Should I remove Sopcast Toolbar?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
79% remove it21% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #13,884
United States Rank #45,810
Reach 0.0213%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 6.07 days
179.09 days >
Average installed length: 94.10 days
Versions
Version | Distribution |
12.45.1.1303 |
0.24% |
|
12.40.6.1008 |
0.24% |
|
12.40.4.478 |
0.24% |
|
12.40.3.4131 |
0.24% |
|
12.38.0.3410 |
0.71% |
|
12.35.0.2458 |
0.24% |
|
12.29.0.1595 |
0.24% |
|
12.29.0.1529 |
1.19% |
|
12.28.1.1262 |
0.95% |
|
12.27.0.769 |
0.24% |
|
12.27.0.753 |
0.48% |
|
12.24.1.292 |
0.24% |
|
12.23.0.92 |
0.24% |
|
12.21.0.4175 |
0.24% |
|
12.21.0.4170 |
0.24% |
|
12.21.0.4069 |
4.29% |
|
12.19.0.3597 |
1.19% |
|
12.18.0.3120 |
0.95% |
|
12.17.1.2785 |
0.24% |
|
12.17.1.2559 |
1.67% |
|
12.16.2.2102 |
0.24% |
|
12.16.2.2099 |
0.48% |
|
12.16.2.1967 |
2.14% |
|
12.16.1.1556 |
0.48% |
|
12.16.0.1410 |
0.24% |
|
12.16.0.1357 |
0.48% |
|
12.15.5.967 |
2.14% |
|
12.15.3.817 |
0.71% |
|
12.15.0.260 |
0.24% |
|
12.15.0.256 |
0.24% |
|
12.15.0.178 |
7.14% |
|
12.10.6.5129 |
0.24% |
|
12.10.6.5128 |
0.48% |
|
12.10.6.5038 |
10.00% |
|
12.10.3.4641 |
5.95% |
|
12.10.3.4636 |
0.24% |
|
12.10.2.4525 |
0.24% |
|
12.10.2.4308 |
2.62% |
|
12.10.0.3616 |
0.71% |
|
12.10.0.3507 |
0.71% |
|
12.10.0.2954 |
0.48% |
|
12.10.0.2915 |
10.24% |
|
12.7.0.2401 |
10.95% |
|
12.6.0.1780 |
0.71% |
|
12.6.0.1685 |
5.24% |
|
12.5.1.1554 |
2.86% |
|
12.3.0.1058 |
0.24% |
|
12.3.0.856 |
6.19% |
|
12.3.0.840 |
5.71% |
|
12.3.0.838 |
7.38% |
|
Other programs by APN
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- Movies Toolbar for Internet Explorer Dist. by Bandoo Media, Inc.
- Movies Toolbar for Chrome Dist. by Bandoo Media, Inc.
- Ask Shopping Toolbar
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- Movies Toolbar for Chrome Dist. by Somoto Ltd.
- Movies Toolbar for Firefox Dist. by Bandoo Media, Inc.
- Avira SearchFree Toolbar plus Web Protection
- Movies Toolbar for Firefox Dist. by Somoto Ltd.
- Movies Toolbar for Internet Explorer Dist. by Somoto Ltd.
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- Music Toolbar for Chrome Dist. by Bandoo Media, Inc.
- Ask Toolbar for Epson
- Movies Toolbar for Chrome Dist. by Koyote-Lab, Inc.
- Music Toolbar for Internet Explorer Dist. by Koyote-Lab, Inc.
- Music Toolbar for Chrome Dist. by Koyote-Lab, Inc.
- Movies Toolbar for Firefox Dist. by Koyote-Lab, Inc.
- Music Toolbar for Internet Explorer Dist. by Musiclab, Inc.
- Music Toolbar for Chrome Dist. by Musiclab, Inc.
- Music Box Toolbar for Internet Explorer Dist. by Musiclab, Inc.
- Sammsoft Toolbar
- Music Box Toolbar for Internet Explorer Dist. by iMesh, Inc.
- Music Box Toolbar for Chrome Dist. by iMesh, Inc.
- Music Box Toolbar for Internet Explorer Dist. by Koyote-Lab, Inc.
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- Ask Media Toolbar
- Savevid Toolbar powered by Search-Results
- iYogi Toolbar
- Frostwire secure Toolbar
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- #13,882 ZBrush 4R7 by Pixologic
- #13,883 TotalMedia Setup by Conexant Systems, Inc
- #13,884 Sopcast Toolbar by APN
- #13,885 SonicWALL SSL-VPN NetExtender
- #13,886 Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 Shell (Isolated)
- #13,887 Amazon Kindle For PC v1.0
- #13,888 DIRECTV2PC by CyberLink
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Sopcast Toolbar
from APN LLC
What is Sopcast Toolbar?
Sopcast Toolbar is a web browser toolbar and extension that modifies the browsers search and home pages as well as delivers contextual based advertising. This toolbar currently supports Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. In order to provide search advertising revenue, the software is designed not only to modify the search provider but to protect it so that it remains the default browser search engine. It is typically installed via a co-bundled offer within a third-party software distribution.
- Modifies the user's search engine and search provider.
- Changes the user's browser home page.
- Adds search functionality from the address bar.
- Displays contextual search advertising.
