Is Gaming Wonderland (Games & Sports Toolbar) a Browser Hijacker?

What is Gaming Wonderland Toolbar?

“Gaming Wonderland Toolbar” is a browser hijacker by ‘Mindspark Interactive’.

It was installed on your PC through bundling using freeware software’s with an end-goal to authorize the installation of adware, a malicious program, without the user’s permission.

Once the adware is in your system, it would display fake security alerts, discounted coupon codes and other attractive advertisements banners in the web browser.

Once a user is fooled into clicking these banners, the developer gets paid for it this technique to make money is called “Pay Per Click”.

In addition, Gaming Wonderland Toolbar Redirect will also change the homepage to ‘home.tb.ask.com’ and search engine of your web browser to ‘search.tb.ask.com’. 

Fig 1: Image Shows Homepage.

Fig 2: Changed Search Engine

Get peace of mind! Get rid of malicious programs instantly

Free Malware Scan Compatible with Win 10,8.1,8 & 7

Is adware harmful, can it corrupt your system data?

No, an adware will not cause any harm to your files or operating system. Although, it will certainly annoy you with frequent notifications and ad popups.

Never forget it is a malicious program, and the longer it stays on a computer, the more it weakens the firewall of the computer making way for another malware.

That’s not it Adware connects your PC to “Control and Command Centre” which is operated by the hackers and using an adware they can steal your confidential files, IP-address, your location, browser type, Operating System details, and etc.

Also Read: Intel creates a fantasy, whereas AMD makes people believe!

Why do you end up on r.srvtrck.com?

This redirect to the target portal or website is caused by the browser hijacker, this is one of its many symptoms.

If you look closely at the address bar you will find that your default search engine has changed, although it would look like the default search engine.

Targeted Web Browser:

1. Google Chrome.
2. Mozilla Firefox.
3. Safari.
4. Internet Explorer.

Techniques used to distribute Gaming Wonderland Toolbar:

1. Social Clickjacking: Creators of such infections use online media such as Social Network and tempting advertisements to provoke or let us say in fooling the users to click on the ads, i.e., Update your flash player or win an iPhone X.
2. Spam emails: These hijackers can get into your computer through malicious email attachments and download links present the body of the mail. This emails usually appear to be from a reputed organization, i.e., Banks and insurance companies.
3. It can infect the computer through infected websites or malevolent websites.
4. It can also trick you by fake security alert or system updates.
5. Torrents & P2P File Sharing: Torrents and files shared on P2P networks have a high probability of being a carrier to such infections.
6. It can also infect the computer through portable storage devices like USB stick, portable hard drive or through a disk.
7. Bundling: The quickest and the most relaxed way of infecting a user’s PC with any malware is through freeware software’s, and in this case the user is equally responsible for authorizing the installation of such malicious program without reading the terms and conditions. Unfortunately, some freeware programs do not uncover that a malicious program will also be installed with it.

Common symptoms of ‘Gaming Wonderland Toolbar’ browser hijacker:

1. Unstable behavior of the browser, frequent crashes.
2. Changes the Default Homepage to ‘home.tb.ask.com’ and search engine of your web browser to ‘search.tb.ask.com’. 
3. Your web browsers are now equipped with all new add-ons toolbars and extensions.
4. Poor system performance, slow response time as the advertisement would pop out of nowhere, this will result in slow internet speed.
5. Slow internet browsing speed or internet would stop unexpectedly.
6. The operating system would crash now and then, or computer would boot up for no reason.
7. Ads pop up even when the browser is not open.
8. New tabs open in browser to display ads or search results would always end up with displaying advertisement banners.

Follow the below steps to avoid adware and browser hijacker

While installing a freeware software or a freeware game make sure you go through the license agreement section and read all the terms and conditions.

If reading the complete terms and condition is too much then while installing the freeware application if the installation offers you “custom and automatic installation”.

It is always recommended that you go with the customs process as this would disclose the other programs that might get installed along with it.

If you see any additional add-ons or toolbars checked, then remember to uncheck them this would avoid the installation of browser hijacker and adware.

Follow the steps below to remove ‘Gaming Wonderland Toolbar’

On Internet Explorer:

1. Click the gear icon on the top-right corner in Internet Explorer.
2. Do the following: on IE8-9 choose ‘Manage Add-ons,’ on IE7 click ‘Change search defaults’.
3. Remove/Disable ‘Gaming Wonderland Toolbar’ from the list.

On Mozilla Firefox:

1. Type “about:config” in address/URL bar and hit the enter key. Now we are in the settings section.
2. Here in the search box type in “Keyword.url”. Then right click on it & hit reset.
3. Again in the search box type “browser.search.defaultengine”. Right click on it & then reset it.
4. Again you need to type “browser.search.selectedengine”. Right click on it & then reset it.
5. Now, look for “browser.newtab.url”. Right click on it and then reset. Doing this assures that search page will not launch with every new tab.

On Google Chrome:

1. Click on the 3 horizontal dots on the top-right corner in your web browser.
2. OPT for Settings.
3. Look for ‘Manage Search engines’.
4. Get rid of unwanted search engines from the list.