Hotbar is a browser toolbar application that installs an extra toolbar in your browser and e-mail client to display search results, data links, and advertisements from third parties that are linked with this application.
You may have installed this application yourself or it may have entered your computer without your knowledge. This program automatically installs itself without the knowledge of the user through websites that deploy ActiveX controls.
Is Hotbar a Malware?
There are two reasons why many computer experts classify Hotbar as malware.
- First, this program can install itself secretly on your computer—a characteristic associated with malware programs.
- Second, the program is known to spy on your online activities and use this information to display pop-ads.
If you are fed up with the constant pop-ads that Hotbar displays or do not find this application useful, then you can easily uninstall this application.
How to Remove Hotbar
Shared below are the tasks that you need to perform to completely remove Hotbar from your computer:
Task 1 – Uninstall Hotbar From Add or Remove Programs Utility
All Windows computers come with a built-in uninstaller called Add or Remove Programs. To uninstall Hotbar via this utility, you need to perform the following steps:
- Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
- Locate and select Hotbar on the currently installed programs list.
- Click Uninstall.
Task 2 – Remove Hotbar Registry Entries
Typically, when you uninstall a program via Add or Remove Programs, not all its registry entries are automatically removed from the registry.
To prevent orphaned entries from causing any registry issues in the future, it is imperative that you remove them along with the program.
There are two ways through which you can remove an uninstalled program’s left-over entries from the registry. Both these methods are discussed below:
Method 1 – Remove Hotbar Registry Entries Using a Registry Cleaner
Download and install an advanced registry maintenance software, such as RegGenie. Next, use your registry cleaner to perform a thorough registry scan. Professional registry software automatically deletes all the orphaned and unwanted entries from your registry. They help you carry out other essential registry maintenance activities, such as making registry backup, defragging registry files, and re-indexing registry files.
Method 2 – Remove Hotbar Registry Entries Manually
It is recommended that only advanced computer users should attempt this method. The registry is a key component of Windows and should be manually edited only when you are sure of what you are doing.
- Click the Start button, type run in the Start Search box, and then press Enter.
- Type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor in the Open box.
- Locate the following registry entries, right-click on them, and press Delete to remove them permanently.
HKey_Current_User\Software\Hotbar
HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Hotbar
HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\B195B3B3-8A05-11D3-97A4-0004ACA6948E
HKey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\User Agent\Post Platform\Hotbar 3.0
Task 3 – Run a Malware Scan
Lastly, update your antivirus software and run a thorough malware scan on your computer to ensure that no other adaware or spyware programs are stealthily operating inside your computer.
In case you are unable to uninstall Hotbar from your computer via Add or Remove Programs, then you may use a third-party uninstaller tool, such as Perfect Uninstaller, to forcefully remove this program from your computer for good.