Should I remove SparkleBox 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?
Reach 0.0010%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 28.19 days
831.56 days >
Average installed length: 436.92 days
Versions
Version | Distribution |
6.9.0.16 |
5.00% |
|
6.8.6.0 |
10.00% |
|
6.8.4.0 |
10.00% |
|
6.8.3.3 |
5.00% |
|
6.8.12.0 |
5.00% |
|
6.8.10.0 |
5.00% |
|
6.15.0.27 |
15.00% |
|
6.14.0.28 |
5.00% |
|
6.13.3.505 |
5.00% |
|
6.11.2.6 |
5.00% |
|
6.10.3.27 |
15.00% |
|
6.10.2.5? |
5.00% |
|
6.10.2.5 |
5.00% |
|
5.7.2.2 |
5.00% |
|
SparkleBox Toolbar
from SparkleBox
What is SparkleBox Toolbar?
SparkleBox Toolbar a web browser extension and toolbar that delivers contextual based advertising as well as modify the user's web browser home and search pages to provide advertising and search. The software acts as adware and is typically defined as a potentially unwanted application by various malware vendors.
What the browser extension does:
- Changes the default search engine in for web browser's search functions.
- Changes the default browser home page.
- Adds search from the address bar.
- Adds alternative redirection "page not found" and DNS errors.
Overview
The most common release is 6.15.0.27, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. The program adds a toolbar to Microsoft 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 software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. The primary executable is named tbSpar.dll. A majority of users end up uninstalling this less than a week of it being installed. It also bundles additional software in the form of the Conduit Engine, which installs a potentially unwanted toolbar, and makes homepage and default search engine changes to a user's web browser. The setup package generally installs about 18 files and is usually about 23.21 MB (24,334,385 bytes).
- Malware detected in the program
- Integrates into the web browser
- Built on and distributed using the Conduit toolbar
- Hijacks the web browser's home page
- Most users and experts agree, you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in SparkleBox Toolbar.
tbSpar.dll (a8a1b6e818b4e7ad6ec777c6633ced69) has been flagged by the following 3 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Version | Detection |
ESET-NOD32 |
7.9731 |
a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.B |
Panda Antivirus |
14.08.06.10 |
PUP/Conduit.A |
VIPRE Antivirus |
28650 |
Conduit (fs) |
prxtbSpar.dll (9117027aea464e41c60b87b9826e8447) has been flagged by the following 6 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
AVware |
1.5.0.21 |
Conduit (fs) |
Baidu-International |
3.5.1.41473 |
PUA.Win32.Conduit.BX |
ESET-NOD32 |
10641 |
a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.X |
G Data |
24 |
Win32.Application.Conduit.F |
Panda Antivirus |
10.0.3.5 |
PUP/Conduit.A |
VIPRE Antivirus |
31234 |
Conduit (fs) |
SparkleBoxToolbarHelper.exe (a320df2b47cfcaf98d06eb59cd72084c) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
Bkav FE |
1.3.0.6379 |
W32.HfsAdware.C534 |
Dr.Web |
7.0.12.3050 |
Adware.Conduit.300 |
G Data |
25 |
Win32.Adware.Conduit.B |
IKARUS anti.virus |
T3.1.6.1.0 |
PUA.ClientConnect |
Panda Antivirus |
4.6.4.2 |
PUP/Conduit.A |
ldrtbSpar.dll (5b9b1f88e9a9dcd1b1699b192aca297e) has been flagged by the following 2 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
ESET-NOD32 |
9264 |
a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Conduit.P |
VIPRE Antivirus |
25216 |
Conduit (fs) |
uninstall.exe (b728fa6a309e5d18141947b95b730e95) has been flagged by the following 2 scanners: |
Anti-Virus software | Software version | Detection |
Panda Antivirus |
10.0.3.5 |
PUP/Conduit.A |
VIPRE Antivirus |
26380 |
Conduit (fs) |
View all 18 all detections
Program details
URL: SparkleBox.OurToolbar.com
Help link: SparkleBox.OurToolbar.com/help
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\sparklebox
Uninstaller: C:\Program Files\SparkleBox\uninstall.exe
Estimated size: 23.21 MB
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 SparkleBox.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...Each publisher enters into a 'Publisher Agreement' with Conduit which defines the revenue structure, known as the 'incentive amount', to be paid each calendar month in which the user has an active toolbar installed. Typically payout is based on the geographic origin of the user and ranges from $2 for a US user per month to just a few cents for other countries. Is it considered dangerous? Well, it's not malware or even spyware, however it changes the browser’s search provider in order to display, but if you read the EULA that is mentioned and presumably agreed on when installing. Users should decide if you need the functionality the toolbar has to offer. But remember, if you uninstall it make sure you reset your web browser, see how.
