Orange buttons on Facebook
Have you noticed orange buttons on Facebook that say Post this Later or Post & Count Clicks? The buttons are allegedly used to posts and count clicks of your Facebook content and schedule Facebook posts. The orange buttons that appears on Facebook are generated via third-party browser attachments (add-ons, extensions, toolbars) and removing a third-party attachment will also remove the orange Post and Count Clicks, Post this Later, and other unwanted buttons on Facebook.
Browser attachments, such as HootSuite that cause orange Facebook button to appear on a computer system may be defined as legitimate and safe. However, many Facebook users have complained that the orange Facebook buttons appeared without their consent or knowledge. It should be noted that add-ons and extensions associate with HootSuite (etc.) may not properly detail the behavior of their products and services.
Are the orange Facebook buttons safe?
The buttons are safe, it is not a sign of a standalone malware infection, but (and a big but at that) the extensions used to generate the buttons may be intruding to a user’s privacy and may be the culprit of many unwanted symptoms that malware primarily causes.
Browser add-ons and extensions used to generate the unwanted buttons, though considered legitimate, are very invasive and are allowed to view and collect all browsing activity on your computer. *Some may be defined as malicious spyware and browser hijackers.
Information collected includes your complete computing and browsing activity on all websites, as well as information regarding your Facebook account. Furthermore, the browser attachments are allowed to posts to user’s friends on their behalf and gather or change additional information, including Facebook apps. *HootSuite often installs their Facebook app.
Cyber crimes relating to the loss of personal information includes credit theft, extortion, and identity theft. On a lesser-scale, victims have reported excessive email spam, junk mail, and even telephone calls from telemarketers.
If you notice unwanted advertisements alongside the orange buttons on Facebook, it may be a sign of an adware infection on your system. In some cases, third-party applications may bundle with downloadable content such as freeware and shareware in order to monetize their items.
How to remove orange Facebook buttons
Use the instructions below to manually uninstall unwanted software using generic Microsoft Windows removal procedures and automatically remove malware infecting your computer system if necessary.
- How to uninstall unwanted software
- How to remove unwanted add-ons and extensions
- How to remove unwanted Facebook Apps
- How to remove third-party malware (Automatic)
1. How to uninstall unwanted software
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program.
3. In the list of installed programs search for various titles including HootSuite products. Once located, double click the unwanted programs or highlight them in the list and click the Uninstall button.
2. How to remove unwanted add-ons and extensions
Use the instructions to remove unwanted add-ons, extensions, and plug-ins. Please note, it may be necessary to remove multiple third-party titles including HootSuite.
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 unwanted 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 unwanted 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 unwanted add-on and remove it if located.
3. How to remove unwanted Facebook Apps
1. Login to Facebook and click the Facebook options icon on the top right of the blue Facebook bar and select Account Settings.
2. On the left sidebar click Apps.
3. To remove unwanted Facebook Apps, locate the unwanted Application and click the X on the far right side.
4. When prompted by the Remove window, check the box that says Delete all your ‘Example’ activity on Facebook and click the Remove button.
4. How to remove third-party malware
Use the instructions below to automatically remove third-party malware from your computer, as well as automatically remove unwanted search engines from your internet browsers.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
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, make sure to do so.
3. On the first tab labeled “Scanner” select the Perform full scan option and click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting the computer system.
4. Once the malware scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a notice 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) or click the Delete button to remove quarantined files.
CCleaner
CCleaner can be used to automatically repair internet browser settings startup up settings, and uninstall Search Donkey and associated third-party software.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform.
2. Once installed, open 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.
4. To automatically uninstall Search Donkey and other unwanted programs, navigate to the Uninstall tab and search for Search Donkey, etc. in the list of installed programs. Uninstall the unwanted software as selected by clicking the Run Uninstaller button.
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