Solo-Bar extension can only provide unwanted customisations on Chrome

Solo-bar.net is a website that promotes Google Chrome extension[1] that allows customizing browser’s homepage layout and new tab. However, the site does not work properly, and you won’t be able to download Solo-Bar extension by Via Advertising Group Limited yourself. However, it might hijack your browser during careless freeware or shareware installation.
Stealthy infiltration method is one of the reasons why this Chrome add-on is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). Among other negative features are:
- altered browser’s settings;
- search redirects to http://solo-bar.net/search/?q=;
- inability to set your preferred homepage/search engine as default one,
- an increased amount of ads and other commercial content.
Solo-bar.net virus does not belong to the most hazardous cyber threats. However, it’s ability to take over the browser and display you questionable commercial content might help you to meet data-stealing Trojan,[2] ransomware or other malware.
When you have this search tool installed, your browser session might be disturbed by Solo-bar.net redirect that leads to potentially dangerous or even infected website. Crooks often take advantage of potentially unwanted programs in order to reach potential victims easier.
Additionally, after the Solo-bar.net hijack, you might also notice an increased amount of online ads. There’s no surprise because it is developed by an advertising company. Thus, you can be sure that annoying or suspicious ads will be following you wherever you go.
However, there’s the same possibility to click on a malicious content and install dangerous programs on the computer. Thus, it’s recommended to minimize the risk of the attack and remove Solo-bar.net from the computer.
We suggest opting for the automatic Solo-bar.net removal that requires scanning the system with FortectIntego or other anti-malware/anti-spyware tool. However, if you prefer manual elimination option, you will find a detailed explanation at the end of the article. But be attentive. Specialists from the LesVirus.fr[3] note that users often fail with manual elimination.

Free programs help to spread browser hijacker
As you already know, the official website Solo-bar.net does not have a working download button. It means that developers use a different strategy to distribute their shady Chrome add-on. Indeed, the research has shown that it spread using free programs.
Free software that you can download from the Internet often is a package, not a single program. It means that freeware might include additional components, such as add-ons, search tools, PC optimization software or other apps. If you do not use basic security tips, all of these entries might sneak inside the system. To avoid that, you should:
- Download programs from legitimate sources,
- Read Privacy Policy, EULA, Terms of Use or other documentation provided by developers,
- Use Advanced/Custom settings instead of Quick/Recommended.
- Opt out all pre-selected “optional downloads” and agreements to change your search engine.
Remove Solo-Bar from the Chrome and computer entirely
To remove Solo-bar.net entirely, you have to uninstall suspicious components from the computer and Chrome web browser. The guidelines below will show you how to perform this task properly. However, there’s a quicker solution to clean the browser and PC.
Automatic Solo-bar.net removal is easier possibility to get rid of the PUP and all its components. All you have to do is to scan the system with anti-malware tool and reset the browser.
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.

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