Finally, Microsoft acts against pesky ‘Ask’ toolbar

Finally, Microsoft is acting against the pesky "Ask" browser toolbar, a piece of software bundled with some programs but tries to hijack your default search provider.

In an update to its Malware Center, Microsoft now lists the Ask.com Toolbar as malware - particularly a "BrowserModifier."

"Microsoft security software detects and removes this unwanted software. The latest version of this application is not detected by our objective criteria. Older versions of software can restrict or limit your control over your search provider. It can prevent you from disabling or modifying your search provider.," it said.

It added the toolbar "poses a high threat to your PC," and Microsoft security products including Windows Defender for Windows 8.1 and Security Essentials can remove it.

The Ask toolbar has been a bane for browser users especially as it sneaks into computers by being bundled with other software, such as Oracle's Java for Windows.

"Bundleware is bad enough since even veteran PC users can be tricked into installing unwanted software—especially when you’re multitasking. But the Ask Toolbar has its own special annoyances. When installed it switches your browser’s default search provider to Ask.com, and when you try to switch away it attempts to prevent you from doing so with a pop-up warning. If you’re not careful the toolbar can also reappear the next time you update Java," PC World remarked.

Tech site Slashdot added Microsoft had updated its policies on protecting search settings, "to include any software that attempts to hijack searches as malware."

"As a result, this month the Ask Toolbar, which most people will probably recognize as being unwanted crapware bundled with Java, was marked as malware and will now be removed by Microsoft's security software built in to Windows 7 and above," it said.  — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News