84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
77% remove it23% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Bad
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #35,371
United States Rank #32,209
Reach 0.0033%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 7.15 days
210.83 days >
Average installed length: 110.78 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
6.23.0.9 9.09%
6.20.0.10 33.33%
6.19.0.18 1.52%
6.17.2.502 1.52%
6.17.2.8 30.30%
6.17.1.25 4.55%
6.17.0.33 7.58%
6.16.2.2 7.58%
6.16.1.200 1.52%
6.16.1.9 3.03%

Other programs by Conduit

HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE

What is HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE?

HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE is a Conduit distributed toolbar built on the community toolbar platform which provides 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 ad-supported 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.

From the Privacy Policy: "Browsing Data about your web browsing is collected and analyzed by the Value Apps platform in real time, and it may include the web page that you are currently visiting and the content therein. This information may be used by us to trigger the relevant Apps you enabled, and we may share such information with our Partners so our Partners or us, as applicable according to the App provider, can suggest services or provide you with offers that may be relevant to you."

About  (from Conduit)

The Conduit Software may also collect and store information about your web browsing locally on your device, like the web pages that you have visited and the content you have accessed. This locally saved information may interact with the Conduit Software and send us information about your web browsing so we can suggest ...  Read more
Overview
  • Malware detected in the program
  • Integrates into the web browser
  • This toolbar is distributed via Conduit (potentially unwanted)
  • Hijacks the web browser's home page
  • The experts agree, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE.
HotSpot_Shield_EliteToolbarHelper.exe (943f313974a830d4634c73beb8103f5e) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareVersionDetection
Comodo Security 17313 Application.Win32.Conduit.~f
Dr.Web 9.0.0.0166 Adware.Toolbar.202
Malwarebytes v2013.11.22.02 PUP.Optional.Conduit.A
VIPRE Antivirus 23610 Conduit (fs)
tbHotS.dll (975993043e355206a1fba5a702044f0c) has been flagged by the following 6 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
Comodo Security 17676 Application.Win32.Conduit.~A
ESET-NOD32 9338 a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.B
Malwarebytes 1.75.0.1 PUP.Optional.Conduit
Panda Antivirus 10.0.3.5 Adware/Conduit
TrendMicro-HouseCall 9.700.0.1001 TROJ_GEN.F47V1113
VIPRE Antivirus 25818 Conduit (fs)
prxtbHotS.dll (02d550437bd96f4b2add86fd4073e60e) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
Agnitum Outpost 5.5.1.3 PUA.Toolbar.Conduit!
Dr.Web 7.00.9.04080 Adware.Conduit.16
ESET-NOD32 9726 Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.X
Panda Antivirus 10.0.3.5 PUP/Conduit.A
VIPRE Antivirus 28606 Conduit (fs)
prxtbHot0.dll (5b13aa512d57acf528700f1083fc3e4d) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
Bkav FE 1.3.0.4246 HW32.Laneul.oicu
Dr.Web Adware.Conduit.16
TrendMicro-HouseCall 9.700.0.1001 TROJ_GEN.F47V0926
VIPRE Antivirus 25108 Conduit (fs)
uninstall.exe (b728fa6a309e5d18141947b95b730e95) has been flagged by the following 2 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
Panda Antivirus 10.0.3.5 PUP/Conduit.A
VIPRE Antivirus 26380 Conduit (fs)
       View all 21 all detections

Program detailsProgram details

Displayed publisher: HotSpot Shield Elite
URL: HotSpotShieldElite.OurToolbar.com
Help link: HotSpotShieldElite.OurToolbar.com/help
Installation folder: C:\ProgramData\conduit\ie\ct2707060
Uninstaller: C:\ProgramData\Conduit\IE\CT2707060\UninstallerUI.exe -ctid=CT2707060 -toolbarName=HotSpot Shield Elite -toolbarEnv=conduit -type=IE
Estimated size: 623.07 KB
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 HotSpotShieldElite.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...

