{"id":20498,"date":"2024-03-19T14:39:37","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T14:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gridinsoft.com\/blogs\/?p=20498"},"modified":"2024-08-20T23:03:27","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T23:03:27","slug":"taskbarify-explained-removal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gridinsoft.com\/blogs\/taskbarify-explained-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Taskbarify Unwanted Application"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taskbarify is unwanted software<\/strong> (like a Movidown<\/a>)that claims it is a tiny little Windows tweaker. However, it also turns the device into a proxy server without the user’s knowledge. Let me show you what is so dangerous about this utility, and how to remove it.<\/p>\n

What is Taskbarify?<\/h2>\n

Taskbarify is a Windows utility classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA)<\/a>. As for functionality, officially, this program has one function – changing the appearance of the taskbar<\/strong>. Taskbarify has an “official” website, but most users acquire it unintentionally. The main sources of this app on users\u2019 systems are bundling it with pirated software<\/a> or displaying it through suspicious banners. This creates one more risk: the appearance of this app may be a sign of numerous other unwanted apps<\/strong> running in the background.<\/p>\n

The main reason for Taskbarify categorization as an unwanted program is its proxyware module<\/strong>. In other words, it can use the bandwidth of the victim’s Internet connection to provide proxy server services<\/a>. This enables the app to intercept network requests, potentially compromising privacy and security. Together with the complicated uninstallation ways, , this all creates a halo of ill fame around the program<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Why is Taskbarify unwanted?<\/h2>\n

Let’s take a closer look<\/a> at how this thing works. The official website<\/a> claims the app is clean<\/strong> as a tear, has no hidden functions, and does not load the system.<\/p>\n

\"App
App description on the official website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, the license agreement says otherwise. The text states that the program can be a proxy and use your device’s resources, under the said Globalhop SDK<\/strong>. Moreover, this SDK is included in the application installation by default without explicitly disclosing its usage and impacts on the user’s system on a separate prompt.<\/p>\n

\"The
The license agreement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The functionality of the exact app is\u2026 questionable. Visually, Taskbarify adds transparency to the taskbar<\/strong>, which enhances its look, but that\u2019s it. Promised \u201cspyware uncovering\u201d or \u201cfull control\u201d are pretty hard to witness, to be honest. Also, the built-in description (see the screenshots below) lies about the program being available in all regions<\/strong>: by setting the VPN region to Moldova, I\u2019ve managed to make it return a \u201csomething went wrong\u201d error.<\/p>\n