What is Dale Toolbar (www.dalesearch.com)?
Dale Toolbar, otherwise known as the Dale Search virus or Dalesearch.com redirect, is an unwanted browser application classified as malware and categorized as a browser hijacker that changes existing internet browser settings including the default search engine and home page of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer, causing infected browsers to redirect to www.dalesearch.com and other websites such as Yahoo.com and search.conduit.com, as well as start up on the Dale Search ‘Search’ Engine. Dale Toolbar, often referred to as the Dale Search Toolbar installs to computer systems and attaches to internet browsers as an add-on, browser helper object (BHO), and extension and among the issues concerning unwarranted browser redirects, Dale Toolbar raises concerns relating to privacy issues and third-party malware.
Dale Search does not primarily expose malicious search results, though Dale Toolbar, the Dale Search website, and relating third-party malware may collect your complete computing and browsing activity data, and especially information manually submitted online such as home addresses, telephone numbers, user names, passwords, credit information, bank information, and even details relating to your social media relations. The collected information often includes victims to mailing and marketing lists without their direct consent or knowledge. In some causes browser hijackers similar to Dale Search malware (Dale Toolbar) are a concern because of their associations to credit theft, extortion, and identity theft. On a lesser-scale victims have reported excessive email spam, junk mail, and telephone calls from telemarketers. In some cases, the victim will receive information relative to recent computing, browsing, and internet chatting activity.
If Dale Toolbar and relating Dale Search malware applications are present on your computer, it is strongly recommended to immediately eradicate the unwanted application using the free Dale Toolbar removal instructions further below. If DaleSearch is present it may also be a sign that third-party malware is also present on your computer system alongside or without the standalone Toolbar. Removing a third-party application may also stop the www.dalesearch.com redirect.
How does the Dale Search virus infect a computer (Dale Toolbar)?
Dale Toolbar, often referred to as the DaleSearch Toolbar or Search the web (DaleSearch) is a community toolbar third-parties can use to earn money (monetize) off the confusion and misfortunes of internet users that presents itself on a system without user consent mostly alongside third-party downloadable items such as freeware, shareware, codecs, and torrents. The Dale Toolbar application can not be downloaded manually from DaleSearch.com, info.dalesearch.com, or other websites with ease.
Reports also indicate that Dale Toolbar may install without consent as the link to download the unwanted application may be present in malicious advertisements and compromised social media content notably posted without the account holder’s behalf.
How to remove Dale Search malware
- Uninstall Dale Search software – Use the correct procedures to uninstall software relating to the www.dalesearch.com redirect (from 2 options)
- Remove Dale Toolbar – Remove Dale Toolbar and other add-ons and extensions
- Scan computer for malware – Scan for and remove additional malware infecting your computer system
- Automatically repair browser settings – Automatically remove hijacked www.dalesearch.com settings and automatically uninstall DaleSearch software
- Manually remove www.dalesearch.com homepage
- Manually remove www.dalesearch.com search engine
1. Uninstall Dale Search software (2 options)
Option 1: Windows Uninstall (Manual Uninstall)
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program (depending on your version of Windows).
3. In the list of installed programs search for DaleSearch software, Dale Toolbar, and unwanted third party programs (or programs you recently installed). Uninstall any unwanted software by double clicking the program’s icon, or highlight the program in the list and click the Uninstall button/tab.
Option 2: CCleaner by Piriform (Automated Uninstall)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can be used to uninstall stubborn software and software used to promote browser hijackers.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, navigate to Tools > Uninstall tab and locate DaleSearch software in the list. To automatically uninstall Dale Toolbar (etc.) click Run Uninstaller.
2. Remove Dale Toolbar attachments
If necessary after uninstalling unwanted software, you may need to remove a browser add-on or extension such as Dale Toolbar. Please note, it may be necessary to remove multiple third-party titles.
Google Chrome
1. Click on the Customize icon (wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.
2. Search for the Dale Toolbar extension and remove it by clicking the trashcan icon next to them.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Type Ctrl+Shift+A.
2. On the Extensions and Plugin search for the Dale Toolbar add-on and remove it.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab search for the Dale Toolbar add-on and remove it if located.
3. Scan computer for malware (Automated removal)
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be used to detect and remove additional and/or third-party malware from your computer system, including malware that may be responsible for symptoms of the Dale Search Toolbar virus.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, please do so.
3. Open the first tab labeled “Scanner” and select the Perform full scan option. Click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect Dale Toolbar and third-party malware infecting your computer system.
4. Once the full system scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a message stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected).
4. Automatically repair browser settings (Automated repair)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can also be used to repair internet browser settings and stop your browser from redirecting to http://www.dalesearch.com/ and other unwanted search engines.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, run the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found. Look for anything that may be suspicious or contain “Dale, Search, or/and Toolbar” in the title or filename.
5. Manually remove www.dalesearch.com homepage
- In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options or click Firefox in the top left corner and click Options > Options. Under the General tab remove www.dalesearch.com from the “Home Page:” field and replace it with your preferred home page URL.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove www.dalesearch.com from the Home Page field and replace it with your preferred URL.
- In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings.Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove www.dalesearch.com and replace it with your preferred URL.
6. Manually remove www.dalesearch.com search engine
- In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove the www.dalesearch.com search engine from the list of search providers by highlighting the selections and clicking remove.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons > Search Providers and remove the www.dalesearch.com search engine from the list.
- In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to www.dalesearch.com to remove it as your search engine.
Please note, If http://www.dalesearch.com is set as Google Chrome’s default search engine, add (or select) a new search engine (such as Google.com) and select the new search engine as the default search engine, then remove www.dalesearch.com by clicking the X next to it.
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