# Addition to browser **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638 "2002-03-16T18:04:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharding)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/1 "2002-03-16T18:04:40Z")
How did this thing end up attaching itself to my browser (Internet Explorer)? And how can I disable it? Near the top of the screen, right below the Address window (where the URL appears) I’ve got the following: ‘Search The Web’ [empty window to type something] ‘GO!’ Then several other clickable buttons reading, ‘Gift Baskets’ ‘Music’ ‘Poker’ ‘Home’ ‘Health Insurance’ ‘Health’ and ‘Credit’ Any help would be greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/2 "2002-03-16T18:23:16Z")
Perhaps you were offered a downloadable toolbar (google, for instance, has one), tried to click on it to make it disappear but accidentally downloaded it. I don’t know how you can be rid of it, sorry. Have you used it? ---
**Author:** ![jharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharding)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/3 "2002-03-16T18:42:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by English Cid \* > \*\*Perhaps you were offered a downloadable toolbar (google, for instance, has one), tried to click on it to make it disappear but accidentally downloaded it. I don’t know how you can be rid of it, sorry. Have you used it? \*\* I don’t remember clicking on anything that would have triggered its download–although saying I don’t remember doesn’t mean I didn’t do something. And I did just try it out. Typed the word “soccer” into the search window and clicked on the ‘Poker’ button. Both actions opened up a new window with assorted links relavent to soccer and poker respectively. So I guess it’s legit, I’d just prefer to have it off. Thanks anyway. ---
**Author:** ![friggae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/45deac/32.png) [@friggae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friggae)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/4 "2002-03-17T00:51:03Z")
Go to the “View” menu up at the top and select “Toolbars.” It should show a few different toolbars. Try unchecking all of them except “Standard Buttons” and “Address Bar.” ---
**Author:** ![Snetho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Snetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snetho)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/5 "2002-03-17T05:15:03Z")
It sounds like [iwon.com](http://iwon.com)’s toolbar…what happens when you use it? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/6 "2002-03-17T05:21:39Z")
Check your list of Favorites, too. That particular menu bar tends to add a whole bunch of stuff in there that you don’t need. I wouldn’t mind so much if it wasn’t for the fact that I never approved them doing it to my browser, so they get a black mark from me. Circled in red, and double underlined with an exclamation mark. ---
**Author:** ![abel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/7 "2002-03-17T07:21:03Z")
Try this… go into your Control Panel, and click on Add/Remove Programs. Some of the legit Internet Explorer toolbars I’ve seen will have a program listing there, and you can just uninstall it from there. Just be careful and make sure you don’t uninstall something the wrong program. The program listing should say something like “linkbar” or “toolbar” or something similar. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Swirdle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@Swirdle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swirdle)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/8 "2002-03-17T11:27:22Z")
This may be a very foolish suggestion but what about dragging it to the bin? ---
**Author:** ![jharding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jharding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharding)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2002, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addition-to-browser/98638/9 "2002-03-17T14:06:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friggae \* > \*\*Go to the “View” menu up at the top and select “Toolbars.” It should show a few different toolbars. Try unchecking all of them except “Standard Buttons” and “Address Bar.” \*\* Thanks friggae–that was the ticket! I still don’t know how it ended up attached to my browser, but following friggae’s suggestion–I no longer see it. I haven’t tried to uninstall it through the Control Panel per abel’s suggestion. I’m happy that it’s just invisible, so to speak. Also for the record, the clickable buttons are different today than they were yesterday. Now they read from left to right. ‘Shopping’ ‘Health’ ‘Insurance’ ‘Wedding Gifts’ and ‘Home’ Thanks everyone for the suggestions! 🆒