FirstSearchBar

Posted: August 28, 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:	3,315
Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	29,370

First Seen:	August 28, 2013
Last Seen:	October 16, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

FirstSearchBar or the FirstSearch Toolbar is a browser hijacker that redirects your online searches and resets your homepage. Some sites that have been promoted by threats related to FirstSearchBar (such as Browserseek.com) have been classified as malicious. Given this hazard, you usually should interact with sites provided by FirstSearchBar with heavy caution, and the use of anti-malware software for deleting FirstSearchBar (along with the browser changes that are caused by FirstSearchBar) is highly recommended.

When Searching the Internet with an Assistant Backfires

FirstSearchBar is packaged as a generic Web-searching tool that helps your browser find what you're looking for, but FirstSearchBar's functions more closely resemble those of a malicious browser hijacker than those of any legitimate browser add-on. A typical installation of FirstSearchBar will modify your homepages and default search engines for most popular brands of Web browsers, regardless of the settings you're using for your individual browsers. These functions are, in turn, used to redirect you to other websites that FirstSearchBar's makers apparently consider profitable, such as Browserseek.com.

Browserseek.com is a malicious search site that distributes various PC threats while Browserseek.com pretends to offer you legitimate search results. This site is particularly associated with fake anti-virus programs and similar scamware, and any extended browsing through sites related to FirstSearchBar is ill-advised. If temporary contact with sites promoted by FirstSearchBar is unavoidable, you should consider appropriate protections like turning off JavaScript, disabling Flash and keeping an anti-malware program open and running.

How to Keep FirstSearchBar from Barring Your Way to a Clean PC

Removing FirstSearchBar, like removing most browser-hijacking PC threats that barely bother to hide their attacks behind facades of helpfulness, is difficult to accomplish without all relevant anti-malware and security tools available. Switching to Safe Mode and keeping all browsers closed while your PC is scanned with anti-malware equipment is the most effective way of guaranteeing FirstSearchBar's deletion, and with FirstSearchBar, the browser changes that force you to sites of poor repute.

Typical infection methods for FirstSearchBar and similar threats have a tendency to use free download sources of unrelated applications that include bundles for malicious or unwanted programs. Careful attention to the installation processes of these programs may let you opt out of them, although SpywareRemove.com malware researchers personally don't advise your ever installing software from a site that's known for distributing PC threats like FirstSearchBar.

Extended contact with sites related to FirstSearchBar redirects usually should be considered an additional potential infection vector that may install other types of malware, either with your permission or without it. Preventing your browser from loading any exploitable Web content and keeping all software patched for minimizing their vulnerabilities will help defend your computer until you've managed to uninstall FirstSearchBar.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

moviebox-online.com