PBar Toolbar is an adware program created by EffectiveBrand.  It was first discovered in February of 2004.  It comes bundled with other adware programs, such as the WordIQ Toolbar or games from 4Arcade.com.

PBar Toolbar has to be manually installed on your computer, but it can be installed without your knowledge as part of a software bundle.  It does not display its End User Licensing Agreement when it is installed, so you aren’t forewarned of infection.  Once installed, it creates a toolbar on your browser and hijacks your browser.

When PBar Toolbar hijacks your browser, it specifically resets your home page to its vendors home page.  It can then redirect your browsing to its affiliate sites.  It can also generate pop-up ads.  Since PBar Toolbar does not have spyware capabilities, these ads are possibly unrelated to your interests.

To prevent PBar Toolbar infections, you should take certain security precautions.  You should have your Windows set to automatically update, you should have your firewall turned on, and you should have a potent spyware removal and prevention tool, such as ZookaWare PC Cleaner, installed.  You should also be careful about what products you download to your computer.  Many times, spyware, adware and viruses are disguised as harmless programs until they get on your computer.

Also Known As:
4Arcade PBar, Toolbar 4Arcade PBar, SeekITAll Toolbar, PBar, 4Arcade.PBar

Adware Type: Toolbar, Browser Hijacker

Associated Files:
\system\pbar.dll
\system32\pbar.dll
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\ {ca1d1b05-9c66-11d5-a009-000103c1e50b}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\clsid\ {ca1d1b05-9c66-11d5-a009-000103c1e50b}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\ {ca1d1b05-9c66-11d5-a009-000103c1e50b}