ReferenceBoss Toolbar is a browser extension that can be installed to Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome and interfere into your browsing sessions. The program enables a quick access to several sponsored websites, including dictionary.reference.com, thesaurus.com, etc. Unfortunately, users have noticed that the application constantly causes redirections. Besides, the tool is installed without asking for users’ permission. For this reason it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program, so you should remove ReferenceBoss Toolbar as soon as you detect it.
About ReferenceBoss Toolbar
ReferenceBoss Toolbar was designed by Mindspark Interactive Network. All toolbars created by this developer appear on browsers out of nowhere and they are not easy to remove. They tend to change your homepage to home.tb.ask.com and search provider to search.tb.ask.com without asking for a permission to do so. This doesn’t mean you are obliged to use these pages. However, some users found it difficult to replace them using ordinary browser settings options.
The goal of ReferenceBoss Toolbar is to promote various commercial websites and increase their traffic in search results. Moreover, it may install some additional program, including adware, browser plugins, etc. that may track your browsing habits, generate unwanted ads, etc. It will try to involve you into various marketing related activities. Beware that random redirections mean that you can visit malicious websites and get your system infected. As many other adware programs, it may also breach your privacy.
Distribution Methods of ReferenceBoss Toolbar
Just like previously released products by Mindspark, ReferenceBoss Toolbar is distributed together with other freeware. This means that most of the users install it without any intentions. If you don’t follow installation steps of your freeware, you may skip the options offering to add ReferenceBoss Toolbar or other unwanted programs. If they are marked to be added by default (which is often the case), you will end up getting additional tools.
To refuse such installations, always choose a Custom or Advanced installation mode and follow every step instead of just hitting “Next” or “Accept” buttons. This way you will avoid a lot of potentially unwanted programs. If any of your browsers have already been affected, remove ReferenceBoss Toolbar as soon as you can. Scan your system with a reliable antipsyware tool, like Spyhunter, Malwarebytes or StopZilla. Full instructions how to remove ReferenceBoss Toolbar are provided below.
On behalf of developers of ReferenceBoss Toolbar we were asked to remove this article due to false information on it. However, we feel like this post is correct and helpful to our readers. ReferenceBoss Toolbar and other software developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. can be detected and recognised as viruses or potentially unwanted software by various anti-malware tools. Toolbars developed by Mindspark share same EULA (End User License Agreement) that is mislieding. It claims that this software is not an adware or malware, while there are statements that toolbars might display advertisements from 3rd parties or monetise toolbars in other ways. By definition such software is considered as an adware. All articles posted on www.2-viruses.com regarding products of Mindspark are correct.
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How to remove ReferenceBoss Toolbar from your computer
How to remove ReferenceBoss Toolbar using Windows Control Panel
Many hijackers and adware like ReferenceBoss Toolbar install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.- Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
- Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
- Go through the list of programs and select entries related to ReferenceBoss Toolbar . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make ReferenceBoss Toolbar easier to find.
- Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
- In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.
How to remove ReferenceBoss Toolbar from macOS
Delete ReferenceBoss Toolbar from your applications.- Open Finder.
- In the menu bar, click Go.
- Select Applications from the dropdown.
- Find the ReferenceBoss Toolbar app.
- Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
- In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.
TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer
- Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
- Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to ReferenceBoss Toolbar and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
- Close the Options.
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings
If you are still experiencing any issues related to ReferenceBoss Toolbar, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
- Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
- Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
- Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
- Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.
TopRemoving ReferenceBoss Toolbar from Chrome
- Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
- Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
- Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to ReferenceBoss Toolbar. Click on the trash bin icon next to ReferenceBoss Toolbar or other add-ons you want to remove.
- Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
- If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
- Restart Chrome.
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings
If you are still experiencing any issues related to ReferenceBoss Toolbar, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
- Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
- Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
- Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.
TopRemoving ReferenceBoss Toolbar from Firefox
- Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
- Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything ReferenceBoss Toolbar related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
- Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
- Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
- Click on the Reset Firefox button.
- Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
How to remove ReferenceBoss Toolbar from Microsoft Edge:Top
- Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.
- Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to ReferenceBoss Toolbar. Click on the "Remove" icon next to ReferenceBoss Toolbar or other add-ons you want to remove.
- Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
- If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
- Restart Microsoft Edge.
TopRemoving ReferenceBoss Toolbar from Safari (Mac OS X)
- Click on the Safari menu.
- Choose Preferences.
- Click on the Extensions Tab.
- Click on the Uninstall button near the ReferenceBoss Toolbar. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
- Restart Safari.
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings
If you are still experiencing any issues related to ReferenceBoss Toolbar, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
- Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
- Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.