Conduit Toolbar for IE
What is Conduit Toolbar for IE?
This is a Conduit distributed toolbar built on the community toolbar platform which provides web browser integration. This browser extension's primary purpose is to take control of the user's search functionality in order to generate a revenue share for the publisher and Conduit. In addition to search hijacking (although there should be options during bundle installation to prevent this), the toolbar will install itself in Internet Explorer as a toolbar and Browser Helper Object. Also, many installs contain 'Value Apps', which provide additional functionality as well as include various potentially unwanted extensions such as Cash Back and Price Gong. As for distribution, the toolbar is typically bundled with 3rd party publishers in order to try to maximize install revenue as typically payouts per installation is between a few cents and a couple dollars depending on the geographical location of the host. The platform in many cases installs a service 'engine' that is designed to protect the toolbar as well as the modified search and home pages to Conduit's affiliate search partner.
The program runs a program (under rundll) named BackgroundContainer.dll that is designed to generate a unique identifier for the user based on the PC's network card MAC address and will phone home to http://toolbar-ie-updater.qasite-services.com, http://toolbar-ie-updater.conduit-services.com and http://usage.toolbar.conduit-services.com/ToolbarUsage.ashx that reports the user usage data of the toolbar.
From the License Agreement: "As part of the installation process of the Conduit Software and/or the Customized Software, we may change your Internet Browser settings and/or provide you with the ability to opt to make changes to your Internet Browser settings and/or your mobile device settings and/or your social network account settings."
What toolbar EULA says it can do:
- Change of the default search engine, including your Browser's built-in search box, and address bar.
- Addition of alternative error page functionality, such as “Page Not Found”.
- Change of the default Home Page and/or New Tabs, and protect your search settings.
- Allowing Conduit access to location-based information.
- Allowing Conduit access to information contained on your social network account.
Overview
The most common release is 6.23.0.9, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. The primary executable is named BackgroundContainer.dll. A majority of users end up uninstalling this less than a week 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 2 files and is usually about 1.82 MB (1,908,113 bytes).
- Integrates into the web browser
- This toolbar is distributed via Conduit (potentially unwanted)
- Delivered through a thrid-party offer
- Hijacks the web browser's home page
- The experts agree, you should remove it!
Conduit Toolbar for IE 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
Displayed publisher: Conduit
URL: Conduit.ourtoolbar.com
Help link: Conduit.ourtoolbar.com/help
Installation folder: C:\ProgramData\conduit\ie\ct408137
Uninstaller: C:\ProgramData\Conduit\IE\CT408137\UninstallerUI.exe -ctid=CT408137 -toolbarName=Conduit -toolbarEnv=conduit -type=IE
Estimated size: 1.82 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 Conduit.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 Conduit Toolbar for IE
| Program module: | BackgroundContainer.dll |
| Name: | Background Container |
| Path: | BackgroundContainer.dll |
| MD5: | fd42ea980fe1833b3a5eb429273cd1b2 |
Additional files:
-
UninstallerUI.exe - 1.4.0.1
-
configutaion.json
How do I remove Conduit Toolbar for IE?
You can uninstall Conduit Toolbar for IE 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 Conduit Toolbar for IE, 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 Conduit Toolbar for IE.
- 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 Conduit Toolbar for IE 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) 75%
Win 10 25%
|
|
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 86%
Keep it 14%
|
|
|
AVERAGE INSTALL LIFESPAN
5.54
Days
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
75.00% |
|
| Windows 10 |
25.00% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
37.50% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
25.00% |
|
| Windows 8.1 Pro with Medi... |
12.50% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
12.50% |
|
| Windows 8 Enterprise |
12.50% |
|
Geography
76.47% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
76.47% |
| Romania |
5.88% |
| Germany |
5.88% |
| Canada |
5.88% |
| NP |
5.88% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Hewlett-Packard |
33.33% |
|
| Intel |
16.67% |
|
| Acer |
16.67% |
|
| Dell |
16.67% |
|
| ASUS |
16.67% |
|
Common models |
| innotek GmbH VirtualBox |
25.00% |
|
| VMware, Inc. VMware Virtu... |
12.50% |
|
| MSI MS-7850 |
12.50% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard 23-b034 |
12.50% |
|
| ASUSTeK K52F |
12.50% |
|
| Dell Latitude D630 |
12.50% |
|
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