MusicBox Toolbar

What is MusicBox?

The MusicBox application is presented as a toolbar that supposedly helps users to find their favorite music - "The two best things that happened to mankind are probably Music and the Internet. MusicBox new tab combines the two to create ultimate music experience - a place where you can search, access and discover the music you love."

This application claims to be legitimate and useful, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). Although MusicBox has an official website, it is often distributed as a 'bundle' with regular software or by using deceptive pop-up ads. Once installed, this browser hijacker modifies browser settings and occasionally displays online advertisements.

MusicBox assigns the browser new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine settings to the search.ask.com website - common behavior for a browser hijacker. Furthermore, it installs browser extensions ('helper objects'), which prevent users from reverting these changes.

This app may display intrusive online adverts (for example, in-text links) that conceal underlying content, thereby diminishing users' Internet browsing experience. MusicBox collects various software and hardware Internet browsing-related information. According to the Privacy Policy, MusicBox collects no personally identifiable information, however, these statements are false.

Research shows that collected data includes Internet Service Provider (ISP), Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geographic locations), browser type, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, cookies, etc. Clearly, such information might be personally identifiable.

The developers of MusicBox share these details with third parties, and therefore, the presence of this app on your system may lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

Note that search.ask.com is legitimate and not related to viruses or malware. Despite this, MusicBox may cause various privacy or Internet browsing safety-related problems, and thus, should be uninstalled immediately.

MusicBox Privacy Policy statement regarding data collection:

MusicBox does not rent, sell, or share any information about the user with any third-parties. MusicBox may disclose your Personal Information if MusicBox believes such action is necessary to: (a) comply with the law or legal process served on MusicBox (b) protect and defend the rights or property of MusicBox (including the enforcement of our agreements); or (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of MusicBox services or members of the public.

MusicBox is similar to other browser hijacking apps. There are hundreds of websites claiming to be legitimate and improve the Internet browsing experience. Some examples include mymapsxp.com, searchsafe.com, zwiiky.com, and hotsearches.info.

These promises are merely attempts to trick users to install. Browser hijackers provide no significant value to the user - they are designed to generate revenue for the developers by causing unwanted browser redirects (to increase traffic to certain websites), displaying ads (via the 'Pay Per Click' advertising model), and sharing collected data with third parties.

How did MusicBox install on my computer?

MusicBox is usually distributed using a deceptive software marketing model called bundling - stealth installation of third party applications with regular software. Bundling is popular and effective, since users often do not pay enough attention when downloading/installing software - skipping most of the download/installation procedure steps.

Since bogus applications are usually concealed within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, users often install bogus apps inadvertently without their consent. The developers are not concerned with proper discloser of installations, since their income is dependent on the number of apps distributed.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Select the direct download link when downloading from freeware download websites (some sites still provide this option). If you are forced to use a download manager, closely observe each step and decline offers to install third party software. Your chosen software should be downloaded from a trusted source - usually the official website.

After downloading, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this will reveal any third party apps listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.

Website/pop-up ad promoting MusicBox toolbar:

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Quick menu:

• What is MusicBox?
• STEP 1. Uninstall MusicBox application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove MusicBox redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove MusicBox browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove MusicBox homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove MusicBox redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

MusicBox browser hijacker 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 “Music Box”, and other recently-installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the MusicBox website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

MusicBox browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

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

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.ask.com and enter your preferred domain, 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 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 musicbox 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 "Extensions". Locate "Ask App for Music Box", "Music Box", and other recently-installed unrecognized browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://searck.ask.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change your 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 Search" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the musicbox 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "Music Box" (and other recently-installed browser plug-ins).

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.ask.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your 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 musicbox 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 musicbox 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.

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