What toolbars (Ask,Bing etc) are and why there are so many of them by now

[Krumpelt]

Hi guys!
This is a many times talking and writing here at the Forum. But I publish a link to an article about this issue one more time...Maybe somebody not know yet...

You have surely seen these notifications during the installation of a program that ask you to install a toolbar. The first specimens of this species may have been useful and popular, but nowadays there is a real deluge of senseless and annoying toolbars that breaks down onto the Internet user community. The reason behind all this is very often economy-related. This article will lay out what toolbars are and why there are so many of them by now.

...You may ask yourself if there is anything immoral or bad about this. Ask.com is at least within legal boundaries, as they do not oblige the users to install the toolbar. But as you can see from the picture, you have to deactivate three check boxes in order not to install the Ask Toolbar and not to change your browser's homepage and default search engine. This is not exactly what one calls unintrusive. Most of us will not read carefully the license agreement and data protection policy, either. For, by installing the toolbar, i.e. regular software, you enable Ask to access your PC and thus to collect statistical data and create user profiles

Even big software companies do not refrain from collecting user data.

And Ask.com is widely-spread, and not at all a rare case. Even the giant software company Microsoft's search engine Bing got all eyes on it last year as the associated Bing Toolbar is suspected of stealing Google search results. From Internet Explorer 8 on, Bing has been recommended for installation, which gives access to everything that is going on in or around your browser. In a way, this enables Microsoft to track and log anything you type in for search or on any link you click. Microsoft denies this data theft of course...

Read full article here:

Emsisoft Knowledge Base

Good luck guys!

[hellnoire]

Actually, if you uncheck the 'I agree', the other two usually uncheck in my experience.

[Bearcat]

Thanks for the info Krumpelt. Toolbars have become a very annoying aspect of life the last few years.

[Raymond]

The user simply needs to take a bit more effort to know why are they clicking the Next button.

[BigGuy]

The user simply needs to take a bit more effort to know why are they clicking the Next button.

Very good advice Raymond.

[hal9000]

While I would agree with Raymond's sentiments, the problem is, most PC users are still complete novices who barely know how to install a program, let alone know the toolbar they're being offered is a pile of crap which they don't want or need.

Some of them do sound quite enticing as well, almost to the point where it makes you think you need it, or your PC will explode. A few software makers, like Ashampoo to name one, are getting savvy to more people becoming aware of toolbars by hiding the opt out in the 'advanced' section of the installer. The majority of noobs and novices won't go there for fear of breaking something.

[Krumpelt]

Thanks for the answers guys!

I recommend every time after you install new software, carefully watch list Start > Control Panel > Install/Uninstall Programs or to use the CCleaner (Tools > Uninstall and Tools > Startup (Windows and Internet Explorer tabs)).

In any case, you can see the toolbars there. They make no secret of his presence in the system. If in the lists are Ask, Bing, Crawler, etc.- kill them !

[Bearcat]

While I would agree with Raymond's sentiments, the problem is, most PC users are still complete novices who barely know how to install a program, let alone know the toolbar they're being offered is a pile of crap which they don't want or need.

Some of them do sound quite enticing as well, almost to the point where it makes you think you need it, or your PC will explode. A few software makers, like Ashampoo to name one, are getting savvy to more people becoming aware of toolbars by hiding the opt out in the 'advanced' section of the installer. The majority of noobs and novices won't go there for fear of breaking something.

I know what you mean hal. I have friends and family who have computers, but have no interest in maintaining them. They just want to turn them on and have them work. Consequently I get calls all the time, when problems crop up. I usually just tell them to not install any software until I can help them.

[leofelix]

I received this new letter from EMSISOFT about two days ago and I was to post it : )
Hal900 hit the center in my opinion as there are millions of newbies out there who are not aware of those privacy issues and hardly read any license agreement.
Another important point is that unchecking an unwanted or undesiderable toolbar included with a software is not always sufficient. (eg "Ask toolbar" and askinstallchecker.exe see: http://www.isthisfilesafe.com/sha1/CF3409636D4BF27C8A6BC7E301976962B47E2B85_details.aspx) as you will find a lot of crapware in your system anyway

[edit] I forgot to add: some programs such as Foxit Reader and Nero "free" install Ask toolbar even if you untick it during setup.

Years ago a tool called CWSredder.exe was developed to get rid of a malicious toolbar known as Cool Web Search.
A Hijacked browser carries a concept not so different from a Browser Exploit

Users whose web browsers have fallen victim of a successful browser exploit may find their homepage, search page, and/or favorites have been changed. Other signs include Internet settings options within the browser being altered, access being blocked to specific functions, and the redirection of incorrectly typed URL prefixes.

[safeguy]

Actually, if you uncheck the 'I agree', the other two usually uncheck in my experience.

Usually but not all the time. I've actually come across setup files that doesn't do that...you uncheck the "I agree" but the other 2 below don't get unchecked. I call it deceptive but don't ask me which ones..can't remember and don't have any with me atm. I'd rather untick those 2 options below first and then untick the 1st...yes, more clicks but at least I don't leave any holes of doubt in the event that those toolbars do get installed...since I know that I've unchecked all of them, it can only mean that the options were there just for display purposes.

Of course, if you have WP or Scotty on your side, it's a different ball altogether.

The user simply needs to take a bit more effort to know why are they clicking the Next button.

It's still too much of a hassle for them. You're better off not letting them click any "Next" button in the 1st place

I usually just tell them to not install any software until I can help them.

Usually, I find that trying to educate users like them even the bare basics almost a futile attempt. Since it tires me and makes them bored of listening to my 'crap', I would make a kind suggestion to them (and as convincingly as I could) to allow me to be their administrator and set things up for them. Once I get the nod of approval, I would block their ability to download executable files and set up LUA+SRP for them. This means that I'm the one who install and set up programs for them. It's 1 of those simple yet harsh and brutal method...but for as long as it works, I'm not changing my approach any time soon.