Remove Babylon Toolbar and “Search the web (Babylon)”

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Written by: Stelian

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Babylon is an adware program that has changed your browser home page and default search engine to search.babylon.com.
Apart from this changes, Babylon has added a useless toolbar on your browser and whenever your are doing a search,it will display on the first search results their own ads.
Babylon Toolbar Firefox
Babylon got on your computer after you have installed another program that had bundled in their installer the Babylon toolbar.Recently CNET has stared to bundled into some programs installer this unwanted application so this might be one of the sources of this program.
You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as this Babylon Toolbar. Be very careful what you agree to install. Always opt for the custom installation and deselect anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you never wanted to download and install in the first place. It goes without saying that you should not install software that you don’t trust.

Removal Instructions for Babylon Toolbar

STEP 1 : Uninstall Babylon Search from your computer

  1. To uninstall Babylon Search program from your computer, click the Start button, then select Control Panel, and click on Uninstall a program.
    If you are a Windows 8 user, you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there, then select Uninstall a program.
  2. Seach and uninstall Babylon, Babylon toolbar on IE, Yontoo, BrowserProtect and any other programs related to Babylon LTD.
    [Image: Uninstall Search Babylon ]

Please note that on some computers these programs might be renamed or missing, search for any program developed by Babylon LTD, and uninstall it from your computer.

STEP 2 : Remove the Babylon Search residual damage from your browser

Babylon has installed a browser extension, has changed your homepage to isearch.babylon.com/, and has changed your default search engine.

Remove Babylon Search from Internet Explorer

  1. Remove Babylon Search add-ons from Internet Explorer.
    Open Internet Explorer,then click on the gear icon [Image: Internet Explorer gear icon] (Tools for Windows XP users) at the top (far right) and then  select Manage add-ons.
    [Image: Manage Add-ons in Internet Explorer]
    From the Toolbars and Extensions tab, select Babylon toolbar, Babylon toolbar helper, Babylon IE plugin, babylonToolbar.com and everything related to Babylon Ltd, and click on Disable.
    [Image: Babylon Internet Explorer add-ons]
  2. Set Internet Explorer default search engine from isearch.babylon.com/ to Bing.
    To change your default search engine, click on the gear icon [Image: Internet Explorer gear icon] , select Manage Add-ons, and then, under Add-on Types, click Search Providers.
    Select Bing, and click Set Default, then click on Search the Web (Babylon) in the list and click on Remove.
    [Image: Babylon Search Internet Explorer hijack][Image: Remove Babylon Search from Internet Explorer]
  3. Change your Internet Explorer home page from http://isearch.babylon.com/ to its default
    To change your home page, click on the gear icon [Image: Internet Explorer gear icon] , select Internet Explore options, and in the General tab,under the Home page section, click on Use default to restore Internet Explorer default home page.
    [Image: Set Internet Explorer to its default homepage]

Remove Babylon Search from Mozilla Firefox

  1. Remove Babylon Search extension from Internet Explorer.
    At the top of the Firefox window, click the orange Firefox button, then select Add-ons.
    Firefox addon menu
    Select the Extensions tab, then remove Babylon toolbar, Yontoo, Babylon OCR, babylonToolbar.com and any other extensions related to Babylon Ltd from Mozilla Firefox.
    [Image: Babylon Firefox extensions]
  2. Reset your default search engine and home page from Babylon Search to their default.
    To reset your search engine and homepage to their default, we will use the SearchReset extension.This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.
    You can download SearchReset from the below link, and then we will just need to install it to revert Firefox to its default settings.
    SEARCHRESET DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open another web page from where you can download the SearchReset Firefox extension)
    [Image: SearchReset extension]

Remove Babylon Search from Google Chrome

  1. Remove Babylon extensions from Google Chrome.
  2. Click the Chrome menu Chrome menu  button on the browser toolbar, select Tools and then click on Extensions.
    Google Chrome Extensions
    In the Extensions tab, remove (by clicking on the Recycle Bin) Babylon toolbar, Yontoo, Babylon OCR, babylonToolbar.com and any other extensions related to Babylon Ltd from your Google Chrome.
    [Image: Babylon Chrome extensions]
  3. Set Google Chrome default search engine from isearch.babylon.com to google.com .
    Click the Chrome menu Chrome menu  button, then select Settings and click on Manage search engines in the Search section.
    In the Search Engines dialog that appears, select Google and click the Make Default button that appears in the row.
    Search for Search the web (Babylon) in the Search Engines list, and click the X that appears at the end of the row.
    [Image: Set Chrome search engine from Search the web (Babylon) to Google]
  4. Change Google Chrome homepage from search.Babylon.com to its default.
    The Babylon Toolbar has modified your Google settings to open their webpage whenever you start your browser, so we will need to revert this change.
    Click the Chrome menu Chrome menu  button, then select Settings and click on One the New Tab page in the On Startup section.
    [Image: Change Google Chrome homepage to its default]

STEP 3: Remove Babylon Toolbar registry keys with AdwCleaner.

