How To Remove Any Toolbar

Toolbars are one of the most commonly downloaded forms of malware, and the issue that comes is they can be hard to remove, and they are annoying to deal with. For instance the ask toolbar is the most known, and it also contains many forms of adware and spyware. Now some people claim that it takes hours to remove this and to get there browser functional again, and well I have to say it is really not that easy for it to be removed. To completely remove all the registry items by hand is something that I don't recommend for a novice user because if you delete the wrong item your computer can have a BSOD and you will need to reinstall windows.

How Did I Get The Toolbar?

Well it is generally transmitted through sites such as Cnet and certain downloads include the option because they are getting paid to have it. Very rarely do people actively search out the Ask toolbar because of it's malicious intent unless it is for testing reasons. Most antivirus software does not block this, and it is concerning because this is malware and it needs to end. The fact that companies are including with their products is bad.

How Do I Remove It?

Well removing a toolbar is not difficult and for uninstalling it I recommend that you use the Iobit Uninstaller which allows you to remove any item, and it will delete remaining files and almost all of the registry items. You can use the basic uninstall mode or you can click the arrow at the top and click force uninstall. This will remove all of the files and the registry items. You will also want to scan the computer with an antivirus software such as Hitman Pro. You will also want to reset the browsers home screen menu to any website and change the default search engine.

Why Is Wrong With These Toolbars?

Other then containing malware they can also change your web results so that you can be lead to sites that are paying the company. So in simple terms it can change what website that you go to. It can also take information about what sites you go to manipulate the results and ads. It may also contain a trojan, but this is very rare. So basically while it does not generally take private information it does mess with results, and it takes your search results to make money.

Summary

ONLY USE trusted toolbars these are generally from antivirus companies or even a Google toolbar. There are some safe toolbars that I think are good, but no real toolbar is necessary.
http://safeweb.norton.com/lite
http://toolbar.lavasoft.com/
http://www.google.com/toolbar/ie/index.html
http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/windows.html

Don't Use
http://www.avg.com/us-en/secure-search
http://sp.ask.com/toolbar/install/apnasktoolbar/download.php
http://babylon-toolbar-on-ie.updatestar.com/


Removal Tools
http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/
http://www.iobit.com/advanceduninstaller.html