltd.

Apps Hat Madness is a web browser extension that injects display advertising in the user's browser. Ads are displayed in the form of banners and contextual text-links and are both injected in white space areas of the HTML page or over existing ads of the underlying web site. These ads are typically for PC optimization utilities, other bundled malware or other types of malvertising.

During setup, the program registers itself to launch on boot through a Windows Schedule Task in order to automatically start-up (this is typically done to avoid any UAC prompts). It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. Once installed, it will add an extension to both the Firefox and Chrome web browsers. The main program executable is Apps Hat Madness-buttonutil.dll. Typically most users end up uninstalling this just after a few days. The software installer includes 16 files and is usually about 2.94 MB (3,085,126 bytes). Apps Hat Madness-updater.exe is the automatic update component of the software designed to download and apply new updates should new versions be released.

The program is built using the Crossrider framework, a cross browser monetization platform used to deploy a toolbar and extension for modern web browsers with monetization features including browser search and homepage redirection, contextual coupons and in-line text advertising. Crossrider extensions include background processes to monitor, update and automatically download new features/code without direct user interaction.

Displayed publisher: Nero

Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Apps Hat Madness

Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\Apps Hat Madness\Uninstall.exe /fromcontrolpanel=1

Estimated size: 2.94 MB

1. 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.
2. When you find the program Apps Hat Madness, 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).
3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Apps Hat Madness.
4. 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.

1. Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
2. 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.
3. The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
2. To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
3. When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.

1. Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Restart Google Chrome.

OS VERSIONS Win 7 (SP1) 50% Win 10 50%

HOW IT STARTS Scheduled task? Yes (Runs on Windows boot)

USER ACTIONS Uninstall it 79% Keep it 21%

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?

United States	55.56%
Ecuador	11.11%
New Zealand	11.11%
Venezuela	11.11%
Czech Republic	11.11%

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?

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