Ads by toolCube

What is toolCube?

toolCube is presented as a legitimate application allowing users to place various software shortcuts onto a desktop gadget - "ToolCube is a simple to use application, which puts useful links In one place to save you time and energy: Games, news, gossip updates, Sports and more." 

On initial inspection, this functionality might appear legitimate and useful, however, toolCube is categorized as a potentially unwanted adware-type program (PUP). This is due to toolCube's behavior, which includes stealth installation without users' consent, display of intrusive online advertisements, and tracking of Internet browsing activity.

The types of advertisements generated by toolCube include banner, pop-up, and coupon ads. All are delivered using a 'virtual layer', and thus, none originate from users' visited websites.

The virtual layer enables placement of third party graphical content on any site, and therefore, these ads conceal underlying web content, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, some redirect to dubious websites that might contain bogus content.

Clicking these ads is risky and may cause further adware or even malware infections. Furthermore, as with other regular adware, toolCube continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity and gathers various types of data.

Many users are unaware that the collected information (IP addresses, website URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, activity on those pages, etc.) might contain personally identifiable details (including PayPal or bank account logins/passwords).

These details are shared with cooperating third party companies, and thus, having toolCube adware installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you eliminate this threat by uninstalling toolCube immediately.

toolCube Privacy Policy regarding information tracking and sharing:

We may collect certain information about your web usage and websites you have visited, which may be shared with third parties and used for advertising.

There are hundreds of PUPs sharing similarities with toolCube including, for example, ZipperNew, InstantSupport, and BrowserMaintainace.

Although programs such as toolCube offer various features, none provide users with any real  value. All adware aims to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than providing the functionality promised, these apps collect personal data (which is later sold to third party companies) and deliver intrusive online advertisements (using the 'Pay Per Click' [PPC] model).

How did toolCube install on my computer?

This application is mostly distributed as a 'bundle' with other (usually free) programs. Research shows that many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software - they rush these processes and skip most steps.

For this reason, developers intentionally conceal bogus apps such as toolCube within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Users who rush when downloading and installing software often inadvertently install PUPs, thereby exposing their systems to risk of infection and compromising their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Rogue apps are usually hidden, and therefore, it is important to closely analyze each step of the download and installation processes. Select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings and cautiously follow the whole processe. Bear in mind that bundled apps are often rogue - you should never trust third party installers and decline all offers to download or install additional applications.

toolCube adware installer set-up:

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Quick menu:

• What is toolCube?
• STEP 1. Uninstall toolCube application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove toolCube adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove toolCube ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by toolCube' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove toolCube ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

toolCube 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 "toolCube", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes toolCube ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove toolCube adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, toolCube did not install its 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 "gear" 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 toolcube adware, 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the toolcube adware, 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", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with toolcube adware 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 toolcube adware, 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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