Multiple Programs – SIDEBAR.EXE

Files called sidebar.exe and xmlrw.dll install with the Windows Vista sidebar. These files will appear in your c:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar folder. The Windows Sidebar boosts your personal productivity by providing instant access to gadgets—a wide variety of engaging, easy-to-use, and customizable mini-applications that offer information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools. More information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/foreveryone/sidebar.mspx. If you like having the sidebar available on your desktop, leave these files in place.

It is possible, though not particularly recommended to attempt to install the Vista sidebar into Windows XP. If you've done so, then you'll find these files running in XP. More information can be found at http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/1020/install_vista_longhorn_sidebar_into_xp.

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Microsoft


Multiple Programs – SIDEBAR.EXE

Sidebar.exe and it's related browser helper object, Barbho.dll also install with the shopnav or searchcentrix adware program. This program attempts to hijack search pages to its controlling server at searchcentrix.com. It may also redirect web pages configured to open in a new brwoser window to this same location. More information can be found at http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2005-071516-5624-99.

We'd recommend using WinPatrol to disable this file. First, look in your Active tasks and kill any of these that appear: sidebar.exe, webalize.exe, webalize.dll, wzhelper.exe, wzhelper.dll gsim.dll, and barbho.dll. Next, look in your Startup programs and disable webalize.exe, wzhelper.exe, s4helper.exe and sidebar.exe.

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