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Mindspark toolbar

Also Known As: Mindspark Virus
Damage level: Medium

What is Mindspark toolbar?

The Mindspark company develops various toolbars and extensions for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Internet users can download these browser plugins from their homepage, however, they commonly install together with free software downloaded from the Internet, or via deceptive banner advertisements.

Many Internet users report that Mindspark toolbars were installed on their Internet browsers without their consent. Such unwilling installation can be caused by freeware 'download clients', which advertise browser plugins during the download phase of the chosen software.

Mindspark toolbars are also advertised on various download websites via banner ads. These promote the browser extensions and display download buttons. Thus, Internet users often download these toolbars in the belief that they are downloading free software.

Mindspark homepage

After successful installation, the Mindspark toolbar modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the default search engine and homepage to ask.com or mywebsearch.com To avoid installation of such adware (also termed 'potentially unwanted applications'), Internet users should be attentive when downloading free software.

If you are offered installation of browser toolbars together with your chosen free software, opt-out by clicking the 'decline' button. Whilst Mindspark toolbars are not related to virus or malware infections, they cause unwanted browser redirects, and thus, you are advised to eliminate them from your Internet browser/s.

Threat Summary:
Name Mindspark Virus
Threat Type Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)

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Mindspark toolbars are similar to other browser plugins, which cause redirect issues, including, for example, babylon toolbar and delta search toolbar amongst many others. Commonly, Internet users install this adware without their consent and consequently experience unwanted browser redirects.

Another problem with such browser toolbars is that they install together with browser 'helper objects', which prevent users from rolling back the modified browser settings to their defaults. The best way to avoid installation of these browser extensions is to download free software directly from the developers' websites.

Also, when already installing freeware, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any hidden installation options, such as bundled toolbars, etc. If you have unwillingly installed any of Mindspark's toolbars, use the removal guide provided to eliminate them from your Internet browser/s.

The following is a list of known Mindspark-powered toolbars:

Allin1Convert
Astrology
Audio to Audio
Better Career Search
Bring Me Apps
Bring Me Sports
Bring Me Sports Rugby
Bring Me Sports Tennis
CelebSauce
Conservative Talk Now
Coupon Alert
Coupon Xplorer
Crazy for Crafts
Crazy for Cricket
CursorMania
Daily Bible Guide
Daily Dollar Guide
Daily Fitness Center
Daily Wellness Guide
Dictionary Boss
Easy Home Decorating
Election Tracker
Fantasy Football Boss
File Share Fanatic
Gardening Enthusiast
iHeartAudioBooks
Motitags
ProductRecallAlert
IWON
Know the Bible
Maps Galaxy
MarineAquarium Lite
MetroWhiz
MMA in Motion
Mortgage Hawk
My Car Companion
My Daily Runway
My Image Converter
MyFunCards
MyScrapNook
MyWebface
Package Tracer
PetsHarmony
Play Pop Trivia
PopularScreensavers
Product Recall Alert
Quotation Cafe
Radio Rage
Reading Fanatic
Recipe Hub
Recipe Kart
Homework Simplified
Inbox Ace
LocalCrimeWatcher
FreeBillPayAlert
Reference Boss
Retrogamer
Round Up Radio
SafePCRepair
Sample Sale Dash
SmileyCentral
Soccer Inferno
Suddenly Music
Television Fanatic
Total Recipe Search
Translation Buddy
Utility Chest
VacationXplorer
Video Download Converter
Video Scavenger
Weather Blink
Webfetti
Your Local Lotto
Your Video Chat
Zwinky
Film Fanatic
From Doc To PDF
GasGlance
Headline Alley
How to Simplified

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Quick menu:

Mindspark toolbar removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

Mindspark toolbar uninstall

In the uninstall programs window: look for programs with publishers designated as Mindspark Interactive Network, select each and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling potentially unwanted toolbars (which cause browser redirects to the home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

Mindspark toolbars removal from browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Intenret Explorer extensions

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for toolbars and browser helper objects with publishers designated as Mindspark Interactive Network. Select these entries and click "Remove".

Change homepage:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Intenret Explorer homepage

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change default search engine:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Intenret Explorer default search engine settings

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Ask Web Search" or "My Web Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the mindspark virus, 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate Mindspark related browser add-ons (you can refer to the list of all known toolbars developed by this company), select it/them and click the trash can icon.

Change homepage:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change default search engine:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Google Chrome default search engine settings

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Ask.com" or "Mywebsearch.com" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the mindspark virus, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Firefox extensions

Click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove Mindspark related browser plugins.

Change homepage:

Mindspark toolbar removal from Mozilla Firefox homepage

To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove home.tb.ask.com or mywebsearch.com and enter your preferred domain.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "mindspark"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with mindspark virus removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

removing browser hijacker from safari step 2 - removing extensions

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 3 - changing homepage

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

removing browser hijackers from safari step 4 - changing the default Internet search engine

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 2

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 3

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon Microsoft Edge (Chromium) puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the mindspark virus, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of browser hijackers while downloading free software sampleA browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

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Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

QR Code
Mindspark Virus QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Mindspark Virus on your mobile device.
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