iRobinHood

iRobinHood is a browser add-on that provides links to affiliate stores and shopping suggestions, all of which provide minor commissions for charitable institutions. Although iRobinHood's functions are legitimate, iRobinHood also sometimes has been distributed through methods that allow for its installation to occur automatically, and may make minor browser changes that aren't necessarily desirable. Malware researchers have categorized iRobinHood as a Potentially Unwanted Program, and recommend deleting iRobinHood through appropriate PC security tools if its presence is unwanted.

The Add-On that Draws a Bead on Your Browser

Outwardly, iRobinHood is similar to shopping-themed adware programs, and, as with these programs, is eager to provide links to major shopping websites, along with search suggestions and product comparisons. However, unlike most adware, iRobinHood does not include injected advertisements from potentially unsafe advertisement networks and also provides commissions to charity in return for your traffic. Whether the latter makes iRobinHood worthwhile for your PC or not is entirely up to you to determine, although malware experts recommend deleting iRobinHood, and other PUPs, that you have any doubts about keeping.

If that were the extent of iRobinHood's history, malware researchers would have found little reason to be interested in iRobinHood. Sadly, iRobinHood's generosity is overshadowed by recent distribution methods that bundle iRobinHood with other applications, including browser hijackers from the Conduit family. These types of PUPs often make browser changes that harm your PC's security, either by redirecting you to potentially unsafe sites or by loading advertisements that are involved in misleading tactics, such as phishing activities. Poor browser performance and hindered website accessibility also are common side effects, which makes it commendable to uninstall iRobinHood or any other add-on that's installed itself automatically.

iRobinHood: a Browser Outlaw or a Fiscal Hero – You Be the Judge

While many PUPs are obviously undesirable, such as adware programs with no purpose beyond launching pop-up advertisements, iRobinHood provides a case for Potentially Unwanted Programs that you may not necessarily wish to remove automatically. Unless iRobinHood has been installed in suspicious circumstances, malware researchers find it appropriate to let each user decide for him or herself whether iRobinHood should be kept or uninstalled. Notwithstanding, there's no need for hesitancy about removing iRobinHood or related software that shows functions that aren't beneficial to your Web browser, such as unwanted browser redirects, advertisements or unusual settings changes.

Unwanted browser add-ons are installable by threatening means, but most usually are installed due to the incautious behavior of the PC's owner. Sites that historically distribute adware, unsafe software-distribution networks and other, potentially threatening sources always should be avoided, to keep these issues at a minimum. Scanning new files before launching them also is recommended by malware experts as a general security practice.

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