Adware Malware detected

Viruses and worms
1

Hi all,

I use Avast FREE Antivirus 5.0.677 and SUPERANTISPYWARE FREE EDITION 4.45.1000, I have scanned with both for viruses and malware and both found NO infections.

I decided to install Malwarebytes Antmalware FREE EDITION 1.46 and this is what it found:

Vendor: Adware.hotbar Category: Registry Key Item: H_KEY_CURRENT_USER/SOFTWARE Micr…

Is this a TRUE positive or FALSE positive?

I would be most greatful if someone cold tell me thank you.

happy avast user :slight_smile:

2

Sounds like you installed a so called toolbar, etc. to improve search/browsing results, etc. ?

These free toolbars/hotbar as far as I’m concerned are not for the users benefit but for the benefit of the provider. There is no such thing as a free lunch, whist providing this so called better experience it is collating data that can be used for marketing purposes. This is used to deliver targeted adverts, etc.

Many such toolbars do the same and often these toolbars come a additions to other applications, the Ask Toolbar seems to be one of the most commonly bundled toolbar add-ons and many because of what they do the collation of data and delivery of targeted adverts are considered adware, albeit they are a mild enbuggerence rather than any security threat.

http://www.pchell.com/support/hotbar.shtml
http://www.spamlaws.com/how-hotbar-works.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zango_(company)

3
Is this a TRUE positive or FALSE positive?
false positive in malwarebytes is very rare....
4

Yes. But MBAM is not immunized against false positives. I’ve got mine too, specially rootkit false positives.

5

+1

6

Thank you all for your replies, I really appreciate it :slight_smile:

7

You’re welcome.

Did you actually install something that had hotbar along with it ?

More importantly have you got rid of hotbar ?

8

Hi David R,

I am not sure if I did actually install something that had hotbar along with it,the thing that I find a bit Strange is that when I scanned with Avast FREE and Superantispyware FREE they did not find anything at all.
However I then installed FREE Malwarebytes and ran a scan with it and it detected hotbar quarantined it and I removed it from there.

Yes I did get rid of hotbr thanks,

:slight_smile:

9

I feel that the one time fee for Malwarebytes is well worth it as it would have prevented hotbar installation in the first place. :wink: