Hotspot Shield Toolbar Removal Guide

Do you know what Hotspot Shield Toolbar is?

Hotspot Shield Toolbar is a browser extension which works on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. The application belongs to Conduit, and it promotes Conduit Search, which can be set as the default search engine and startup page of your browsers. Hotspot Shield Toolbar is available at hotspotshield.ourtoolbar.com, but it is not the only source where you can find it. The toolbar can also be bundled with free programs, so if you do not want to install it accidentally, do not forget to read the terms of use when installing a program.

Hotspot Shield Toolbar bears the same name and the logo as a computer security named Hotspot Shield, whose installer can offer the user to install some extra browser extensions.
Hotspot Shield Toolbar Removal GuideHotspot Shield Toolbar screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

Hotspot Shield Toolbar contains several links that are related to the promotion of the Hotspot Shield software. Moreover, once the application is installed, a pop-up message offering a mobile version of Hotspot Shield is displayed. In addition to the websites related to the upgrade of the toolbar, the user is provided with quick access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Hulu, which is a TV streaming service. Additionally, like the majority of Community Toolbars by Conduit, Hotspot Shield Toolbar contains a radio player and a search box, which is supposed to ease up the user’s browsing sessions.

As to the Conduit Search, it is crucial to pay attention to the terms of use that are given in the installation wizard. If the toolbar is installed carelessly, it is likely that the search engine and home page will be altered. Instead of the favorite home page and search engine, you will have to use search.conduit.com. On Internet Explorer, the search provider is presented as Hotspot Shield Customized Web Search.

Once the settings are changed, be ready to face various advertisements. Some display ads are generated on the startup page; while the search engine may also present some sponsored links to the websites matching your search query. Be wise and do not click every single sponsored link in order not to be taken to an insecure application.

Below you will find instructions on how to remove Hotspot Shield Toolbar, but those steps may be insufficient. After removing the toolbar, you should scan the PC with a reliable scanner, and we recommend SpyHunter. If you do not want to eliminate the unwanted extension manually, invest in SpyHunter. It can detect and remove the unwanted toolbar and many other threats, so if you want to be safe on the Internet, implement the recommended tool right now.

Manual Hotspot Shield Toolbar Removal

Windows Vista and Windows 7

  1. Open the Start menu and click Control Panel.
  2. Select Uninstall a program.
  3. Uninstall Hotspot Shield Toolbar.

Windows XP

  1. Open the Start menu and click Control Panel.
  2. Select Add or Remove Programs.
  3. Remove Hotspot Shield Toolbar.

Windows 8

  1. Press the Windows key.
  2. Type control panel and when the icon appears, click it.
  3. Click Uninstall a program.
  4. Remove Hotspot Shield Toolbar.

How to remove Hotspot Shield Toolbar from the browsers

Internet Explorer

  1. Press Alt+T.
  2. Click Manage add-ons.
  3. Select Toolbars and Extensions and remove the unwanted extension.
  4. Click Search Providers and change the default search engine.
  5. Press Alt+T.
  6. Click Internet Options and change the home page on the General tab.

Google Chrome

  1. Press Alt+F.
  2. Point to Tools and Extensions.
  3. Remove the unwanted extension.
  4. Click Settings.
  5. Under On start-up, select the last option and click Set pages.
  6. Change the startup page.
  7. Under Search, click Manage search engines and change the search provider.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Press Alt+T.
  2. Click Options and change the home page on the General tab. Click Ok.
  3. Click the search engine icon next to the search box and change the search provider.
  4. Press Ctrl+Shift+A and remove the unwanted extension.

In non-techie terms:

Hotspot Shield Toolbar is a browser plug-in which promoted Conduit Search. If your search engine has been changed to search.conduit.com, remove the toolbar with the help of the recommended toolbar.

Aliases: HotspotShield Toolbar.