Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Play-bar.net and other threats.
Threats such as Play-bar.net may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Play-bar.net is the web address of a browser hijacker redirect. When you do a search, you will get redirected to a few places. One of the places is the query service of SafeFinder, which is another browser hijacker program. Your searches will be filtered by it. Play-bar.net can change the homepage, new tab and search engine of any browsers you use. To remove the hijacker and all its files, you should read the article in full.
Threat Summary
Name
Play-bar.net
Type
Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description
All browsers on your computer can be affected. The hijacker redirects you and filters your search queries.
Symptoms
Browser settings which are changed are the homepage, search engine and new tab. You might see sponsored content and advertisements while you browse.
Distribution Method
Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by Play-bar.net
Play-bar.net has a few distribution methods. Its software can hop onto your computer via third-party installations. Software which is bundled with others or one that is freeware can distribute the hijacker to your computer device. Setups like these usually have additive components set for installation, by default. The hijacker might alter browser settings before you realize it. Avoiding installations of this sort is doable if you find a Custom or an Advanced settings menu around the setup.
Play-bar.net could use various methods to distribute its search engine to your browser software. As seen in the above image, one of these ways is through an extension found in the Google Chrome web store. Redirect links and advertisements are another distribution way, especially if opened from suspicious websites. Banners, pop-ups and various types of ads could be used, as well. This hijacker could distribute itself with the aid of websites which are affiliates and partners with Play-bar.net. The following browsers could be affected: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.
Play-bar.net – In Detail
Play-bar.net is the main domain of a browser hijacker redirect that bears the same name – Play Bar. You can see the homepage of the hijacker in the screenshot right here:
The Play-bar.net main page is very simplified and consists of a colored background, a search bar, and a link to the extension of this hijacker. That same page will replace your new tab page, starting page and search engine for almost all browsers you use on the affected computer. The hijacker could tweak the preferences of the browsers, too.
An extension related to the hijacker exists, and there might be other additional components present on your personal computer that can generate redirects and adverts. The redirects can land you on dubious websites or ones that deliver sponsored third party content. Owners of such websites could be somehow partnered or affiliated with Play-bar.net.
The browser extension does the following:
Read and change your data on play-bar.net and query.yahooapis.com
Read your browsing history
Change your search settings to: play-bar.net
In the image shown below, you can view the search results of Play-bar.net. You get redirected to the search results page of Yahoo, but that is just the surface. Before reaching that end of the redirect, you go through servers of SafeFinder, that is another browser hijacker. The tactic of landing to a reputable search engine’s results is used by this hijacker, to try getting people into trusting it.
Play-bar.net can gather all sorts of information from you and your online activity, including the search queries you make. Servers of the hijacker and those of SafeFinder are responsible for that information collection. You can read more extensively about the Safe Finder hijacker from the article in the blog.
You can view the redirect in action from the below screenshot:
The search engine acquires every bit of information coming from your search queries. You should be careful with what you provide as personal details in searches while using the search engine of the hijacker. As there might be more redirects to various servers, you do not know in the end to how many places that information will end up on. Continue reading to see what the privacy policy of SafeFinder states and what precisely Play-bar.net sends out as information.
Play-bar.net – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy of the Play-bar.net site is non-existent or very well hidden. As search queries go through the Safe Finder browser redirect its policy applies. The platform collects personally and non-personally identifying information. The information could be disclosed to third-party affiliates.
You can see the Privacy Policy here:
Information which can be collected is the following:
Browser (type and language)
Operating System (type and language)
Your name and address
Geo location and IP address
Date and time of access
Your time zone
Advertisements viewed
Offers and services that interest you
Default search
VPN and Proxy services
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Interaction with social networks
Screen Resolution
Search quires and browsing history
Pages browsed and content viewed
If you are using services associated with Play-bar.net or Safe Finder, or any applications connected to them, then by the Policy’s writing you are bound to it and give your consent for your data collection. The policy states that cookies, web beacons, pixel tags and similar technologies can be used for accumulating more information. In cases of merger, sale or bankruptcy of the Play-bar.net website, all personal data is to be sold as an asset to the new owner company.
Remove Play-bar.net Completely
To remove Play-bar.net manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the hijacker and all of its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Play-bar.net or other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as Play-bar.net. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
To remove Play-bar.net follow these steps:
1. Uninstall malicious programs from Windows
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
How to Uninstall malicious programs from Windows:
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs.No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Hold the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear (fig.1).
In the field type in “appwiz.cpl” and press ENTER (fig.2).
This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
2. Clean your Browser and Registry from Play-bar.net
Remove Play-bar.net by cleaning your Browser and Registry.
Remove an extension from Mozilla FirefoxRemove an extension from Google Chrome Remove an extension from Internet Explorer Remove an extension from Microsoft Edge Fix registry entries created by Play-bar.net on your PC.
Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu.
Select the unwanted extension and click “Remove“
After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” button at the top right corner and start it again.
Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Move the cursor over “Tools” and then from the extended menu choose “Extensions“
From the opened “Extensions” menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its “Remove” button.
After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red “X” button at the top right corner and start it again.
Start Internet Explorer:
Click on the gear icon labeled ‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’
In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window.
Select the extension you want to remove and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Start Edge
Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
From the drop menu select “Extensions”.
Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove Play-bar.net with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Play-bar.net and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Play-bar.net. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Next’ button.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Remove an extension from Mozilla Firefox
Remove an extension from Google Chrome
Remove an extension from Internet Explorer
Remove an extension from Microsoft Edge
Fix registry entries created by Play-bar.net on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Play-bar.net and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
