Chip Toolbar
What is Chip Toolbar?
Chip Toolbar is an Community Toolbar by Conduit that runs in IE, Chrome and Firefox Web browsers. The toolbar collects and stores information about your web browsing and sends this information to OurToolbar so they can suggest services or provide ads via the toolbar. The toolbar will attempt to change the browser's home page and search provider settings during installation (sometimes this is an option provided to the user but is checked by default) and provides a search box and various other generic features in the toolbar. It also may send event logs and other system-related information to a server, and may automatically download and install updates without notifying the user.
Overview
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 5 files.
- Integrates into the web browser
- This toolbar is distributed via Conduit (potentially unwanted)
- May modify the web browser's home page
- The wisdom of the experts agree, if you don't use it you should remove it!
Program details
Displayed publisher: Chip Toolbar
URL: www.ourtoolbar.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\ChipToolbar\
Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\ChipToolbar\unins000.exe"
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 www.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 Chip Toolbar
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InstTracker.exe (by Simplygen) - AutocompleteInstallationTracker
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FireFoxExtensionWithFF8Fix.exe (by Simplygen) - FireFoxInstallation
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FireFoxUninstaller.exe - FireFoxUninstaller
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unins000.exe - Setup/Uninstall
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System.Data.SQLite.dll - System.Data.SQLite (System.Data.SQLite Interop Library)
How do I remove Chip Toolbar?
You can uninstall Chip 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 Chip 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 Chip 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 Chip 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.
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 62%
Keep it 38%
|
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MOST USED OS
~99%
Windows 7 (SP1)
|
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COUNTRY POPULARITY
71.43%
United States
|
Geography
71.43% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
71.43% |
| Hungary |
14.29% |
| Romania |
14.29% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Samsung |
50.00% |
|
| Acer |
50.00% |
|
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