Program filesFiles installed by HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE

Program executable:HotSpot_Shield_EliteToolbarHelper.exe (Malware detected)
Name:ToolbarHelper Application
Path:C:\Program Files\HotSpot_Shield_Elite\HotSpot_Shield_EliteToolbarHelper.exe
MD5:943f313974a830d4634c73beb8103f5e
Additional files:
  • UninstallerUI.exe - 1.4.0.1
  • hk64tbHotS.dll - Conduit Toolbar
  • hktbHotS.dll
  • (Malware detected) HotSpot_Shield_EliteToolbarHelper.exe - ToolbarHelper Application
  • ldrtbHotS.dll
  • (Malware detected) prxtbHotS.dll
  • (Malware detected) tbHotS.dll
  • (Malware detected) prxtbHot0.dll
  • configutaion.json
  • hk64tbHot0.dll
  • hktbHot0.dll
  • ldrtbHot0.dll
  • (Malware detected) tbHot0.dll
  • (Malware detected) uninstall.exe - Conduit Toolbar Uninstall

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

2 Internet Explorer BHOs
  • prxtbHotS.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with the class of {18272225-4c7f-4445-a7e3-8b260662e407} (Produtools Maps B).
  • prxtbHot0.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Online Sharing Toolbar' with the class of {8567a644-e36c-470c-86cf-9c5b4f37db81} (Online Sharing).
Internet Explorer Bar
  • prxtbHotS.dll installs an Explorer Bar in Internet Explorer called 'Connect DLC 5 Findbar' with a class of {8FEB0551-B256-479B-92E1-C927F89DC71E}.
2 Internet Explorer Toolbars
  • prxtbHotS.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with the class of {18272225-4c7f-4445-a7e3-8b260662e407}.
  • prxtbHot0.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Online Sharing Toolbar' with the class of {8567a644-e36c-470c-86cf-9c5b4f37db81}.
2 Internet Explorer URL Search Hooks
  • prxtbHotS.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with a class of {18272225-4c7f-4445-a7e3-8b260662e407} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
  • prxtbHot0.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'Online Sharing Toolbar' with a class of {8567a644-e36c-470c-86cf-9c5b4f37db81} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
2 Internet Explorer Web Browsers
  • prxtbHotS.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'Produtools Maps B Toolbar' with a class of {18272225-4C7F-4445-A7E3-8B260662E407}.
  • prxtbHot0.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'Online Sharing Toolbar' with a class of {8567A644-E36C-470C-86CF-9C5B4F37DB81}.
Scheduled Task
  • uninstall.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{C247631C-606C-44F8-9B4E-C25B77177427}' (runs on registration).
Windows Firewall Allowed Program
  • HotSpot_Shield_EliteToolbarHelper.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\eTvOnline.ro\eTvOnline.roToolbarHelper.exe'.

How do I remove HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE?

You can uninstall HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
  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 HotSpot Shield Elite 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).
  3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE.
  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.

How do I reset my web browser?

If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by HotSpot Shield Elite Toolbar for IE you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 58%
Win XP 3%
 
HOW DOES IT RUN?
Plugs into Internet Explorer
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 77%
Keep it 23%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 71.21%
Windows 10 25.76%
Windows XP 3.03%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 30.30%
Windows 7 Ultimate 27.27%
Windows 7 Professional 10.61%
Windows 8.1 10.61%
Windows 8 Pro 7.58%
Windows 8.1 Pro with Medi... 3.03%

Distribution by countryGeography

48.10% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 48.10%
  Saudi Arabia 15.19%
  Germany 5.06%
  Iran 3.80%
  YE 3.80%
  Canada 2.53%
  Thailand 2.53%
  United Kingdom 2.53%
  Austria 1.27%
  Belgium 1.27%
  DZ 1.27%
  SY 1.27%
  United Arab Emirates 1.27%
  Australia 1.27%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Dell 22.81%
Toshiba 19.30%
Hewlett-Packard 15.79%
Acer 15.79%
GIGABYTE 10.53%
Lenovo 5.26%
ASUS 3.51%
Samsung 1.75%
Alienware 1.75%
MSI 1.75%
Apple 1.75%
Common models
Dell Inspiron N5110 6.67%
Dell Inspiron N4050 3.33%
Gigabyte X58-USB3 3.33%
Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H 1.67%
Gigabyte 945GCM-S2C 1.67%
Dell OptiPlex GX520 ... 1.67%

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

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