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SweetIM Toolbar

Also Known As: Search.sweetim.com Redirect
Damage level: Medium

What is SweetIM Toolbar?

SweetIM toolbar is a browser add-on, which adds various shortcuts such as games, deal pages, etc., to your browsers for easy access. This toolbar also changes your homepage to home.sweetim.com

While some people may find SweetIM toolbar useful, this browser add-on can be categorized as an unwanted application. The default homepage set by this toolbar is enhanced by deceptive ads which redirect PC users to survey pages.

SweetIM toolbar

Furthermore, the search engine used by home.sweetim.com appears like Google, using a logo with Google colors. In fact, this search engine provides unrelated advertisements that are easy to confuse with organic search results.

Another reason why SweetIM toolbar can be categorized as unwanted is that it comes bundled with free software - unsuspecting computer users can easily install it inadvertently. To avoid this situation, ensure you study every window of all program installation processes, since some software developers use toolbars such as SweetIM to monetize free software downloads.

Furthermore, the uninstall process of SweetIM toolbar is not full - you need to manually remove it from the Chrome and Firefox browsers.

SweetIM toolbar is not malware or a virus, since it does not  self-install on users' computers. It is often installed by accident when users download and install free software from the Internet.

If you have installed SweetIM toolbar and you are satisfied with it, then you do not need to perform any steps. If, however, you have not intentionally installed it, or have done so inadvertently, use the removal guide provided to remove SweetIM toolbar from your Internet browsers.

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Quick menu:

SweetIM 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.

sweetim uninstall screen

sweetim uninstall message

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Internet Explorer Toolbar by SweetPacks, SweetIM for Messanger, Update Manager for SweetPacks", select these entries and click " Uninstall" or "Remove"

After uninstalling SweetIM Toolbar, scan your computer with anti-spyware software for any remaining unwanted components. Use recommended malware removal software.

SweetIM Toolbar removal from browsers:

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

Uninstalling SweetIM Toolbar is not adequate; remove any remaining unwanted components from your Internet browsers manually.

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

sweetim toolbar Internet ExplorerIf you have accidentally clicked "Yes" in the uninstall screen of SweetIM Toolbar, 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.sweetim.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.sweetim.com redirect, 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:

sweetim toolbar google chrome

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions".  Locate "SweetIM for Facebook", select it and click on a trash can icon.

To change your homepage from home.sweetim.com to your preferred domain, 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.sweetim.com and click the x symbol.

Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.sweetim.com redirect, 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:

sweetim toolbar firefox

Click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and disable "SweetPacks Toolbar for FireFox".

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.sweetim.com and enter your preferred domain.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search.sweetim.com redirect 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 search.sweetim.com redirect, 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.

Manual SweetIM Toolbar removal:

If you were unable to remove SweetIM Toolbar using the steps above, you can use this manual removal instruction. Use it at your own risk, since if you do not have strong computer knowledge, you could harm your operating system.

Be careful and use it only if you are an experienced computer user. (Instructions on how to end processes, remove registry entries...)

End these SweetIM Toolbar processes:

SweetIM.exe

Remove these SweetIM Toolbar registry entries:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SWEETIE.IEToolbar.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SWEETIE.IEToolbar
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SweetIM_URLSearchHook.ToolbarURLSearchHook.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SweetIM_URLSearchHook.ToolbarURLSearchHook
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Toolbar3.SWEETIE.1
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Toolbar3.SWEETIE
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\SweetIM.exe\(Default)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\WebBrowser\{EEE6C35B-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\{EEE6C35B-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks\{EEE6C35D-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\SweetIM.exe\".
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SweetIM\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SweetIM\

Delete these SweetIM Toolbar files:

%COMMONAPPDATA%\SweetIM\Messenger\conf\users\main_user_config.xml
%COMMONAPPDATA%\SweetIM\Messenger\data\contentdb\cache_indx.dat
%PROGRAMFILES%\SweetIM\Messenger\default.xml
%PROGRAMFILES%\SweetIM\Messenger\mgYahooMessengerAdapter.dll
%PROGRAMFILES%\SweetIM\Messenger\msvcp71.dll
%PROGRAMFILES%\SweetIM\Messenger\msvcr71.dll
%PROGRAMFILES%\SweetIM\Messenger\SweetIM.exe

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.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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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.

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