Should I remove MediaCaster by Ask?

Lifespan of installation (until removal)

Versions

Version	Distribution
12.45.1.1271	1.75%
12.40.6.947	0.44%
12.40.4.416	0.22%
12.38.0.3406	0.88%
12.35.0.2734	0.22%
12.35.0.2479	1.53%
12.34.1.2247	0.66%
12.29.0.1530	3.06%
12.27.0.1061	3.94%
12.15.2.537	44.42%
12.11.0.5199	42.89%

Other programs by APN

• Media Search App by Ask
• Search App by Ask
• Shopping App by Ask
• Virtual DJ Toolbar
• ooVoo Search App powered by Ask
• Search Better App
• AVG SafeGuard by Ask
• Social Search App by Ask
• MP3Rocket Toolbar
• Vuze Toolbar
• Ask Social Toolbar
• AVG Search App powered by Ask
• MTV Toolbar
• nRelate Related Articles App
• Epson Toolbar
• Coupon Network
• Nuance Toolbar

Rankings

• #13,221 Entratel by Sogei S.p.A
• #13,222 HP User Guides 0129 by Hewlett-Packard
• #13,223 Media Player Codec Pack 3.9.6
• #13,224 Cross Fire AL by Z8Games.com
• #13,225 Microsoft Office 365 - ru-ru
• #13,226 MediaCaster by Ask by APN
• #13,227 McAfee Browser Protection Service
• #13,228 Belkin N600 DB USB Wireless Adapter
• #13,229 KPN Assistent
• #13,230 Parking Dash by Oberon Media
• #13,231 Lenovo Mobile Access

from APN, LLC

Remove MediaCaster by Ask by APN

MediaCaster is an Ask.com advertising-supported web browser toolbar that may modify the browser's home page, search provider and new tab pages. Changes to the browser include the following modifications:

- Modify the default home page and new tabs and protect these search settings
- Modify the default search engine in your Internet Browser, including the browser's built-in search box
- Addition of alternative error page functionality, such as “Page Not Found”

The most used version is 12.15.2.537, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. The software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. The main program executable is ToolbarIcon.exe. Typically most users end up uninstalling this just after a few days. The software installer includes 14 files.

URL: www.apn.ask.com/products/toolbars

Help link: apnstatic.ask.com/static/toolbar/everest/documents/faq/index.html

Installation folder: C:\Program Files\vnt

Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{4254522D-5637-006A-76A7-A75C790C0B00}

vntldr.exe
Memory:	1.63 MB	21.09 MB average
Total CPU:	0.0000866634%	0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:	0.00003063%	0.016088% average
User CPU:	0.00005603%	0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:	385,474	8,062,084 average
I/O reads/min:	64.15 KB	435.61 KB average

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 MediaCaster by Ask, 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 MediaCaster by Ask.
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.

OS VERSIONS Win 7 (SP1) 52% Win XP 0%

HOW IT STARTS Automatically starts? Yes (Found in the run registry)

USER ACTIONS Uninstall it 79% Keep it 21%

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?

Brazil	6.90%
United States	5.57%
Russia	5.12%
MA	4.90%
DZ	4.23%
Saudi Arabia	3.79%
Turkey	3.56%
DK	3.12%
Poland	3.12%
UA	2.67%
Greece	2.67%
Philippines	2.45%
Egypt	2.45%
France	2.23%

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?

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