Mindspark toolbar
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Mindspark toolbar?
The Mindspark company develops various toolbars and extensions for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Internet users can download these browser plugins from their homepage, however, they commonly install together with free software downloaded from the Internet, or via deceptive banner advertisements.
Many Internet users report that Mindspark toolbars were installed on their Internet browsers without their consent. Such unwilling installation can be caused by freeware 'download clients', which advertise browser plugins during the download phase of the chosen software.
Mindspark toolbars are also advertised on various download websites via banner ads. These promote the browser extensions and display download buttons. Thus, Internet users often download these toolbars in the belief that they are downloading free software.
After successful installation, the Mindspark toolbar modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the default search engine and homepage to ask.com or mywebsearch.com To avoid installation of such adware (also termed 'potentially unwanted applications'), Internet users should be attentive when downloading free software.
If you are offered installation of browser toolbars together with your chosen free software, opt-out by clicking the 'decline' button. Whilst Mindspark toolbars are not related to virus or malware infections, they cause unwanted browser redirects, and thus, you are advised to eliminate them from your Internet browser/s.
| Name | Mindspark Virus |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Mindspark toolbars are similar to other browser plugins, which cause redirect issues, including, for example, babylon toolbar and delta search toolbar amongst many others. Commonly, Internet users install this adware without their consent and consequently experience unwanted browser redirects.
Another problem with such browser toolbars is that they install together with browser 'helper objects', which prevent users from rolling back the modified browser settings to their defaults. The best way to avoid installation of these browser extensions is to download free software directly from the developers' websites.
Also, when already installing freeware, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any hidden installation options, such as bundled toolbars, etc. If you have unwillingly installed any of Mindspark's toolbars, use the removal guide provided to eliminate them from your Internet browser/s.
The following is a list of known Mindspark-powered toolbars:
| Allin1Convert Astrology Audio to Audio Better Career Search Bring Me Apps Bring Me Sports Bring Me Sports Rugby Bring Me Sports Tennis CelebSauce Conservative Talk Now Coupon Alert Coupon Xplorer Crazy for Crafts Crazy for Cricket CursorMania Daily Bible Guide Daily Dollar Guide Daily Fitness Center Daily Wellness Guide Dictionary Boss Easy Home Decorating Election Tracker Fantasy Football Boss File Share Fanatic Gardening Enthusiast iHeartAudioBooks Motitags ProductRecallAlert |
IWON Know the Bible Maps Galaxy MarineAquarium Lite MetroWhiz MMA in Motion Mortgage Hawk My Car Companion My Daily Runway My Image Converter MyFunCards MyScrapNook MyWebface Package Tracer PetsHarmony Play Pop Trivia PopularScreensavers Product Recall Alert Quotation Cafe Radio Rage Reading Fanatic Recipe Hub Recipe Kart Homework Simplified Inbox Ace LocalCrimeWatcher FreeBillPayAlert |
Reference Boss Retrogamer Round Up Radio SafePCRepair Sample Sale Dash SmileyCentral Soccer Inferno Suddenly Music Television Fanatic Total Recipe Search Translation Buddy Utility Chest VacationXplorer Video Download Converter Video Scavenger Weather Blink Webfetti Your Local Lotto Your Video Chat Zwinky Film Fanatic From Doc To PDF GasGlance Headline Alley How to Simplified |
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Quick menu:
- What is Mindspark toolbar?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Mindspark toolbar applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Mindspark toolbar redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Mindspark toolbar browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Mindspark toolbar homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Mindspark toolbar redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Mindspark toolbar removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for programs with publishers designated as Mindspark Interactive Network, select each and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling potentially unwanted toolbars (which cause browser redirects to the home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.
Mindspark toolbars removal from browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click on the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for toolbars and browser helper objects with publishers designated as Mindspark Interactive Network. Select these entries and click "Remove".
Change homepage:
Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.
Change default search engine:
Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Ask Web Search" or "My Web Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mindspark virus, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate Mindspark related browser add-ons (you can refer to the list of all known toolbars developed by this company), select it/them and click the trash can icon.
Change homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Ask.com" or "Mywebsearch.com" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mindspark virus, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click on the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove Mindspark related browser plugins.
Change homepage:
To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com and enter your preferred domain.
Change default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "mindspark"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with mindspark virus removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mindspark virus, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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