Toon Explorer is a browser extension that displays advertisements to generate revenue
Toon Explorer is a browser plugin that is advertised as a useful tool for cartoon lovers. Unfortunately, it does not have any functions and instead operates as adware – advertising-supported software. When it gets attached to the browser it starts causing unwanted symptoms.
Users may notice an increased amount of commercial content, like pop-ups, banners, and redirects. Promotional links can be injected into the search results as well. Crooks can use rogue advertising networks[1] that place ads leading to dangerous websites.
As a result, people may end up on pages that use social engineering[2] techniques to trick them into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),[3] and malware. Some malicious extensions can also change the main settings of the browser, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine, forcing people to use only selected channels for browsing.
| NAME | Toon Explorer |
| TYPE | Browser hijacker; potentially unwanted program |
| SYMPTOMS | An increased amount of commercial content; promotional links are injected into the search results; pop-ups and banners start appearing |
| DISTRIBUTION | Shady websites; deceptive ads; freeware installations |
| DANGERS | Links embedded in the ads can lead to dangerous websites from rogue advertising networks |
| ELIMINATION | Remove the extension in the browser settings; scan your machine with anti-malware tools |
| FURTHER STEPS | Use FortectIntego to clear your browsers, get rid of any remaining damage and optimize the system |
How did Toon Explorer infect my PC?
The PUP was discovered through shady download pages. These “Downloader” sites are spread through the Internet, usually on other sites that engage in illegal activities. Such websites are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. Even though Google said it would get rid of fake “Download” and “Play” buttons,[4] they still exist.
Fake “Downloader” pages often use social engineering to their advantage. As you can see in the picture below, the site asks people to install a browser extension to “continue to the website.” You should never have to install any plugins or programs to be able to access content on a legitimate website.
Adware can also infect people who use freeware[5] distribution platforms. They often include bundled software in the installers without disclosing it clearly. Most people skip through the installation process so they do not notice the additional files.
How to avoid adware installations?
You should never click on random links and buttons. Avoid “Download” and “Play” buttons unless you are completely sure that the website is safe. Use legitimate streaming services, like Netflix or Hulu, instead of illegal streaming platforms.[6] Do not install programs from freeware distribution sites, peer-to-peer file-sharing platforms, and torrent websites.
It is best to use official web stores, and developer sites. Doing research also should not be forgotten. Read the reviews, look at the ratings, and the number of users an application has. Choose those that have plenty of positive feedback and thousands of users. Crooks also often make spelling and grammar mistakes so always read the product descriptions fully.
To avoid adware sneaking into your system during the installation, always choose the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use to find out what the program will be capable of. The most important part is to check the file list and untick the boxes next to any unrelated apps.
Keep your browsing history private
Websites, web-based applications, and programs can use cookies to track your activity. These small data files can store information like your IP address, geolocation, websites you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase online. This raises many user privacy and security concerns as this data can be sold to advertising networks or other third parties.
We recommend having a maintenance tool like FortectIntego that can clear your browsers automatically. It can eliminate cookies and cache, and stop the tracking process. This powerful software can also fix various system errors, corrupted files, and registry issues which is especially helpful after a virus infection.
Remove Toon Explorer adware
Toon Explorer adware most likely attached an extension to your browser that causes push notification spam, banners, surveys, redirects, and other commercial content. You should go to your browser settings and look at the extension list. We recommend removing plugins one by one to see if you notice any changes.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Mozilla Firefox
- 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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Safari
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Scan your system with anti-malware tools
Manual removal of PUPs can sometimes result in the renewal of the infection as users often fail to eliminate all the related files and entries. If you are not sure what to do and you do not want to risk deleting the wrong files, we suggest using SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes anti-malware tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes.
If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:
Windows 10/8:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Mac:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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