Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection
What is Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection?
Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection installs with the Ask.com internet browser toolbar and keeps it automatically updated. Avira SearchFree Toolbar gets installed through bundled software. The default settings will automatically install the Avira SearchFree Toolbar as soon as you install the host bundler software on your PC.
Upon install, the software will: Set and keep Ask.com as the default search provider. Set the browser homepage and new tabs page to Ask.com.Protect the settings through a background process that will monitor for changes and if detected will reset the search and homepages back to Ask.com ("A number of other browser add-on products (made by other companies) bundle and offer Ask search tools during installation of their products. This includes the Ask default homepage or new tab page, and if not declined at the time of installation, that setting will be changed in your browser".
The toolbar is installed with many version of the Free Avira AntiVirus software and is distributed through APN, LLC.
About (from Ask.com)
Avira's Web search shows complete search results. Marks each search result as safe or risky so you can avoid going to risky sites. Get notified if any site you are browsing is safe or risky. Maintain your browsing privacy. Automatically blocks companies from tracking your activity. You can adjust settings for sites you... Read more
Overview
- Automatically starts with Windows
- Loads into the web browser
- Connects to a server over the Internet
- Typically distributed through a pay-per-install bundle
- Hijacks the browser's default search provider
- The experts agree, you should remove it!
Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.
Program details
URL: sp.ask.com/toolbar
Help link: about.ask.com/en/docs/about/index.shtml
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\ask.com\assets\oobe
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{86D4B82A-ABED-442A-BE86-96357B70F4FE}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 3.89 MB
Files installed by Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection
Program executable: | offercast_avirav7_.exe |
Path: | C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\offercast_avirav7_.exe |
MD5: | ae88282d08916c00a324f6a269924ea9 |
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updater.exe (by Ask) - Updater (Ask Updater)
Behaviors exhibited
Startup File (All Users Run)
- updater.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'ApnUpdater' which loads as "C:\Program Files\Ask.com\Updater\Updater.exe".
Network connections
- updater.exe connects to 63.116.243.51 (port 80).
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
updater.exe |
Memory: | 3.74 MB | |
Total CPU: | 0.0882168889% | |
Kernel CPU: | 0.04567402% | |
User CPU: | 0.04254287% | |
Switches/sec: | 6 | |
How do I remove Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection?
You can uninstall Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection 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 Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection, 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 Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection.
- 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 Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection 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) 33%
Win 7 (SP1) 33%
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HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
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USER ACTIONS
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Uninstall it 85%
Keep it 15%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows Vista |
33.33% |
|
Windows XP |
33.33% |
|
Windows 7 |
33.33% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows Vista Ultimate |
33.33% |
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Windows 7 Ultimate |
33.33% |
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Microsoft Windows XP |
33.33% |
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Geography
62.50% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
62.50% |
Brazil |
12.50% |
France |
12.50% |
Italy |
12.50% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
American Megatrends |
50.00% |
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ASUS |
50.00% |
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About Ask.com
Ask focuses on search traffic through various methods, the number being installation of its toolbars through a lot of bundle and rebrand programs.
Publisher URL: www.ask.com