Name: tafbar Toolbar Category: Browser Plug-in Alias: Voonda Toolbar, TAF Master Advice: Remove Risk: Moderate Risk Moderate threats may profile users online habits or broadcast data back to a server with 'opt-out' permission. In most cases this type of threat is more along the lines of commercial type adware that offer a premium service in exchange for tracking your user online performance. Description: tafbar Toolbar collects search and browsing habits of the user and send these habits to its remote servers. From the EULA: "The Application, in the course of processing a given search query, sends a request to our servers. This request includes the keyword query, time of day, browser type, default language setting, IP address, an anonymous unique ID, and a code which identifies the distribution source of the Application used by you to conduct your search. If the search query is being generated as the result of a misspelled URL or search term entered in to the browser address bar, we also receive the misspelled URL address or search term. We use this information in order to properly process your search request. For example, this data provides us with: information on which language you prefer to use; aggregated click information for the purpose of ensuring that our search partners are appropriately compensating us; information that allows us to make accurate payments to our distributors; aggregated usage and retention information; and aggregated search query information for the purpose of further monetizing commercially oriented search keywords. Importantly, all information collected from a search query may be recorded and stored. In addition, all information about search activity is evaluated only on an aggregated basis (except in response to a customer service inquiry or legal process), and we do not disclose any non-aggregated information to third parties, except as required by a valid legal process such as a search warrant, subpoena, statute, or court order, or to protect someone's safety. The Application also uses "cookies". We do this for two reasons. First, we use the cookies to store a code designating a distribution source for each Application. This information allows us to properly distinguish Applications for purposes of compensating third parties who distribute our product and to analyze retention and usage on an aggregated basis. Second, the Application uses cookies to store user preferences. For example, we use a cookie to record which search engine you have selected as your default provider, what ads you have seen and how you responded to those ads. We do not use cookies to track your use of the Internet in any other way or to store any personally-identifiable information, and we do not disclose cookie information to third parties, except as required by a valid legal process such as a search warrant, subpoena, statute, or court order or to protect someone's safety. The Application also sends a configuration request when you start your browser. This request is approximately 5k in size and includes only anonymous data such as IP address, browser type, and information about the specific release date and distribution source of your Application, as outlined above. Again, all of this information is kept strictly anonymous, is non-personally identifiable, and is used only for purposes of delivering search services and content in accordance with your preferences and providing us with data on an aggregated basis relating to retention, usage, and monetization." From the Privacy Policy: "Information Collected In order to assist fraud investigations, abuse investigations, quality assurance, earnings calculations, advertiser requests, and to improve the surfer experience, various bits of personal data may be collected in the process of using the TAF Master service. This information could include any data submitted while using the service, such as name and email address, as well as any other diagnostic data available as part Type: Browser Plug-in - Adware is generally software that displays advertisements. Some advertisers may covertly install adware on your system and generate a stream of unsolicited advertisements that can clutter your desktop and affect your productivity. The advertisements may also contain pornographic or other material that you might find inappropriate. The extra processing required to track you or to display advertisements can tax your computer and hurt your system performance.