Do you know what Download Office Tools is?
On the surface, it might look like Download Office Tools is a useful application that allows you to access multiple file converter tools immediately. However, we should also point out that this application could be a potentially unwanted program. There are always users who download and install such apps accidentally because they come bundled with freeware.
Hence, if you don’t know why Download Office Tools is on your browser, too, you can always scroll down to the bottom of this description for the manual removal instructions. Delete the app today and save yourself the trouble of dealing with potential threats.
So, the official website for this app can be accessed via downloadofficetools.com. There isn’t much that users can get from the page. It just says that you can “get quick access to popular office and file converter tools anytime.” Download Office Tools will also give you a “sponsored search update on your Chrome New Tab.” It’s actually a rather convoluted way to say that the application will modify your search settings, and it will eventually start offering your custom content. While this is not something malicious, there is always a catch.
Download Office Tools and other similar programs are distributed for free, and they do not require a subscription fee. It means that the app needs to make money in some other way. And it does by displaying commercial advertisements. It might also redirect you to affiliated websites by displaying modified search links. The moment you click those links, you generate financial profit for the people behind Download Office Tools, as this is how the pay-per-click system works. Again, this is not anything malicious, as a lot of programs employ such marketing measures. But the problem is that the third-party content is not monitored, and if Download Office Tools gets exploited, it could expose you to dangerous content.
Download Office Tools screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
There are also other things that are quite worrisome about this app. For instance, it requires such permissions as “replace the page you see when opening a new tab,” and “read your browsing history.” Again, it’s common for browser extensions to require such permissions, but if the app enters your browser accidentally, these modifications might be too burdensome. Sure, with the app installed, you can “access file converter services, news, weather, email & shopping websites, plus free web search, right from your new tab page.” But you have to remember that the app will also monitor your web browsing activities, too.
In fact, in the privacy policy, the creators of Download Office Tools claim that “this tool contains links to external websites that are not provided or maintained by or in any way affiliated with our company or this product.” So, to put it simply, whoever is responsible for Download Office Tools, they wash their hands off whatever might arise whenever you click an external link provided by this tool.
That is probably the main security concern associated with Download Office Tools. The bottom line is that you need to remove the app if you didn’t want to install it in the first place. The official website says that you can delete the extension through the browser’s extension menu. However, keeping in mind that Download Office Tools modifies your default homepage and search engine settings, it would be for the best to restore your browser’s settings to default. It is very easy to do, and it doesn’t take too much time.
After that, you need to do yourself a favor and run a full system scan with a security tool of your choice. If you downloaded and installed Download Office Tools, you probably have downloaded more unwanted apps, too. A full system scan can help determine all the potential threats that might be present on your computer. Also, you can remove all those programs automatically if you do not want to deal with them manually.
Once you invest in a licensed antispyware tool, please don’t forget to review your online habits. It’s a good idea to refrain from downloading apps from third-party sources. Also, when you run an installer, be sure to read all the steps because you might miss your chance to avoid unwanted apps.
How to Remove Download Office Tools
- Launch the Chrome browser.
- Press Alt+F and click Settings.
- Click Advanced at the bottom of your screen.
- Scroll down once more and press Restore settings to their original defaults.
- On the pop-up box, click Reset settings.
In non-techie terms:
Download Office Tools is a browser extension that provides you certain services. However, this extension often arrives at your system uninvited. If that is the case, please remove Download Office Tools today, and then scan your system with a reliable security tool. Such potentially unwanted programs tend to travel in packs, so you are bound to have more unnecessary apps, especially if you tend to download programs from third-party sources.