Title: Masterbar

Type: Browser Plugins

Remove Masterbar. Removal instructions

Severity scale:

(45 / 100)

Masterbar is an Internet Explorer toolbar providing a web search service. It tracks user browsing habits, changes the web browser's default home and search pages to undesirable web sites and displays unsolicited commercial advertisements. Masterbar has the ability to silently update itself via the Internet. The threat can get into the system while visiting some insecure web sites. It can also be manually installed. Masterbar runs every time the user launches Internet Explorer.

Masterbar properties:
• Changes browser settings
• Shows commercial adverts
• Connects itself to the internet
• Hides from the user
• Stays resident in background

Automatic Masterbar removal:

remover for Masterbar

SpyHunter is recommended remover to uninstall Masterbar. You should confirm using free trial that it detects current version of parasite.

Note: Manual assistance required means that one or all of removers were unable to remove parasite without some manual intervention, please read manul removal instructions below.

If you failed to remove Masterbar using SpyHunter please report this to us.

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STOPzilla

download | review

We are testing STOPzilla's efficiency at removing Masterbar (2005-10-01 14:30:58)

Malwarebytes Anti Malware

download | review

We are testing Malwarebytes Anti Malware's efficiency at removing Masterbar (2005-10-01 14:30:58)

Spyware Doctor

download | review | tutorial

We are testing Spyware Doctor's efficiency at removing Masterbar (2005-10-01 14:30:58)

XoftSpySE Anti Spyware

download | review

Masterbar manual removal:

FORUM:
Discuss Masterbar in
spyware removal forum

Kill processes:
stcloader.exe

HELP:
how to kill malicious processes

Delete registry values:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\stcloader
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\SearchURL=[site address]
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Bar=[site address]
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Page=[site address]
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Default_Search_URL=[site address]
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Page=[site address]
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Default_Search_URL=[site address]
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search\CustomizeSearch=[site address]
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search\SearchAssistant=[site address]

HELP:
how to remove registry entries

Unregister DLLs:
masterbar.dll, qi32.dll

HELP:
how to unregister malicious DLLs

Delete files:
stcloader.exe, masterbar.dll, qi32.dll

HELP:
how to remove harmful files

Misc:
[site address] is an address of a web site on the masterbar.com domain.

The stcloader.exe file can be found in the default system directory C:\Windows\System, C:\Windows\System32 or C:\Winnt\System32.

Information added: 2004-03-19 10:00:00
Information updated: 2005-10-01 11:53:43

Additional resources related to Masterbar:

Attention: If you know or you have a website or page about Masterbar removal, feel free to add a link to this list: add url

more resources

Woody

- Has auto-update functionality
- Seems to be related to 'Pugi' according to some reports and code references.

Reply »

2004 03 03

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