How To Completely Remove The CoolChaser Toolbar Hijacker and Search Redirection Virus

What is the Coolchaser hijacker and redirection virus?

The Coolchaser redirection virus is malware powered by Infospace.com, categorized as an internet browser hijacker with internal and third party adware and spyware associations and tactics. Coolchaser hijacks internet browser settings such as the home page causing an infected internet browser to direct to Coolchaser.com, Coolchaser.us, Coolchaser.Infospace.com, Search.URL.com, and other associated URLs. The Coolchaser redirection virus also affects managed-provided search engines, in turn causing internet searches and inputted URLs to redirect to Coolchaser, Infospace, and URL based websites (as well as third party sites).

A Coolchaser infection may occur voluntarily or involuntarily (with or without consent) because Coolchaser provides an online service which allows users to customize Myspace and Facebook layouts to individuals using the Coolchaser Toolbar. Many people unwisely use the Coolchaser service without understanding the negative affects Coolchaser may have on their computer.

It is recommened to NOT use Coolchaser or any Infospace product for reasons concerning invasion of privacy and cyber criminal activity. Coolchaser may also permanently harm computer and internet browser functionality.

What is Coolchaser and the Coolchaser Toolbar used for?

Coolchaser is a service and editor to customize social media layouts, most notably Facebook though they often reference Myspace as well. The Coolchaser toolbar is used to overlay the CSS on your Facebook page since Facebook obviously does not allow custom CSS to be inputted.

• The Coolchaser Toolbar is negatively used to collect user information including computer data and internet activity such as history and keystrokes.
• If the Coolchaser Toolbar is installed on your computer and internet browser, remove it immediately to protect your personal information.

The Coolchaser Toolbar may also be titled “CoolChaser Layout Auto Insert”.

Is Coolchaser safe to use?

No, Coolchaser, Infospace, URL.com, associated, and similar websites, search engines, and tools are NOT SAFE to use.

These websites are designed to cleverly extort information for malicious gain while providing a seemingly reasonable service.

What are Coolchaser dangers and symptoms?

• Coolchaser may install the Coolchaser Toolbar onto a computer system and internet browser without consent.
• Coolchaser affects home page settings causing internet browsers to redirect to Coolchaser.com, Coolchaser.us, Coolchaser.Infospace.com, Search.URL.com, and other associated URLs which may include third parties.

• Coolchaser affects provided search engines which causes internet searches and inputted URLs to redirect to Coolchaser.com, Coolchaser.us, Coolchaser.Infospace.com, Search.URL.com, and other associated URLs which may include third parties (hence the name Coolchaser redirection virus).

• Coolchaser may display malicious third party advertisements based on information collected through spyware techniques.
• Coolchaser may install or bundle with third party malware, viruses, and Trojans causing system functionality failure and cyber crime including identity theft, credit theft, and more.

How to completely remove Coolchaser

Before and after you remove Coolchaser, it is recommended to remove your internet browser cache and cookie files. You can delete these files in your internet browser settings or preference options.

To completely and successfully remove Coolchaser and related malware, first Uninstall the program or remove the malicious extension. Coolchaser often only installs Toolbars accessible through the infected internet browser, yet instructions to remove the Coolchaser virus using Window’s Uninstasller is provided for Microsoft Intenet Explorer users. In some cases if the add-on/extension is not removed first then home page settings and provided search engine settings may appear “locked in place” and may be difficult to fix.

Removal/Uninstall Options

1. Uninstall Coolchaser and related malware using Windows Uninstaller
2. Remove/Uninstall Coolchaser Toolbar and related add-ons and extensions

Internet Browser Repair Procedures

1. Repair Home page (stop Coolchaser, etc start up page)
2. Repair Additional Search Engines (stop redirecting to Coolchaser, etc)

1. Remove Coolchaser Using Window’s Uninstaller

1. Access Window’s Uninstaller by navigating to Window’s Start Menu and selecting the Control Panel.

2. In the Control Panel select Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program.

3. In the list of installed programs search for Coolchaser, Coolchaser Toolbar, or related and suspicious programs. To remove these programs, right click them and select Uninstall, highlight a program and click Uninstall at the top of the window, or double click the program.

2. Remove/Uninstall Coolchaser Toolbar Extension

Microsoft Internet Explorer Users:

1. Click Tools.
2. Select Manage add-ons.
3. Find the Coolchaser Toolbar add-on and remove it.

Mozilla Firefox Users:

1. Click the Firefox Tools menu.
2. Select Add-ons.
3. Select CoolChaser Layout Auto Insert.
4. Click the Uninstall button.

1. Repair Home Page (Fix Start Up)

Microsoft Internet Explorer Users:

1. Click Tools and select Internet Options.
2. In the “Home Page” query type your preferred home page URL (google.com, bing.com, botcrawl.com) or select default or blank.

Mozilla Firefox Users:

1. Click the Firefox Tools menu.
2. Select Options.
3. In the General tab where it says “Home page” in the Start Up section remove Coolchaser or related URLs and type your preferred URL (google.com, bing.com, botcrawl.com).

Google Chrome Users:

1. Click the 3 bar or wrench settings icon.
2. Select Settings.
3. In the On start up section select Set pages.
4. Remove the Coolchaser URL or related URL by selecting the X next to the URL upon clicking on and highlighting the website.

2. Repair Additional Search Engines (Fix Redirection)

Microsoft Internet Explorer Users:

1. Click Tools.
2. Select Manage add-ons.
3. Navigate to the Search Providers list.
4. Search for Coolchaser.com, Infospace.com, or other suspicious search engines and click the Remove button.

Mozilla Firefox Users:

1. Click the small search arrow or magnify glass near the search bar at the top of the internet browser.
2. Select Manage search engines…
3. Highlight the Coolchaser search engine or related searches and click remove.

Google Chrome Users:

1. Click the 3 bar or wrench settings icon.
2. Select Settings.
3. In the Search section select the Manage search engines… button.
4. Remove the Coolchaser URL or related URL by selecting the X next to the URL upon clicking on and highlighting the website.