  1. You can download AdwCleaner from the below link. ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download AdwCleaner on your computer)
  2. Before starting this utility, close all open programs and internet browsers.
  3. Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
  4. Click on Delete, then confirm each time with Ok. Adwcleaner utility
  5. Your computer will be rebooted automatically. A text file will open after the restart.
  6. NEXT, double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
  7. Click on Uninstall, then confirm with yes to remove this utility from your computer.

STEP 4: Run a computer scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

  1. You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link, then double click on it to install this program. MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free)
  2. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process. DO NOT make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware checked, then click on the Finish button.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final installation screen]
  3. On the Scanner tab, select Perform quick scan and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Quick Scan]
  4. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer as shown below.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanning for Babylon Toolbar]
  5. When the Malwarebytes scan will be completed, click on Show Result.
    [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan results]
  6. You will now be presented with a screen showing you the malware infections that Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware has detected.Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image. Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked) and click on the Remove Selected button.
    [Image:Malwarebytes removing malware]

STEP 5: Run a computer scan with HitmanPro

  1. Download HitmanPro from the below link, then double click on it to start this program.
    HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
  2. HitmanPro will start and you’ll need to follow the prompts (by clicking on the Next button) to start a system scan with this program.
    HitmanPro installation
  3. HitmanPro will start scanning your computer for malware, as seen in the image below.
    HitmanPro scans for Babylon Toolbar
  4. Once the scan is complete,you’ll see a screen which will display all the infected files that this utility has detected, and you’ll need to click on Next to remove these malicious files.
    HitmanPro scan results
  5. Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
    HitmanPro 30 days activation button

If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove Babylon Toolbar from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.

10 Rules to Avoid Online Scams

Here are 10 practical safety rules to help you avoid malware, online shopping scams, crypto scams, and other online fraud. Each tip includes a quick “if you already got hit” action.

  1. Stop and verify before you click, log in, download, or pay.

    warning sign

    Most scams win by creating urgency. Verify using a trusted method: type the website address yourself, use the official app, or call a known number (not the one in the message).

    If you already clicked: close the page, do not enter passwords, and run a malware scan.

  2. Keep your operating system, browser, and apps updated.

    updates guide

    Updates patch security holes used by malware and malicious ads. Turn on automatic updates where possible.

    If you saw a scary “update now” pop-up: close it and update only through your device settings or the official app store.

  3. Use layered protection: antivirus plus an ad blocker.

    shield guide

    Antivirus helps block malware. An ad blocker reduces scam redirects, phishing pages, and malvertising.

    If your browser is acting weird: remove unknown extensions, reset the browser, then run a full scan.

  4. Install apps, software, and extensions only from official sources.

    install guide

    Avoid cracked software, “keygens,” and random downloads. During installs, choose Custom/Advanced and decline bundled offers you do not recognize.

    If you already installed something suspicious: uninstall it, restart, and scan again.

  5. Treat links and attachments as untrusted by default.

    cursor sign

    Phishing often impersonates delivery services, banks, and popular brands. If it is unexpected, do not open attachments or log in through the message.

    If you entered credentials: change the password immediately and enable 2FA.

  6. Shop safely: research the store, then pay with protection.

    trojan horse

    Be cautious with brand-new stores, “closing sale” stories, and prices that make no sense. Prefer credit cards or PayPal for dispute options. Avoid wire transfers, gift cards, and crypto payments.

    If you already paid: contact your card issuer or PayPal quickly to dispute the transaction.

  7. Crypto rule: never pay a “fee” to withdraw or recover money.

    lock sign

    Common patterns include fake profits, then “tax,” “gas,” or “verification” fees. Another is a “recovery agent” who demands upfront crypto.

    If you already sent crypto: stop paying, save evidence (wallet addresses, TXIDs, chats), and report the scam to the platform used.

  8. Secure your accounts with unique passwords and 2FA (start with email).

    lock sign

    Use a password manager and unique passwords for every account. Enable 2FA using an authenticator app when possible.

