What is 'Search Glow'?

[Scubee]

One of my PC's has ground to a halt.

Programmes (IE, Word, Outlook) freeze, hang, won't open properly etc.

If I open up task manager, one of the processes is 'Search_Glow'. I have never heard of this before, and this has been appearing for a couple of days. When i shut down, i get a box that tells me is is closing the programme.

I have McAfee, which has run a scan and not detected anything, I have run CClean, and a spyware thingy.

Has anyone heard of this? Do you know how I got it, what it is, and perhaps more importantly, how I can get rid of it?

Thank you

[nickb]

It's malware I understand.

Have a look on Google

[abucksdiver]

Scubee,
Google it... there are several sites that deal with the removal of Search Glow.
It appears to be an MSN/Microsoft Live issue...


Andrew

[dry suit diver]

you got a nasty.

spybot might shift it

failing that try Adaware


all freeware

[Scubee]

spybot didn't care about it.
I can't get onto a website (any website) to get rid of it on that pc.

it is so frustrating.

[dry suit diver]

can you not download the files you need from the PC you are using now and then install/run them on the goosed PC?

[abucksdiver]

From some link on Google:

If you go into IE7 > View > Toolbars, and turn off Windows Live Toolbar, you can work away merrily in IE7.

and from another link:

Removal instructions for search glow:

search_glow is part of the Windows Live Toolbar

Annoying but it is not malware, well not yet anyway. We will investigate more.

Search_glow or search glow is buggy in Live Toolbar

A number of people are finding a process called search_glow on to their PCs. Some are having problems with it (crashes, hangs, etc.). It's causing to stir on various security forums, and among Secrets Windows readers like Lou Nihoul, too.

When I start IE 7,0, Task Manager shows an application, search_glow. What Is this, and what does it do? I can't find anything out about this app / software.�


Search_glow is part of Microsoft's Windows Live Toolbar package, and it's apparently linked to in that product. A number of problems have been reported about it crashing. Fortunately, the immediate solution is easy. Just go to the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel and uninstall Windows Live Toolbar and Desktop Search. To toolbar and its search_glow component will go away.

After removing to toolbar, I would do a full spyware scan, google do a good package of free software, check the link on the right, just to be certain your PC is clean and free from virus / malware. There's no indication that it is malicious or that hackers are using search_glow or Windows Live Toolbar for malware entry point, but it to never hurts to check.

The trouble with search_glow or any part of the Windows Live Toolbar, be sure to uses Microsoft's feedback form on the Microsoft site, this will inform them of the problem and allow them to create a patch or update.
The easiest way to get rid of Search_Glow is by just turning off the Windows Live toolbar. Go to menu item View->Toolbars and simply uncheck Windows Live Toolbar. Then install the google toolbar !! link is on the right !!

I have had the same sort of problem, but after some investigation I have found some information that you might find usefull.
It is a Java applet used by some web sites to pre-load graphics for other areas of their site for quick display when you visit that particular area.
MSN.com(Microsoft Network) is one site that uses it. (which was my particular problem) as I had it set as one of my Home pages.
How I found that out was, I removed all my home pages off the list and then while task manager was running I closed down and restarted Internet Explorer.(no search_glow appeared).
I then added one home page at a time until I saw search_glow appear in the task manager.
Now I have found that search_glow is supposed to start up load the graphics then shut down but on the odd occasion it freezes then another one will start up. this might explain why you are seeing multiple copies of it in task manager.
I got over the problem by removeing MSN from my home page list and adding it to my favourites instead so it only loads when I choose it to.
Thats the only way I know to get around the problem.

Andrew

[Scubee]

Thanks all.

I don't remember when that toolbar went up - i bet my son had somethign to do with it! either that, or it was somethign to do with having googlemail as one of the home tabs.

Incoming

[dry suit diver]

ahh micro$oft problem .


I said it was a nasty