Findr Toolbar and Search

Posted: June 11, 2013

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Ranking:	16,966
Threat Level:	5/10
Infected PCs:	1,319

First Seen:	June 11, 2013
Last Seen:	October 16, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The Findr Toolbar and Search is a Potentially Unwanted Program that usually is labeled as a browser hijacker for its changes to your homepage and search settings, which force your browser to load the findrsearch.com website. While you may install Findr Toolbar from its site before realizing its overall dearth of beneficial features, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers also have noted that Findr Toolbar has a history of distribution through other programs, particularly unofficial download sources of popular Web browsers. Deleting Findr Toolbar and Search by the usual methods of removing a browser add-on usually will not delete all of its browser changes, and thus, using anti-malware software for eliminating Findr Toolbar (like other Conduit-based PC threats) is recommended.

Findr Toolbar and Search: a 'Conduit' to an Unwanted Destination

Findr Toolbar is one of many Conduit Ltd plugins, a regularly developed and rebranded family of add-ons for your browser that exist strictly to redirect traffic (like you) to Conduit-affiliated websites. Although Findr Toolbar and Search and other Conduit add-ons claim to offer various search-related advantages, SpywareRemove.com malware experts don't see any features worth installing Findr Toolbar and always encourage deleting Findr Toolbar to keep control over your browser.

Findr Toolbar and Search symptoms, besides the obvious addition of a new toolbar to your browser, include switching your homepage to the Findr website, as well as redirecting your searches to the same site. As far as SpywareRemove.com malware researchers are concerned, links and search results from Findr Toolbar and Search's site are not necessarily dangerous, but nor are they particularly advantageous over those of reputable search sites that don't attempt to hijack your browser.

The Conduit family of Potentially Unwanted Programs encompasses more members than Findr Toolbar and Search. Some other members identified by SpywareRemove.com malware researchers include Vaf Music Toolbar, Internet Helper Toolbar, Vuze Toolbar, FLV Runner Toolbar, Produtools, Delta Search Toolbar, WiseConvert Community Toolbar and Adware.2YourFace.

How Findr Toolbar and Search Finds Its Way to Your Browser

Conduit Ltd plugins often are installed by way of the same means through which you'd expect your PC to be infected by adware, browser hijackers and other low-level PC threats. Currently, unofficial installs for Google's Chrome browser are being bundled with Findr Toolbar, although it must be stressed that official download sources for that browser still should be completely safe.

If you're unable to avoid the suspicious download sources through which Findr Toolbar propagates itself, you can use anti-malware software as needed to remove Findr Toolbar and Search. Removing Findr Toolbar and Search through appropriate methods also will remove its various browser changes, allowing you to reset your homepage and conduct your online searches as usual.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:

findrsetup.exe

File name: findrsetup.exe
Size: 4.09 MB (4097968 bytes)
MD5: 611993b1bb0315f296277b8787e583b1
Detection count: 82
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file
Last Updated: August 17, 2022

Registry Modifications

The following newly produced Registry Values are:

HKEY..\..\..\..{RegistryKeys}SOFTWARE\Classes\BackgroundEngine.BackgroundScriptEngi.1SOFTWARE\Classes\BackgroundEngine.BackgroundScriptEngineSOFTWARE\Classes\Toolbar.ExtensionHelperObjectSOFTWARE\Classes\Toolbar.ExtensionHelperObject.1Software\FindrSoftware\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions\{FADD6C7D-C790-461B-8B2D-F23BF0DC3C5A}Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{16CC3586-3547-4025-9E2F-F04C365D8B90}SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Findr

Additional Information

The following directories were created:

%PROGRAMFILES%\Findr%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Findr

The following URL's were detected:

findrsearch.com