iWon Toolbar

What is iWon?

The iWon toolbar is a potentially unwanted browser add-on developed by Mindspark Inc. claiming to allow users access various types of free computer games. On initial inspection, this kind of functionality may seem legitimate, however, users should be aware that the iWon toolbar is categorized as adware.

The toolbar is compatible with Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox and installs on these browsers without users' consent via a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications along with the chosen software).

Following successful infiltration, iWon immediately assigns the browser homepage and default search engine settings to home.tb.ask.com

Furthermore, this toolbar tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various information including IP addresses, browsers types, search queries, default language settings, and other information.

Internet users often install toolbars such as iWon inadvertently by recklessly downloading freeware. Most current freeware download websites use 'download clients' to monetize their free services. Download clients are small programs offering installation of additional applications along with the chosen free software.

Careless download and installation of freeware can lead to adware or malware infections, and therefore, users should pay close attention when downloading and installing free software. Research shows that the iWon toolbar is distributed via deceptive banner advertisements within freeware download and other similar websites.

Mindspark Inc. has released over one hundred similar browser settings-changing toolbars including, for example, FindMeFreebies, ButterflyField, and RadioRage. These have no value for users, diminish browser performance, and may lead to serious privacy issues, identity theft, or malware infections.

The main purpose of these toolbars is to generate revenue by displaying intrusive online advertisements and causing unwanted redirects. This general removal guide explains how to eliminate toolbars developed by Mindspark Inc.

In order to prevent installation of iWon toolbar, or other types of adware, inspect each step during the download of free software and decline any offered installation of additional applications.

If you are installing downloaded software, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Regular' - this will reveal any bundled adware and enable you to decline installation.

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Quick menu:

• What is iWon?
• STEP 1. Uninstall "iWon Internet Explorer Toolbar" application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove iWon toolbar redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove iWon toolbar homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove iWon toolbar redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

iWon 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 "iWon 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.

iWon 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 "5kbar.dll", "iWon", "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 iwon 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 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 "iWon".

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 iwon 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 iwon 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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