Remove Amazon Toolbar (Removal Instructions)

Problems with Amazon Toolbar

Amazon Toolbar, which is now known as Amazon Assistant, is an browser extension that users can add by their own volition. It is compatible with many web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Sleipnir, Sogou Explorer, 360 Safe Browser and 360 Quick Browser. We noticed that a lot of users complain about technical issues^[1] regarding this toolbar or even call it Amazon Toolbar virus. We must point out that it is a legitimate application and it isn’t malicious or illegal in any way. However, our researchers decided to add it to “potentially unwanted program” category because many computer users start looking for its removal guidelines shortly after installing the toolbar to their systems. It turns out that it initiates many unwanted activities on a computer, for instance, displays annoying ads urging the user buy more items and redirect to pages that sell them.

Although we mentioned that this toolbar can be installed with user’s permission, we didn’t explain how it can hijack your browsers with your permission, but without your knowledge. This program can be installed on PC systems without any notification if you tend to install computer programs in a rush and without paying enough attention to installation settings. Straight after that, this browser add-on attaches itself to your Internet browser and changes some of the browser settings, like the homepage and the default search engine. Secondly, it starts tracking your activity on the Internet. For example, this hijacker collects data about the websites you go to, keywords you type in search fields, you download history, and also knows your IP address^[2]. After collecting needed data, this browser add-on generates “Recommended For You” advertisements based on your interests. You may also notice redirects to amazon.com/gp/bit/amazonserp but this site uses Google for showing search results, so you can be sure that they are legitimate and safe.

Even though this toolbar is not classed as a virus^[3], its activity can be troublesome. Users often complain that they do not like advertisements appearing on random web sites that prompts buying even more products from the eCommerce platform or its partners. We believe that you should be careful with its headlines and unbelievable great deals that these ads display. If this system tool is already installed on your computer and now you want to remove Amazon Assistant, you should install a reliable anti-malware program, for example, Fortect Intego, and run a full system scan. Alternatively, you can use Amazon Toolbar removal guidelines presented below the text.

Amazon Toolbar

What if I can’t remember installing this software on my computer?

If you can’t remember installing this software on your PC, you should carefully read information provided in this section. First of all, you should try to remember what free programs you installed on your PC lately. You could install it along Java^[4] or Flash Player, which are known to be offering optional offers for users. The shopping assistant could have entered your PC alongside another program, however, in most cases, users agree to install the toolbar directly from the eCommerce platform. Some users reported that the e-shop suggested installing the toolbar after placing an order “in order to see it without opening Amazon.” Of course, there is an official page dedicated to this toolbar, and you can download it from there.

In case you installed the program without realizing it, please be attentive every time you download free software from the Internet^[5]. If you found the program you seek to download on a suspicious website, you should be careful. Make sure you carefully read Terms and Conditions, as well as Privacy Policy. In addition, avoid the “default“ or “standard“ installation options – this is exactly where all automatic agreements to install additional applications are concealed. Instead of these options you should choose either “advanced“ or “custom“ installation options. After doing so, you should see suggestions to install additional content like plug-ins, add-ons, additional applications, as well as suggestions to change your homepage, for example: „Yes, I wan’t Amazon Smart Search to be set as my default homepage“. Untick all of these clauses and you will install only the preferred program.

How to remove Amazon Toolbar?

In case it is too late and you already have this add-on installed on your computer, do not worry. It is not a virus and it cannot damage your computer – it might annoy you a little and in the worst case, it might slow down your computer, but nothing else. It is just a potentially unwanted program and if you think that it does not add useful features to your browsers, you can remove Amazon Toolbar using the tutorial provided below. Our professionals have set a list of step-by-step detailed instructions that you can follow. An even easier way to get rid of it is to run a scan with anti-spyware program, which will delete all of its components for you. The automatic Amazon Assistant removal tool will help you to remove all potentially unwanted and malicious programs from the system with ease.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:

In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:

Select Go > Go to Folder.
Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
Pick Manage Add-ons.
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:

Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
Select Internet Options.
In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:

Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
Under Browsing history, click Delete...
Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:

Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
Select Reset.
In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:

Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
Then find On startup section.
Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
Select Details tab.
Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:

Click on Menu and go to Settings.
Select Privacy, search and services.
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Under Time range, pick All time.
Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
On the left side, pick Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values.
Confirm with Reset.
This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
Select Add-ons.
In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:

Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
Choose Settings.
Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

Click Menu and pick Settings.
Go to Privacy & Security section.
Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
Click on Clear Data...
Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

Click on Menu and pick Settings.
Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:

Click menu and choose Settings.
Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

Click on Menu and select Settings.
In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:

Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:

Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.