Web Bar Adware

What is Web Bar?

Developed by Web Bar Media, the Web Bar application claims to aid access to the web directly from the desktop, receive instant Internet search results, and eliminate clutter that would otherwise slow down Internet browsers.

On initial inspection, this may appear to be a legitimate application, however, be aware that Web Bar is categorized as a potentially unwanted application or adware.

Web Bar adware employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications together with the chosen software) to install on computers, and therefore, most users install it inadvertently without their consent.

Following successful infiltration, this application tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information including, for example, domain names, IP addresses, browser types used, URLs visited, referring URLs, and other information.

This behavior may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft. Furthermore, no 'Close' option is provided when Web Bar is active on the system. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to remove the Web Bar app from your operating system.

At time of testing, this potentially unwanted application was distributed within freeware download websites via small programs called 'download clients'. Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services, since they offer installation of promoted 'legitimate' browser extensions together with the chosen software.

Thus, careless download or installation of free software often results in installation of Web Bar, or other similar adware such as window web, Offer Boulevard, Genesis, and KingThink.

Threat Summary:

Name	Web Bar desktop toolbar
Threat Type	Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus
Supposed Functionality	Enhanced search results and web browsing experience.
Detection Names	Emsisoft (Application.Toolbar (A)), ESET-NOD32 (a variant of MSIL/WebBar.C potentially unwanted), Kaspersky (not-a-virus:WebToolbar.MSIL.Agent.bkrj), Malwarebytes (PUP.Optional.WebBar), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms	Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution Methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Although these applications claim to enhance the Internet browsing experience by enabling various useful features, in fact, they are useless to the user, since they diminish browser performance and may lead to serious computer infections. Their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements or by enforcing browser redirects.

To prevent installation of Web Bar, or other potentially unwanted applications, closely study each step during the download of freeware and click the 'Decline' button if installation of any additional applications is offered.

If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Typical' or 'Quick' - this will reveal any hidden applications and you will be able to exclude them from the installation list. If you observe the Web Bar toolbar on your desktop, follow this removal guide to eliminate this app from your computer.

Web Bar adware installer setup:

Screenshot of Web Bar application:

Deceptive free software installers used in Web Bar adware distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is Web Bar?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Web Bar application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Web Bar related adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Web Bar bundled adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Web Bar related plugins from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Web Bar extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Web Bar adware 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 "Web Bar 2.0.5527.25142", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Web Bar toolbar to appear on one's desktop), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Web Bar adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Web Bar installed no browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gears" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the web bar desktop toolbar, 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 any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the web bar desktop toolbar, 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 the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with web bar desktop toolbar 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 web bar desktop toolbar, 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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