Downius Toolbar
What is Downius Toolbar?
Downius Toolbar, powered by ASK, is a web-browser add-on that can appear as an extra bar added to the browser's window and/or menu. It is often installed (sometimes without warning) during the installation of other software. The Ask Toolbar and other applications are increasingly being bundled with programs; most notably freeware. It's usually installed during the installation of a program, and it's easy to miss the step where you can uncheck the Ask Toolbar option. Ask.com has entered into partnerships with some software security vendors, whereby they are paid to distribute the toolbar alongside their software. When you use the Toolbar to submit a query, the Toolbar forwards such query information to Ask servers. Ask.com uses this information to process your web search requests and to return a search results page to you. During installation, the user might be given the option to modify the home and search pages, however this is often checked by default and overlooked.
About (from Ask.com)
Ask Toolbar lets you perform a search from wherever you are on the Web. It's free to download and fits right in your browser. No matter what site you're visiting, simply go to the Ask Toolbar already in your browser, and type in your search. Additional features include map information, the latest headlines, financial s... Read more
Overview
- Malware detected in the program
- Starts automatically
- Integrates into the web browser
- The experts agree, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Downius Toolbar.
| updater.exe (31b522014fc560c122cdfa72d47ca940) has been flagged by the following 2 scanners: |
| Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
| Baidu-International |
4.0.3.1486 |
PUA.Win32.AskToolbar.81 |
| ESET-NOD32 |
8.10201 |
a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask.G |
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: 3.57 MB
Files installed by Downius Toolbar
| Program executable: | updater.exe (Malware detected) |
| Name: | Updater |
| Ask Updater |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\ask.com\updater\updater.exe |
| MD5: | 31b522014fc560c122cdfa72d47ca940 |
| Ask Updater runs in the background of Windows and automatically starts up when your PC boots. It checks for software udpates and automatically downloads and installs them if found.
|
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".
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| updater.exe |
| Memory: | 3.98 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0001011287% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00004446% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00005667% | |
How do I remove Downius Toolbar?
You can uninstall Downius 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 Downius 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 Downius 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 Downius 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.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 50%
Win XP 17%
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HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
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USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 77%
Keep it 23%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
83.33% |
|
| Windows XP |
16.67% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Starter |
33.33% |
|
| Microsoft Windows XP |
16.67% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
16.67% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
16.67% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
16.67% |
|
Geography
45.45% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
45.45% |
| Spain |
9.09% |
| United Kingdom |
9.09% |
| Lebanon |
9.09% |
| Malaysia |
9.09% |
| Netherlands |
9.09% |
| NP |
9.09% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Acer |
33.33% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard |
33.33% |
|
| Samsung |
16.67% |
|
| Dell |
16.67% |
|
Common models |
| Samsung N150/N210/N220 ... |
20.00% |
|
| Packard Bell EasyNote TM9... |
20.00% |
|
| Packard Bell DOTS2 |
20.00% |
|
| HP Pro 3130 Microtower PC |
20.00% |
|
| HP Compaq dx2390 Microtow... |
20.00% |
|
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