Files installed by SparkleBox Toolbar
Program module: | tbSpar.dll (Malware detected) |
Name: | Conduit Toolbar |
Signed by: | Conduit Ltd. |
Path: | C:\Program Files\sparklebox\tbSpar.dll |
MD5: | a8a1b6e818b4e7ad6ec777c6633ced69 |
| Conduit Toolbar web browser plugin for the various toolbars running on the Conduit Toolbar platform is the browser addin installed into Internet Explorer which has the ability to access and monitor all loaded and requested web pages and... |
Additional files:
-
(Malware detected) SparkleBoxToolbarHelper.exe (by Conduit) - ToolbarHelper Application
-
(Malware detected) uninstall.exe (by Conduit) - Conduit Toolbar Uninstall
-
ldrtbSpar.dll - Conduit Toolbar
-
(Malware detected) prxtbSpar.dll
-
(Malware detected) tbSpar.dll
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- prxtbSpar.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'MyMatch_v2b Toolbar' with the class of {b860e266-f38a-4e23-a639-0fda18b1beaa} (MyMatch_v2b).
Internet Explorer Bar
- prxtbSpar.dll installs an Explorer Bar in Internet Explorer called 'BitTorrentControl_v10 Findbar' with a class of {61B7EA61-DF56-4683-A474-BFDE2AD56316}.
Internet Explorer Toolbar
- prxtbSpar.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'MyMatch_v2b Toolbar' with the class of {b860e266-f38a-4e23-a639-0fda18b1beaa}.
Internet Explorer URL Search Hook
- prxtbSpar.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'MyMatch_v2b Toolbar' with a class of {b860e266-f38a-4e23-a639-0fda18b1beaa} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
Internet Explorer Web Browser
- prxtbSpar.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'forarabnetwork Toolbar' with a class of {C9158ECF-5F0C-412E-856C-A9B6256AFF11}.
2 Scheduled Tasks
- uninstall.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{42CD7A24-AF4B-44A0-A119-1C6F9B6E2A90}' (runs on registration).
- SparkleBoxToolbarHelper.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{B8E8E278-F25D-478A-BAB2-24A5EDB01F6C}' (runs on registration).
Windows Firewall Allowed Program
- SparkleBoxToolbarHelper.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\eTvOnline.ro\eTvOnline.roToolbarHelper.exe'.
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
SparkleBoxToolbarHelper.exe |
Total CPU: | 0.4892737327% | |
Kernel CPU: | 0.29804920% | |
User CPU: | 0.19122453% | |
How do I remove SparkleBox Toolbar?
You can uninstall SparkleBox 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 SparkleBox 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 SparkleBox 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 SparkleBox 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) 65%
Win XP 5%
|
|
HOW DOES IT RUN?
|
Plugs into Internet Explorer
|
|
|
USER ACTIONS
|
Uninstall it 79%
Keep it 21%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 |
65.00% |
|
Windows Vista |
15.00% |
|
Windows 10 |
15.00% |
|
Windows XP |
5.00% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows 7 Home Premium |
60.00% |
|
Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
10.00% |
|
Windows Vista Business |
5.00% |
|
Windows 10 Home Single La... |
5.00% |
|
Windows 7 Professional |
5.00% |
|
Windows 8.1 |
5.00% |
|
Geography
47.83% of installs come from United Kingdom
Which countries install it?
United Kingdom |
47.83% |
United States |
17.39% |
Australia |
17.39% |
South Africa |
8.70% |
Saudi Arabia |
4.35% |
New Zealand |
4.35% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Toshiba |
28.57% |
|
Dell |
21.43% |
|
Acer |
21.43% |
|
Hewlett-Packard |
14.29% |
|
Alienware |
7.14% |
|
Sony |
7.14% |
|
Common models |
TOSHIBA SATELLITE L850-1D... |
5.56% |
|
Dell Inspiron N5030 |
5.56% |
|
Acer Aspire X3995 |
5.56% |
|
TOSHIBA Satellite P750 |
5.56% |
|
TOSHIBA Satellite L650 |
5.56% |
|
FUJITSU SIEMENS AMILO Pi ... |
5.56% |
|