A browser toolbar, also known as a search engine toolbar,
is an add-on that enhances a user’s browsing experience by extending the browser’s functionality.
Search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing offer their own toolbars, but third-party developers
also create them.
During the turn of the century, third-party toolbars were prevalent, and many
users unknowingly installed them. These toolbars tracked users’ browsing behaviour and used their
data for competitive intelligence purposes.
However, many third-party toolbars were added without users’ explicit consent,
which is an invasion of user privacy. As a result, they are considered greyware or potentially
unwanted programs (PUPs).
