Should I remove Object Browser?

Lifespan of installation (until removal)

Versions

Version	Distribution
1.36.01.22	1.03%
1.36.01.08	0.33%
1.35.12.18	2.07%
1.35.12.16	0.05%
1.35.11.26	1.85%
1.35.9.29	4.41%
1.35.9.16	3.43%
1.35.3.9	4.08%
1.34.8.12	6.21%
1.34.7.29	3.32%
1.34.7.1	6.53%
1.34.6.10	8.06%
1.34.5.12	7.29%
1.34.4.10	4.84%
1.34.3.28	8.55%
1.34.2.13	11.65%
1.34.1.29	1.96%
1.31.153.4	10.67%
1.31.153.0	2.12%
1.30.153.0	3.16%
1.29.153.2	2.83%
1.29.153.0	3.27%
1.28.153.3	0.27%
1.27.153.10	0.82%
1.27.153.6	1.03%
1.27.153.3	0.16%

Rankings

• #5,296 Artisteer 4 by Extensoft
• #5,297 Spark by Baidu
• #5,298 Microsoft Excel 2010
• #5,299 Microsoft Web Platform Installer 3.0
• #5,300 Java 6 Update 23 (64-bit) by Oracle
• #5,301 Object Browser
• #5,302 LG Burning Tool by CyberLink
• #5,303 Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2015 with Updates
• #5,304 ThinkVantage Password Manager by Lenovo
• #5,305 NVIDIA 3D Vision Controller Driver 332.21
• #5,306 Red Faction: Armageddon by Volition

Remove Object Browser

Object Browser is an adware style application that runs in the web browser as a toolbar and web extension. The web extension is primarily designed to take control of the user's browser in order to modify the search provider and redirect web searches to what ever search engine partner the publisher has a revenue relationship with. In doing so, the toolbar performs a number of behaviors in order to maximize the potential of a user to click on sponsored advertising through search. This includes but not limited to:

- Changing the web browser's default home page to the affiliate search portal.
- Changing the browser's search provider, built-in search box as well as the address bar.
- Ability to modify the 'new tab' functionality to launch the modified search portal page.
- Provide automatic updates of the toolbar without the user's initiation.
- Adds an alternative error page and page not found functionality.
- Adds additional functionality that is designed to protect the search and home page settings.
- Access the HTML of all pages visited as well as capture URLs of the pages and search terms.
- In many cases can inject advertising in the form of context ads, pop-ups and pop-unders.

The most used version is 1.34.2.13, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. During setup, the program registers itself to launch on boot through a Windows Schedule Task in order to automatically start-up (this is typically done to avoid any UAC prompts). It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The main program executable is utils.exe. A vast majority of those who have this installed end up removing it just after a couple weeks. The software installer includes 245 files and is usually about 7.17 MB (7,519,037 bytes). Object Browser-updater.exe is the automatic update component of the software designed to download and apply new updates should new versions be released.

The program is built using the Crossrider framework, a cross browser monetization platform used to deploy a toolbar and extension for modern web browsers with monetization features including browser search and homepage redirection, contextual coupons and in-line text advertising. Crossrider extensions include background processes to monitor, update and automatically download new features/code without direct user interaction.