I used to use IZArc as my compression and decompression tool.  Today I updated to the new version and soon wished that I hadn’t.  The IZArc now comes with a dubious piece of malware called MyStart and Incredibar which is a bugger to remove.

Actually when I installed the new version of IZArc there was a splash screen that came up asking if I wanted to install the Incredibar toolbar.  I specifically unselected the box to say “NO!” – twice – in two successive splash screens.  The next thing I know is that my virus checker, FSECURE, is flagging up that the installation file is probably infected and blocking it – but too late – as IZArc is now installed along with the piece of crap that is Incredibar.

This malware has inserted itself into all three browsers on one of my computers: Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome.  It set itself up as the home page, taken over the default search engine, and done god knows what else to the system.

I’ve tried to uninstall it from the various add-ins, reset my home pages, uninstalled the program via control panel etc. etc. but still it lurks – in firefox.  Whenever I press the new tab button I no longer get the default Firefox view of most often visited pages but get the MyStart Incredibar home search page.  This is going to take some time to remove I suspect.

IZArc is now consigned to the dustbin.  I’ll never touch the program again.