Today morning when I opened my laptop I was shocked to see that my home page has been changes with another web page and my search is being redirected automatically on unknown sites. I do not know what happen with my system. I run a scan using my installed antivirus. It alerts me about a PUP infection but fails to remove. So please any one help me to get it out of my system soon.
HoroscopeBuddy : Technical Details
Name |
HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar |
Type |
PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) |
Risk |
Low |
Symptoms |
Showing too much ads or pop-ups, redirections, fake links, slow PC etc. |
Distributions |
Bundles of freeware or shareware, corrupt links, intrusive advertisements etc. |
Infected PC |
Windows |
Complete Description About HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar
HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar is a browser toolbar which has been designed by the Mindspark Interactive networks (now known as IAC Applications). It is a kind of deceptive application that is considered as a Potentially Unwanted Program which installed on the system without any notification to damage the system completely or doing unwanted activities on it. HoroscopeBuddy is an application which supposedly gives you information about your daily horoscope. As this function seems useful to you but when you installed it on system then later on it start displaying the real side. After successful installation it attempts to hijack your browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge and Opera to manages your search query and make redirection on several infected sites to drop more malware into system. It also takes very high use of CPU that causes slow system performance and often crashed.
Do you know how it installed on your system without your consent? It uses various smart and hidden tricks to get inside of PC. Most of the time malware developers uses stealth by attaching the infection files along with the freeware or shareware third party software that do not display their installation list and install them along with the source program of the package. It all happen due to not use of "Custom or Advanced" screen. If you use the screen for new installation then you able to see the list of programs and if you find anything unwanted then you can remove it immediately from list and save your PC from infection. So your should always be careful while having a new installation.
Hence it is better to use a trusted anti-malware to remove HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar from infected PC. You can also go for manual removal by following below given removal steps.
Click to Free Scan for HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar on PC
Learn To Remove HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar Using Manual Methods
Phase 1 : Show Hidden Files To Delete HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar Related Files And Folders
1. For Windows 8 or 10 Users : From the Ribbon’s View in My PC click on Options icon.
2. For Windows 7 or Vista Users : Open My Computer and tap on Organize button on the upper left corner and then to Folder and Search Options from the drop down menu.
3. Now go to the View tab and enable Show hidden files and folder options and then uncheck the Hide protected system operating files checkbox option below.
4. Finally look for any suspicious files in the hidden folders as given below and delete it.
- %AppData%\[adware_name]
- %Temp%\[adware_name]
- %LocalAppData%\[adware_name].exe
- %AllUsersProfile%random.exe
- %CommonAppData%\[adware_name]
Phase 2 : Get Rid of HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar Related Extensions Related From Different Web Browsers
From Chrome :
1. Click on Menu icon, hover through More Tools then tap on Extensions.
2. Now click on Trash icon on the extensions tab there next to suspicious extensions to remove it.
From Internet Explorer :
1. Click on Manage add-ons option from the drop down menu on going through Gear icon.
2. Now if you find any suspicious extension in the Toolbars and Extensions panel then right click on it and Delete option to remove it.
From Mozilla Firefox :
1. Tap on Add-ons on going through Menu icon.
2. In the Extensions tab click on Disable or Remove button next to HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar related extensions to remove them.
From Opera :
1. Press Opera menu, hover to Extensions and then select Extensions manager there.
2. Now if any browser extension looks suspicious to you then click on (X) button to remove it.
From Safari :
1. Click Preferences… on going through Settings Gear icon.
2. Now on Extensions tab click on Uninstall button to remove it.
From Microsoft Edge :
Note:–As there is no option for Extension Manager in Microsoft Edge so in order to sort out issues related with adware programs in MS Edge you can change its default homepage and search engine.
Change Default Homepage of Ms Edge –
1. Click on More(…) followed by Settings and then to Start page under Open With section.
2. Now select View advanced settings button and then in Search in the address bar with section, you can select Google or any other homepage as your preference.
Change Default Search Engine Settings of Ms Edge –
1. Select More(…) then Settings followed by View advanced settings button.
2. Under Search in the address bar with box click on <Add new>. Now you can choose from the available list of search providers or add you preferred search engine and click Add as default.
Phase 3 : Block Unwanted Pop-ups from HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar On Different Web Browsers
1. Google Chrome : Click Menu icon → Settings → Show advanced settings… → Content Settings… under Privacy section → enable Do not allow any site to show pop-ups (recommended) option → Done.
2. Mozilla Firefox : Tap on Menu icon → Options → Content panel → check Block pop-up windows in Pop-ups section.
3. Internet Explorer : Click Gear Settings icon → Internet Options → in Privacy tab enable Turn on Pop-up Blocker under Pop-up Blocker Section.
4. Microsoft Edge : Press More(…) option → Settings → View advanced settings → toggle on Block pop-ups.
Still having troubles in removing HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar from your compromised PC ? Then you don’t need to worry. You can feel free to ask questions to us about malware related issues.