Zwinky Toolbar

Zwinky Toolbar is a browser extension developed by Mindspark Interactive Network. This application allows user to access his/her account on Zwinky virtual world immediately. Nevertheless, even though Mindspark products are not malicious they require you to install corresponding toolbar, which can be considered intrusive and annoying. Not to mention that such extensions do pose various security risks, so if you are not an avid Zwinky world user, but you have the toolbar installed on your browser, you are highly advised to remove Zwinky Toolbar from your computer, in order to prevent any possible harm.

Apart from the fact that the toolbar in question provides you with a shortcut to Zwinky virtual world, there is not much it can offer. Aside from Zwinky shortcut, it only has Facebook and Weather feeds, as well as a customized search box that provides you with search results via Ask Search. This search engine can also be set as your default home page, if you install the full version of Zwinky Toolbar’s setup, either on Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. If you do not want your home page to be changed to home.tb.ask.com, you need to uncheck two boxes at the bottom of Zwinky Toolbar’s installation wizard.

Make no mistake, however – Zwinky Toolbar does not need to enter your system surreptitiously. Users download it when they want to utilize Zwinky world at zwinky.com. It is also possible to find this toolbar bundled with free software applications, available at third party websites. The bottom line is that you are the one who installs this extension on your computer, and you need to take responsibility for whatever you install on your PC.

Zwinky Toolbar is not the first browser extension that comes equipped with Ask Search. There are also RadioRage Toolbar, MindDable Toolbar, InboxAce Toolbra and similar extensions, all developed by Mindspark Interactive Network. The main security risks associated Zwinky Toolbar and similar plugins is possible data leak. Due to the fact that it needs to provide you with the most relative search results, Ask Search collects your web browsing information via cookies. It can then make use of that data for marketing purposes, at the same time flooding you with pop-up advertisements.

Not only is this annoying, as it is also risky, because pop-up ads and search results redirections could be used for malware distribution, so you will do yourself a favor if you remove Zwinky Toolbar from your computer. It will ensure that your computer does not get infected with malware.

Manual Zwinky Toolbar Removal

Windows 8

1. Move mouse cursor to the bottom right of the screen.
2. Click Settings and go to Control Panel.
3. Open Uninstall a program and remove Zwinky Firefox Toolbar & Zwinky Internet Explorer Toolbar.

Windows Vista & Windows 7

1. Open Start menu and click Control Panel.
2. Go to Uninstall a program and remove Zwinky Firefox Toolbar & Zwinky Internet Explorer Toolbar.

Windows XP

1. Open Start menu and go to Control Panel.
2. Select Add or remove programs and uninstall Zwinky Firefox Toolbar & Zwinky Internet Explorer Toolbar.

How to reset my browser

Internet Explorer

1. Press Alt+X and go to Internet options.
2. Open Advanced tab and click Reset.
3. Select Delete personal settings and click Reset again.
4. Click Close and OK when the reset is complete.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click Firefox button and navigate to Help.
2. Press Troubleshooting information.
3. Click Reset Firefox at the top right of a new tab.
4. Press Reset Firefox again on a new dialog box and then click Finish.

After manual removal you should also run a full system scan with SpyHunter free scanner, because you need to be sure that there are no more potentially risky residuals files in your system. Do invest in a powerful antimalware program if need be.