‘Ask Toolbar’ Carries Malicious Software, Says Microsoft

Microsoft recently branded "Ask Toolbar" as undesirable computer program, indeed during certain instances as malware. That implies Microsoft will use its security solutions for detecting and eliminating every edition of the program from Windows PCs sparing only the latest edition, published threatpost.com dated June 12, 2015.

Notably, the search engine Ask.com existing since 20-yrs has Ask Toolbar as its interface, and the computer program is included within Java downloads which consists of various utilities alongside security updates. Through appending itself to any known Web-browser's toolbar, Ask Toolbar changes the way the browser would function. For the same change, Ask Toolbar also alters the already working search engine converting it into Ask.com.

Moreover, Ask includes more software into its cache of undesirable software and malware utilizing 5 criteria: Undesirable activity, executing undesirable programs/processes on end-user's PC which fall short of revealing certain activity alternatively deterring him from regulating the same, along with eliminating it; Telling about the forum where ads are delivered via the software which disturb usability; Ads which deceive end-user with undesirable downloads alternatively redirects; Secret place where the malware gathers as well as transmits data devoid of end-user's consent; and Consumer feedback whereby end-user classifies particular programs as undesirable as also interrupting his PC's operation.

However, according to Ask, its present toolbar wholly complies with Microsoft's rules and regulations as well as that its software is designed for auto-updating to the most recent edition whenever end-user opens his browser.

Apparently just 1% of Ask's adopters have become affected with the alteration.

NetMarketShare an Internet monitoring company says Ask holds 0.26 percent share of the worldwide usability of search engines.

Most amount of this share is because of Java, as since years, all revised Java applications have been enquiring whether PC-user wants to load Ask Toolbar. In several instances, end-user has agreed to the loading without second thoughts. Since March, Ask's toolbar has given the same joyful experience to users of Java on Mac computers.

Possibly most of these loadings will last only briefly. 'Ask,' placed against Bing/Google, is indeed gainful else IAC owners wouldn't have allowed it to stay since long.

» SPAMfighter News - 6/22/2015