Adware Exactbar Spyware
Type: Adware (Previously called Spyware)
Publisher: ExactSearchBarSystems Affected: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Me
Systems Not Affected: DOS, Linux, Macintosh, OS/2, UNIX, Windows 3.x
This spyware threat can be detected only by free Spyware Scanner software that support expanded threats.
The Spyware's Behavior
Spyware Exactbar includes an Adware program that downloads and displays advertisements. The spyware works as a Browser Helper Object.Spyware files will be able to be detected as Adware under the file name(s) Exactbar.
There is also an Internet Explorer toolbar named "Mail.com Search Bar."
The adware component is included in the "Mail.com search bar" and the search bar must be uninstalled to remove the complete spyware application.
When Exactbar's Spyware is installed, it performs the following:
Creates the folder, C:\Program Files\eXact, which contains the files for Exactbar's Adware.Creates several spyware keys in the Windows registry.
Adware 'Exactbar' is part of the "Mail.com search bar." The spyware component in Exactbar runs as a Browser Helper Object, which means that the adware component receives information regarding all your Internet Explorer actions. Browser Helper Objects require Internet Explorer 4.0 or later to function.
The spyware component will submit usage information, regarding the use of the search bar itself, to the server exactsearchbar.com, on port 80.
The End User License Agreement (EULA) of their adware component stated:
We do not transmit or collect personally identifiable information about your searching activity and do not store any personally identifiable information that records your searching behavior.
When the usage information is submitted to the server, however, a Global Unique Identifier (GUID) is also sent. Even though the GUID is not tied to a person, the usage history can be built based on the GUID. This history is then used to display targeted advertisements.
WorldsLargestNetwork.com does not know how these GUIDs would be used, as this is done on the server. The EULA did state that they are not used to personally identify the user or the location of the user. It is highly likely that the EULA is correct, and therefore should be trusted. We'll leave that part up to you.
*First, Uninstall the eXact Search Bar using your Add/Remove Programs utility.
*Make sure you run a full system spyware scan and delete all the spyware files detected as Adware under the file name Exactbar.
Unistalling the Spyware
Do one of the following:On the Windows 98 taskbar:
Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
On the Windows Me taskbar:
Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
If you do not see the Add/Remove Programs icon, click "...view all Control Panel options."
On the Windows 2000 taskbar:
By default, Windows 2000 is set up the same as Windows 98. In that case, follow the instructions for Windows 98. Otherwise, click Start, point to Settings, point to Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
On the Windows XP taskbar:
Click Start > Control Panel.
In the Control Panel window, double-click Add or Remove Programs.
Click eXact Search Bar.
Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system). Follow the prompts.
Scanning for and Deleting the Spyware files
Run your free Spyware Scanner program and make sure that it is configured to scan all files.Run a full system spyware scan.
If any spyware files are detected as being infected with Adware Exactbar, click Delete.
You will find much more on this topic at WorldsLargestNetwork.com
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