Gifables

Gifables is a new browser extension that you may not even remember installing. No wonder, since this tool can show up in your browsers sort of “uninvited.” Although this application features a search panel that can give you the “best” gif images, which you can share on social media, too, we also know that this tool was created by the infamous Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. This team is also responsible for dozens of other bad toolbars and potentially unwanted programs (PUP), including OnlineMapSearch Toolbar, DailyProductivityTools Toolbar, and GetCouponsFast Toolbar. We do not advise you to keep any of these tools on your system because they might put your system security at risk through the potentially unreliable web content they might show you. All in all, we recommend that you remove Gifables from your computer because this is how you can keep your PC clean and safe.

Similarly to all the bad toolbars in the Mindspark family, this PUP also has its official channels to spread on the net. It has a promotional webpage at gifables.com/index.jhtml, which is the usual limited-information page with a large “Click to Install” button that directly installs this extension if you click on it. But before you could do so, there is always a pop-up window that comes up to warn you about the permissions you are about to grant. However, most users simply rush to click on the “Add extension” button to get it over with.

The same happens when you install this PUP through the Chrome web store, chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gifables/jahgjnedbefhiimghmiemdmgiegiddjg. As a matter of fact, the installation is interrupted by a redirection to ext.ask.com/index.jhtml?productName=Gifables&installDate=2017051910&partnerId=^CQJ^yyyyyy^TTAB02^lt&si=&tbGuid=000C1CFC-2A2A-441F-9E20-7BAE2172A9FA&coId=8f5cfff96a534e34b70559453519daae, where you are offered to install a questionable search extension from Ask.com. As a matter of fact, this extension is added automatically when you install this PUP via its webpage. Of course, this may not be enough for you to want to delete Gifables.

Unfortunately, you can also download this application from suspicious websites in bundled versions. If you cannot recall installing it, chances are you installed a bundle that may pack several malicious programs and PUPs alongside a possibly working free program. This can easily happen when you want to download free files from shady sources, such as suspicious torrent and freeware pages. There are hundreds of thousands of computer users every day searching the web for free stuff (movies, games, programs, and music) so no wonder cyber criminals have set up lots of fake file sharing websites to lure victims. But when you click the download button on such a page, you will most likely download a whole package of threats instead of standalone files. No question that you need to scan your system with a proper malware scanner if you want to be sure about the level of infection after you delete Gifables.

This application offers you Gif searching and making possibilities. In fact, this extension provides you with a fake toolbar with the usual search tool and a few quick-link buttons leading to Gif-related sites, such as Make Gifs (giphy.com/create/gifmaker) and Make Memes (memes.com/generator). Below the main search field you can find a line of thumbnail links leading to Gif-related and popular websites (Facebook, Amazon, and Instagram). Below this you can see a random Gif playing and a search field where you can search for all the trending Gifs on the web. You can hide or show this panel, if you click on the Work or Play links at its top. All these features might appeal to you and you may think of them as useful. However, let us talk about the search engine to change your mind.

This PUP uses the notorious search.myway.com engine that may display potentially unreliable results as well as third-party advertisements. Since cyber crooks like to exploit such tools to promote their malicious pages fishing for their next victims, one click might take you to such a website if you hit your mouse button over the wrong content. If you do not want to drop additional PUPs or even malware infections onto your computer or you do not want to lose money from your bank account by being scammed, we advise you to delete Gifables as soon as possible.

It is possible that you will find an uninstaller in your Control Panel depending possibly on which version you downloaded. However, if you run this uninstaller, it will only take care of your Internet Explorer browser. Therefore, you need to reset the remaining two other affected browsers, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. We have included our guide below if you want to do this yourself. But, if you may lack the skills or initiation, we recommend that you install a professional malware removal application (e.g., SpyHunter) to automatically protect your PC from all possible threats.

How to remove Gifables from your Windows

Windows XP

1. Press Start and choose Control Panel.
2. Pick Add or Remove Programs.
3. Click on the application and press Remove.

Windows Vista/Windows 7

1. Press Win+R and enter Control Panel. Press OK.
2. Select Uninstall a program.
3. Click on the application and press Uninstall.

Windows 8/Windows 8.1/Windows 10

1. Tap Win+I and open Control Panel.
2. Go to Uninstall a program.
3. Click on the application and press Uninstall.

How to reset your browsers

Google Chrome

1. Press Alt+F and choose Settings.
2. Click Show advanced settings at the bottom.
3. Click Reset settings at the bottom.
4. Press Reset.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Alt+H and go to Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click Refresh Firefox and click Refresh Firefox in the pop-up.