Page Index:

• What is it?
  • What is Hotbar?
  • Does Hotbar use pop-up ads?
  • Is Hotbar violating your privacy?
• Identify and Remove Hotbar
  • How do I know if I have Hotbar?
  • How do I remove Hotbar?
• Other Concerns
  • Is Hotbar a security risk?
  • Does Hotbar cause my computer to run slower?
  • Doesn't Hotbar have a privacy policy?
• More Information
  • Where can I find lists of spyware/adware?
  • About this page

What is Hotbar?

According to their web site, Hotbar enhances and personalizes your internet and e-mail applications. Most people use Hotbar to add smiley faces to their e-mail or to add colorful backgrounds to Internet Explorer (aka: "skins"). However, there are a few important facts you should be aware of:

1. Hotbar is adware. It collects the Web addresses (aka: URLs) of web sites you visit, sends this information to their servers, and displays pop-up ads and button-like advertisements based on that information.

   From the Hotbar.com, Inc. Privacy Policy: By installing the Software, you authorize Zango to periodically collect certain information (1) (e.g., keywords and portions of website addresses or complete URLs) from the websites you visit and upload this information to our servers so that we may display targeted websites to you while you are connected to the Internet;...

2. Hotbar automatically updates itself from their web site without your approval. These updates may include new functionality that may by-pass security/privacy protection programs, and update the way it gathers information about you.
3. Hotbar is not an official upgrade from Microsoft for Internet Explorer or Outlook.

Does Hotbar use pop-up ads?

Yes. Hotbar monitors your use of web sites and uses pop-up ads on a regular basis.

Is Hotbar violating my privacy?

Using the Web addresses (aka: URLs) that Hotbar collects, the company could determine:

• What Web sites you visit
• What you search for on search engines (e.g. Google)
• How often you visit certian Web sites
• What information, services, or products you may be interested in

Hotbar does not collect any personally identifiable information about you (e.g. name, address, social security number).

However, using anonymous information that typically identifies a computer (e.g. IP address), it may be possible to create a history or profile of your interests.

How do I know if I have Hotbar?

There are several ways to tell if Hotbar is installed. If any of the following steps show that you have Hotbar, go to the How do I remove Hotbar? section on this page.

Note: If you have changed the "skin" for Hotbar, the buttons may look different. If that is the case, you may want to skip to step 3 to see if Hotbar is installed.

1. Open Internet Explorer (aka: your web browser). If you see a series of buttons, like in the picture below, you may have Hotbar installed. The toolbar may also have the word "Hotbar" on the far left.
   
               [Click image to zoom in]
2. Open Outlook or Outlook Express. If you see a series of buttons, like in the picture below, you may have Hotbar installed.
   
               [Click image to zoom in]
3. Open Internet Explorer. Go to the "View" menu and then click "Toolbars", like you see in the picture below. If you see "Hotbar" in the Toolbars menu, you have Hotbar installed. This is true even if there is no checkmark next to "Hotbar".
   
   [Click image to zoom in]
4. If you have pop-up advertisements on your computer, check the bottom of the pop-up window. If you see the text "This ad served by Hotbar software..." then you have hotbar installed.
   
               [Click image to zoom in]

How do I remove Hotbar?

The following instructions are taken from Hotbar's web site:

To remove Hotbar from your computer, please do the following: Close all open applications/programs/windows Go to: Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add\Remove Programs Click on "Hotbar Browser and Wowpapers Tools" Click Change/Remove button Check the components you wish to remove, click Next and follow the on-screen instructions. Restart your computer If you have an older version of Hotbar you may find 2 Hotbar components under Add\Remove Programs: Hotbar Outlook Tools Hotbar Browser, Weather and Wowpapers Tools Remove the components by clicking the Change/Remove button and follow on-screen instructions. Alternatively, you can use our uninstaller: Click on the following link - http://client.hotbar.com/downloads/Uninstaller/Uninstaller.exe Click Run and follow on-screen instructions Restart your computer.

If the instructions provided by Hotbar do not work, you can try one of the following 3rd party adware/spyware removal tools.

• LavaSoft Ad-Aware
• Spybot - Search & Destroy

Note: Howard University does not officially support the 3rd party adware/spyware removal tools above. Technical support for the tools will not be provided by the University helpdesks or by the University webmasters.

Is Hotbar a security risk?

Yes. Hotbar's silent update feature gives the company that owns Hotbar the ability to add any functionality they wish on your computer at any time, without notification.

Does Hotbar cause my computer to run slower?

Hotbar integrates itself into many vital parts of Windows, including:

• Windows Explorer (what you use to find files on your computer)
• Internet Explorer
• Outlook
• Outlook Express

As a result, the programs listed above may run slower or possibly become unstable.

Doesn't Hotbar have a privacy policy?

Having a privacy policy does not mean Hotbar will respect your privacy to the degree you would hope for. Their license agreement also states that they are free to change their policy or software at any time, without notification.

Policy links:
http://hotbar.com/Legal/hotbar/privacy.htm
http://hotbar.com/Legal/hotbar/license.htm

Where can I find lists of spyware/adware?

• http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php
• http://virgolamobile.50megs.com/spyware/spyware.htm
• http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm

About this page:

Information on this page was gathered from the Hotbar policy and terms of use, and from various security/university web sites.

For questions about installing/uninstalling software, please contact the Helpdesk using the contact information at http://www.howard.edu/technology/.

Comments, corrections, or concerns in regard to this page should be submitted using the webmaster contact form at http://www.howard.edu/webcenter/contact.asp?ref=Hotbar