    If you suspect an account takeover: change passwords, sign out of all devices, and review recent logins and recovery settings.

  9. Back up important files and keep one backup offline.

    backup sign

    Backups protect you from ransomware and device failure. Keep at least one backup on an external drive that is not always connected.

    If you suspect infection: do not connect backup drives until the system is clean.

  10. If you think you are a victim: stop losses, document evidence, and escalate fast.

    warning sign

    Move quickly. Speed matters for disputes, account recovery, and limiting damage.

    • Stop payments and contact: do not send more money or respond to the scammer.
    • Call your bank or card issuer: block transactions, replace the card if needed, and start a dispute or chargeback.
    • Secure your email first: change the email password, enable 2FA, and remove unfamiliar recovery options.
    • Secure other accounts: change passwords, enable 2FA, and log out of all sessions.
    • Scan your device: remove suspicious apps or extensions, then run a full malware scan.
    • Save evidence: screenshots, emails, order pages, tracking pages, wallet addresses, TXIDs, and chat logs.
    • Report it: to the payment provider, marketplace, social platform, exchange, or wallet service involved.

These rules are intentionally simple. Most online losses happen when decisions are rushed. Slow down, verify independently, and use payment methods and account controls that give you recourse.

53 thoughts on “Remove Babylon Toolbar and “Search the web (Babylon)””

  1. Yesterday somehow ended up with Babylon – found your website but although tried literally everything Babylon was still there. Have no idea if relevant but found the default home page as being listed as http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=69157. When I searched for this it took me to a page http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-your-Internet-Explorer-9-home-page and followed the instructions. But when I clicked on Internet Explorer from the Start button I noticed that it went to my correct home page and not Babylon so then checked and found that when I used the short cut on my tool bar it went to Babylon. So replaced the Internet Explorer shortcut in my tool bar with a new one and now seem to no longer have Babylon. (Lets hope it stays that way).

    Now my only question is – is the fwlink/Linkid address as my default home page a problem and if so how do I remove or change it?

  2. I use google chrome i have tried your advice and am going mad as it is still there. so i try malware bytes and no joy ,i try avast still no joy any ideas?

    • Hello,
      Let try to fix your computer:
      Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your desktop.

      • Close all open programs and internet browsers.
      • Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
      • Click on Delete.
      • Confirm each time with Ok.
      • Your computer will be rebooted automatically. A text file will open after the restart.

      Next…

      • Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
      • Click on Uninstall.
      • Confirm with yes.

      Waiting your reply to tell me if everything is ok… :)

  3. This is the third time I have been infected with this darn Babylon…Why didn’t McAfee catch it? What program should I be using to prevent getting reinfected in the future? Thanks.

    • Hello Sandy,
      Unlike a virus Babylon can be easily prevent just by simply being careful whenever you are installing programs!This program comes bundled into some installer so open your eyes when you install a new program!
      Also McAfee is not that great,Avast Free antivirus is better and it’s free!

  5. The RESET button (step 3 and 4) was the key (I.E. 8 on XP ! Thank you Stelian.
    One site recommended manual deletions, which did not complete the job.
    Another recommended SpyBot, which found more Babylon to delete, and issued the warning message, but even after restart, Babylon was still there. Then I found this page. After clicking the Reset button and clicking it again, and RESTARTING I.E., the babylon issue was gone.

  10. Hi there,

    I got babylon while I try to install a program. I saw many people sad that the way you show here is working great. I try to follow from step 2 but its not working. The reason I try from step 2 because I can not found babylon in my computer to uninstall it. babylon only appear as a toolbar in firefox and explore. Is there another way I can remove babylon? I use win vista :(

    • Hello Tu,
      Can you go into C:\Program Files\ and search for a file called Babylon…Can you find it in there?

      • Hello,

        I scanned the whole computer using the two software you suggested for removing malware. I searched again and I found only a file named “babylon.xml” in the folder “searchplugins (C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox)”

        Is it ok that I try to delete this file?

        Thank you very much ^^,
        Tu

      • I try to delete the file but I can not and babylon still remain in the firefox. How can I totally remove it? :(

  11. Hmmm. When I try to uninstall, I get a message saying I have to let an unknown-sourced program 156bf0.msi run. Seems like that could be dangerous as well. Anyone else seen it?

  15. I can’t find the wrench symbol on Google Chrome Im 99 per cent sure I dont have it… I found extensions in another icon which was three lines but can’t find options anywhere :( any help would be awesome!

  20. Thank you for the great information …. I followed the steps and got rid of the Babylon Search Engine completely :)

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