ButterflyField Toolbar
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ButterflyField?
ButterflyField is a potentially unwanted browser extension, which claims to enhance the quality of users' Internet browsing experience by allowing them to perform searches and apply certain screensavers to their computers. The extension was developed by Mindspark Inc. and is optimized for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
Although this functionality may seem legitimate, users should be aware that this toolbar is considered to be adware and installs on Internet browsers using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications along with the chosen free software).
After successful infiltration, this potentially unwanted application assigns the browser default search engine and homepage settings to home.tb.ask.com
Furthermore, this plug-in tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various information such as IP addresses, browser types, default language settings, search queries, and other details.
Most current freeware download websites (including, for example, soft32.com, softonic.com, amongst others) employ 'download clients' to monetize their free services, thus, users should pay close attention when downloading and installing free software. Download clients are small programs offering installation of promoted browser extensions along with the chosen free software.
Reckless download and installation of this freeware may result in adware or malware infections. Research shows that ButterflyField is distributed via misleading banner ads within various freeware download and other similar websites.
The developers of ButterflyField (Mindspark Inc.) have released over a hundred similar browser settings-changing toolbars including, for example, WeatherBlink, RadioRage, Allin1Convert, and Motitags.
Neither ButterflyField nor any other of these toolbars add any value for users - their main purpose is to generate revenue by displaying intrusive online advertisements and adding unwanted browser redirects.
Furthermore, these potentially unwanted browser extensions diminish browser performance and track users' browsing activity - behavior, which may lead to serious privacy issues, identity theft, or malware infections. Here is a general removal guide explaining how to dispose of these toolbars.
To avoid installation of ButterflyField or other similar adware, inspect each step during download and installation of freeware. When downloading freeware, decline installation of advertised browser plug-ins.
When installing downloaded freeware, choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation settings, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation together with the chosen software, and you will be able to decline installation.
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Quick menu:
- What is ButterflyField?
- STEP 1. Uninstall ButterflyField Internet Explorer Toolbar application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ButterflyField redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove ButterflyField homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove ButterflyField redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
ButterflyField 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 "ButterflyField Internet Explorer Toolbar", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes browser redirects to the home.tb.ask.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
ButterflyField toolbar removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 "8abar.dll", "ButterflyField", "Toolbar BHO", and "Search Assistant BHO", select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your 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 and enter your preferred URL, which 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 your 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, then remove "Ask Web Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the butterflyfield screensaver, 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 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 "ButterflyField".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Options", in the opened window remove home.tb.ask.com and enter your preferred URL, which 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: "home.tb.ask.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with butterflyfield screensaver 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the butterflyfield screensaver, 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:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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