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According to The Register then Older versions of the Ask Toolbar are now considered Malware by Microsoft:
In a June 11 update to its Malware Protection Center site, Microsoft states that older versions of the toolbar, which set itself up as a browser's homepage and redirected all searches through Ask's engine, now contravene Redmond's policies. The latest build is fine, but older Ask toolbars will be hunted down and deleted.
"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," said Microsoft's advisory. "This software poses a high threat to your PC."
[...] The bulk of this comes thanks to Java, because for years every Java update for PCs asks if the user would like to install Ask's toolbar. Many a computer user has unthinkingly clicked through and installed the toolbar. Those running Java on OS X have been getting the same opportunity to experience the joy that is Ask's toolbar since March.
Also reported at PCWorld and Geek amongst others.
However as pointed out by the Register this may only affect older versions:
Ask confirmed to The Reg that its current toolbar is "fully compliant with Microsoft policies" and that its software should automatically update to the latest version every time the browser is opened. A spokeswoman said only one per cent of Ask's user base is affected by the change.
Original Submission
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Saturday June 13 2015, @04:32PM
Really, I haven't seen a toolbar that was worth having. Most of the ones I have seen are definitely malware. Even if they have no payload, I simply can't see the point of a toolbar. I've already got this thing called "bookmarks". The browsers all come with a toolbar with builtin tools that do everything a person needs. WTF do I want to install some third party spyware into my browser? Derp-a-derp!
“Take me to the Brig. I want to see the “real Marines”. – Major General Chesty Puller, USMC
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 13 2015, @05:02PM
The point of toolbars is to shove them down the throats of unsuspecting users.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday June 13 2015, @06:20PM
He does IT support [880itservices.com], mostly for windows and mostly for government clients. (I-880 is the highway from Silicon Valley along the eastbay to Oakland.)
One of his clients was complaining that his computer was running slow; Thomas found nine toolbars on it.
Despite being poor as a churchmouse, Thomas takes his work quite seriously. I rode in his car one morning on his way to work when he took a call about a mail server failure. During that entire drive, Thomas was just like a combat soldier advanced headlong into enemy fire.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2) by lentilla on Sunday June 14 2015, @12:52PM
Really, I haven't seen a toolbar that was worth having.
I can't say I have either (although it's not like I even actually install them by choice). However... I have noticed other people become quite attached to them.
I once had the rather educational experience of removing all the crapbars that had left the browser with maybe 50% of the screen real-estate on the household computer of some friends. I couldn't imagine what use they were, they were absolutely in the way of getting real work done, so I simply turned them off.
Fast forward a couple of hours later and there were great lamentations of horror emanating from the other room. The mother couldn't log into her yahoo.com webmail account. I tried the "oh, I see, why don't you type yahoo.com into the address bar?" tack but that was only going to inflame the situation. So I put every one of them back and peace was restored.
I swear I make an effort never to mess with other people's computers. That one time though, I couldn't for the life of me comprehend that people actually used those tool bar things. I was thoroughly disabused of that notion and have since returned to wearing a slightly offhand and confused expression and saying in a concerned way "oh, that's terrible!" when people relate a computer problem to me. I try not to get involved and hope they don't realise I could probably resolve it. If they do a simple "I don't do Windows" or "here's my client engagement contract and schedule of fees" depending on circumstances usually resolves any misunderstanding. I feel a little cruel.