Google ToolBar Adware

[jdsalr]

Although I find the Google Toolbar very convenient, I have noticed something very disturbing.

I read a post awhile back where someone thought that Google had a few popups of their own being launched by the toolbar. The GoogleGuy quickly put that to rest saying that there must be some sort of adware attached to it.

I have noticed this exact same thing. One popup in particular is from popupmoney.com, and another promoting Ebay.

I use a virus scan/adware scan everyday, and sure enough, there is always adware on it. I eliminate the toolbar, then eliminate the adware, re-upload the Toolbar, and generally within a few minutes, the same popups are back! It seems to be the same 2 or 3 ads everytime.

Can anybody figure out how to fix this problem completely, or must I cease using the toolbar?

PS. When I deactivate the toolbar from IE, the popups don't show up, thus proving they are connected with the Toolbar somehow!

[Gibble]

In addition to adaware, run spybot.

It finds some things adaware doesn't.

[Leosghost]

all "toolbars" are scumware ....they have to be be definition ..why be surprisd when they get around to implementing what they were always designed for in the first place ;-)

[anallawalla]

I am using a borrowed PC in my client's office and noticed that the Google toolbar has been hijacked by something called Text-Reader and I am asked to register (the toolbar) every time I use the Google toolbar.

No, Spybot or Ad-Aware is not installed but it will be my next stop.

Ash

[jdMorgan]

Implying that the Google Toolbar is scumware is a bit disingenuous at best. To their credit, Google is quite forthright about what the advanced features of the Toolbar require. It is not unreasonable to expect that if you want to see Google's PageRank for a page, then the Toolbar is going to have to send that page's URL back to Google and ask what PR it should show. They give you a radio button to disable it if you don't like it - again, unlike scumware.

AdAware, Spybot Search and Destroy, and conservative surfing habits have kept all three PCs on my network clear of spybots, scumware, and hijackers for many years. It's also a good idea to check your 'hosts' file once in a while to make sure someone hasn't used a simple ActiveX control to redefine your favorite sites' DNS in there.

Jim

[wkitty42]

in addition to AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy, i can also recommend javacool's SpywareBlaster...

SpywareBlaster can be activated from within Spybot and it catches many things that Spybot doesn't... basically, the way it works is to set the killbit in the registry for the scumware and it won't be downloaded at all or even startup if it is on the machine... this is the way i understand it, anyway...

and there's also HijackThis! that definitely can clean up some stuff but it generally requires some assistance from their forum... you run HijackThis! and just grab the report... you post the report in the HijackThis! forum and they'll tell you what you need to remove... you can do some of it on your own but then you may actually trash something you don't want trashed...

i've used all of these tools on many machines and highly recommend them to everyone wanting to keep their stuff as clean as they can...

FWIW: i'm just a happy user of these products... i get no kickbacks or special compensations for my postings mentioning them ;)