FileShareFanatic Toolbar

FileShareFanatic Toolbar is a browser plugin that it developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. The information on its official website filesharefanatic.com says that users who install this browser plugin will be able to send large files, upload documents, images, and videos, and use the To Do app to track tasks. Users who install this software really notice useful buttons on the toolbar, but, unfortunately, this does not mean that it is worth trusting and keeping FileShareFanatic Toolbar installed. Users who wonder why it is so should read through this article. Much useful info on its removal will be provided here too.

FileShareFanatic Toolbar will add a toolbar and set the ask.com search engine. Even though users usually agree with the changes unconsciously, this browser plugin it still classified as a toolbar hijacker because of all these changes. It will definitely not limit itself to these two activities, i.e. adding a toolbar and changing the search provider to ask.com. It has been noticed that FileShareFanatic Toolbar will install 2 Browser Helper Objects (8lSrcAs.dll and 8lbar.dll) for Internet Explorer, Mozilla Plugin, and add 2 Scheduled Tasks (it seems that one of them runs daily at 6:21 PM, whereas the other one is launched 3:24 PM every day). You will also see a bunch of new files (e.g. AppIntegrator64.exe, CrExtP8l.exe, and 8lhighin.exe) in C:\Program Files (x86)\FileShareFanatic_8l\bar\1.bin because this is the main place where FileShareFanatic Toolbar is installed. Last but not least, our specialists have found that 8lmedint.exe (one of the files installed with this software) make connections to ve-in-f105.1e100.net, which means that it uses the Internet connection.

This Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. is rather dangerous not only because it applies changes, but also because it will provide users with third-party ads. They will be placed on the Start page of ask.com. Actually, this is not surprising at all because FileShareFanatic Toolbar says in its EULA that it can “integrate, be integrated into, or be provided in connection with third-party services, feeds, and/or content.” Of course, it also states that it is not “responsible or liable for any content, advertising products, or other materials” users will be presented with. As you have probably understood, you might be redirected to unreliable web pages if you keep clicking on the ads. Nobody can guarantee that you will be taken to a reliable web page after clicking on the icon located on the toolbar itself too.

Furthermore, there is another issue associated with FileShareFanatic Toolbar. It has been observed that FileShareFanatic Toolbar collects information about users. In its Privacy Policy, it says that it records information users provide themselves, and it uses cookies and other technologies (e.g. beacons) to gather data itself. It should be also mentioned that information about users is collected by third-parties too. It is said that third-party companies may also “use tracking technologies, such as cookies, to collect information about users who view or interact with their advertisements.” There is a slight possibility that users will experience privacy-related issues too because nobody monitors how these third-party companies act.

Last but not least, FileShareFanatic Toolbar usually travels in software bundles even though it can be downloaded from its official webpage. This is a really suspicious fact which makes this software unreliable because all trustworthy applications inform users about their installation, and users can decide themselves whether or not they want to do that. In fact, FileShareFanatic Toolbar is not unique because other similar products developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. also travel like that in most cases. To prevent undesirable programs from entering, install a reputable security tool on your computer and pay more attention to the installation of new programs.

You will delete FileShareFanatic Toolbar from Internet Explorer really easily because it is enough to delete it via Control Panel. Users of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome will not see the toolbar anymore only if they remove the added extensions. Unfortunately, ask.com will stay no matter which browser you use. Not all the automatic scanners will remove ask.com too because it is considered to be a legitimate search engine. Below are listed instructions that will help you to delete FileShareFanatic Toolbar and the ask.com search engine. Of course, it would still be clever to scan the system with an automatic tool because other untrustworthy programs might hide on your computer too.

FileShareFanatic Toolbar manual removal instructions

Windows XP

1. Click the Start button.
2. Select Control Panel and then click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Select the program and click Remove.

Windows 7/Vista

1. Open the Start menu (click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner).
2. Click Uninstall a program.
3. Right-click on the unwanted program.
4. Click Uninstall.

Windows 8/8.1

1. Launch RUN and enter Control Panel in the box.
2. Click Uninstall a program.
3. Find the undesirable program on the list and select it.
4. Click Uninstall to remove it.

Internet Explorer

1. Open your browser.
2. Tap Alt+T and then click Internet Options.
3. Click on the Advanced tab to open it.
4. Click Reset.
5. Mark the Delete personal settings box.
6. Click Reset.

Google Chrome

1. Launch your browser and go to the main menu (button with three lines).
2. Select Settings.
3. Click Show advanced settings.
4. Click Reset settings.
5. Click the Reset button.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open your browser and tap Alt+H to access the Help menu.
2. Click Troubleshooting information.
3. Find and click on the Refresh Firefox button.
4. Click on this button once again in the pop-up window.