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Virus in Alexa Toolbar - Misunderstanding of Many Antivirus Software's

By venkat nithin, published Oct 05, 2007
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Hi, I am generally an alexa toolbar user and as I generally use Firefox there is no need for a download of toolbar. Just a plugin is fine for firfox. Hence there is no need to download any software for it. Just if you want to delete then you can delete that addon from Firefox browser.

But recently I am hearing that there has been a virus in the alexa toolbar which made them not to opt for download of that toolbar. When I heard that I though they are just misguiding every one in order not to encourage the usage of alexa tool bar users. But as I started hearing more and more about this issue, I really thought of peeping into this issue. Using the best antivirus software I want to find whether there is a virus in the toolbar or not (of course I am planning to buy a new antivirus software but thought of mcafee). So I brought the best antivirus software and I think every one heard of the Top 1 antivirus software right now, Its Bitdefender. Hence I brought that antivirus and then after setting every thing I scanned again entire system whether firefox browser is affected with any virus due to alexa plugin. But it said that there are no infected files.

Then afterwards I removed that plugin and downloaded again and tried to find whether there is any virus at the time of adding the plugin in firefox. Then also the results showed none. I really came to a conclusion that its just a rumor and cant figure out why the rumor is spreading very rapidly and why people started believing that rumor.

Then at the last moment I thought of using Internet Explorer because alexa gives toolbar download for IE. So I clicked the install button and then was really shocked to see what came. Have a look at that by yourself in the picture.

My bitdefender before starting installation showed that there is an adware in "an_amazon_company.gif" and on the webpage I got a message that " your webpage has been blocked by Bitdefender". I then though that all the people who are talking about this is correct and started telling people that it is containing a virus in its toolbar. If any one asked me the proof then I used to show the screen shot.

Virus in Alexa Toolbar - Misunderstanding of Many Antivirus Software's

screeshot showing alexa toolbar contains trojan at the time of installation

Credit: Nithin

Copyright: Nithin

Takeaways
  • Decrease in the usage of alexa toolbar.
  • Trojan Horse in alexa toolbar.
  • Explination by the alexa toolbar site for this rumor.
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