How to remove Movies toolbar browser hijacker and the redirects it causes
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Movies toolbar?
The Movies toolbar browser add-on was created by APN LLC and distributed by Bandoo Media. This plugin claims to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by providing movie trailers, celebrity birthday information, and video tools. It is compatible with Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.
While the functionality added by Movies toolbar may appear legitimate, this toolbar is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application since it installs without users' consent and modifies the browser settings by assigning the homepage and default search engine fields to search.ask.com
Moreover, this toolbar diminishes Internet browser performance and tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, browser types, internet service providers (ISP), cookie information, and web pages visited. At time of research, Movies Toolbar was distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'.
This add-on installed together with King Translate, 7Zip, and iLivid software. This browser plugin adds no significant value - it is merely a collection of links to various video-related websites (imdb.com, movies.com, etc.) Therefore, you are advised to eliminate this potentially unwanted application from your Internet browser/s.
Movies Toolbar is similar to other adware, which installs together with free software and modifies users' Internet browser settings. Examples include Aartemis and Nationzoom, amongst many others.
To avoid installation of such potentially unwanted programs, express caution when downloading free software since, today, most freeware download websites use deceptive 'download clients' (small programs offering installation of advertised browser plug-ins) in order to monetize their free services.
Be aware that reckless free software downloading can result in adware infections. When downloading free software, inspect each download step and opt-out of installation of promoted programs and browser extensions by clicking the 'decline' button. If you have installed Movies Toolbar, use the removal guide provided to eliminate this adware from your Internet browser/s.
Screenshot of a deceptive free software installer promoting Movies toolbar:
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Quick menu:
- What is Movies toolbar?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Movies Toolbar for Firefox, movies Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Movies Toolbar for Chrome applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.ask.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove search.ask.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.ask.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.ask.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Movies 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 "Movies Toolbar for Firefox", "movies Toolbar for Internet Explorer", and "Movies Toolbar for Chrome", select these entries and click "Uninstall " or "Remove".
After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the search.ask.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.
Movies toolbar removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser plugins:
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 "Movies Toolbar", select this entry 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 search.ask.com and enter your preferred domain that will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start 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.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the movies! browser hijacker, 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 "Movies Toolbar", select this entry 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 search.ask.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", now you can add or select your preferred search engine.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the movies! browser hijacker, 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 "Movies Toolbar" and "New tab".
Change homepage:
To reset your homepage, click "Tools", then select "Options", in the opened window remove search.ask.com and enter your preferred domain that will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
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: "ask.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with movies! browser hijacker 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 movies! browser hijacker, 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.
Post a comment:
If you have additional information on movies! browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users to visit search.ask.com website?
Cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) generate revenue through redirects to websites like the search.ask.com site.
Is visiting search.ask.com a threat to my privacy?
Most likely, yes. Sites like search.ask.com typically collect information relating to their visitors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers like Movies toolbar are primarily spread through bundled program installers, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, online scams, fake updates, spam browser notifications, and intrusive adverts.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Movies toolbar browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate all the browser hijackers installed. It must be mentioned that manual removal (performed without the aid of security programs) might be ineffective. In cases where multiple browser hijackers are present, after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. Furthermore, browser-hijacking software might deny access to removal-related settings. Hence, browser hijackers must be removed thoroughly and all at once.
Outstanding!
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