About (from APN)
Your installation of a Search Application may be facilitated by APN’s or an APN partner’s installer technology which: (i) downloads the files necessary to install the software; and (ii) scans your computer for specific files and registry settings to ensure compatibility with your operating system and other software ins... Read more
Overview
- Possible malware installed by this program
- Automatically starts with Windows
- Loads into the web browser
- Typically distributed through a pay-per-install bundle
- Hijacks the web browser's home page
- Hijacks the browser's default search provider
- The wisdom of the crowd agrees, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in Sopcast Toolbar.
tbnotifier.exe (f332813cc013d6af5c5a0c32a3aed725) has been flagged by the following 4 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
Baidu-International |
4.0.3.15817 |
Adware.Win32.Asktoolbar.45 |
ESET-NOD32 |
9.12098 |
a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask.M potentially unsafe |
K7 AntiVirus |
13.2016900 |
Unwanted-Program |
K7GW |
13.2016900 |
Unwanted-Program ( 004c42951 ) |
Sopcast Toolbar 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: APN, LLC
URL: apn.ask.com
Help link: apnstatic.ask.com/static/toolbar/everest/documents/faq/index.html
Installation folder: C:\Windows\Installer\{53504356-3700-A76A-76A7-A758B70C0300}
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{53504356-3700-A76A-76A7-A758B70C0300}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 507 KB
Files installed by Sopcast Toolbar
Program executable: | ToolbarIcon.exe |
Path: | C:\Windows\Installer\{53504356-3700-A76A-76A7-A758B70C0300}\ToolbarIcon.exe |
MD5: | 7db6cc0bb3bff06848ac83ebfc9653f4 |
Additional files:
-
(Malware detected) tbnotifier.exe - Ask TBNotifier (Ask Toolbar Notifier)
-
vntldr.exe - Virtual New Tab (Virtual New Tab Loader)
-
vntsrv.dll - Virtual New Tab Server
-
apnnativemsghost.exe - APN Native Messaging Host
-
idcldr.exe - IDC (IDC Loader)
-
idcsrv.dll - IdcSrv (IDC Server)
-
idcsrvstub.dll - IDC Server Stub
-
idcldr_x64.exe
-
idcsrv_x64.dll
-
idcsrvstub_x64.dll
-
com.apn.native_messaging_host_aaaajccikcnncidhbokfncpooceanool.json
Behaviors exhibited
Scheduled Task
- tbnotifier.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{2A74CAE7-C98C-44C6-9E9E-155D069D857D}' (runs on registration).
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
- tbnotifier.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named 1.
Startup File (User Run)
- vntldr.exe is loaded in the current user (HKCU) registry as an auto-starting executable named 'VNT' and executes as "C:\Program Files\VNT\vntldr.exe".
2 Startup Files (All Users Run)
- tbnotifier.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'ApnTBMon' which loads as "C:\Program Files\AskPartnerNetwork\Toolbar\Updater\TBNotifier.exe".
- vntldr.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'VNT' which loads as "C:\Program Files\VNT\vntldr.exe".
Windows Firewall Allowed Program
- tbnotifier.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\AskPartnerNetwork\Toolbar\Updater\TBNotifier.exe'.
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
tbnotifier.exe |
Memory: | 8.53 MB | |
Total CPU: | 0.0040020302% | |
Kernel CPU: | 0.00265204% | |
User CPU: | 0.00134999% | |
I/O reads/min: | 39 Bytes | |
I/O writes/min: | 7 Bytes | |
vntldr.exe |
Memory: | 1.29 MB | |
Total CPU: | 0.0009148031% | |
Kernel CPU: | 0.00002577% | |
User CPU: | 0.00088903% | |
CPU cycles/sec: | 67,009 | |
I/O reads/min: | 19.23 KB | |
How do I remove Sopcast Toolbar?
You can uninstall Sopcast 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 Sopcast 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 Sopcast 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 Sopcast 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) 57%
Win 8 0%
|
|
HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
|
|
USER ACTIONS
|
Uninstall it 79%
Keep it 21%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 |
65.95% |
|
Windows 10 |
24.29% |
|
Windows XP |
6.43% |
|
Windows Vista |
3.33% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows 7 Ultimate |
27.95% |
|
Windows 7 Home Premium |
21.69% |
|
Windows 7 Professional |
12.05% |
|
Microsoft Windows XP |
6.27% |
|
Windows 8 Pro |
4.58% |
|
Windows 8.1 |
4.58% |
|
Geography
13.30% of installs come from Romania
Which countries install it?
Romania |
13.30% |
United Kingdom |
7.18% |
Germany |
5.32% |
Vietnam |
5.32% |
Spain |
5.05% |
MA |
5.05% |
United States |
4.79% |
Russia |
4.52% |
Italy |
4.52% |
Sweden |
3.19% |
Thailand |
3.19% |
Poland |
2.66% |
Netherlands |
2.66% |
Hong Kong |
1.86% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
26.39% |
|
Acer |
19.33% |
|
Dell |
17.84% |
|
ASUS |
11.90% |
|
GIGABYTE |
7.06% |
|
Toshiba |
5.95% |
|
Lenovo |
4.46% |
|
Samsung |
3.72% |
|
American Megatrends |
2.60% |
|
Sahara |
0.74% |
|
Common models |
HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... |
6.43% |
|
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... |
5.00% |
|
Acer Aspire E1-571 |
2.86% |
|
TOSHIBA SATELLITE P850 |
2.14% |
|
HP G62 Notebook PC |
2.14% |
|
Dell Inspiron N5010 |
2.14% |
|