Adware-lexa? There is Adware in the Alexa toolbar
At least, that is what my virus scanner told me.
Today I was wanting to be a “regular reader” to some of my sites, so I switched back to Internet Explorer, and I got myself equipped with the Google Toolbar and Alexa Toolbar.
I didn’t have these installed on Firefox, because the SearchStatus add-on could help me tell the Google PageRank and Alexa Traffic Rankings of the sites (which is essentially what I need for each of the toolbars).
To my horror, when I tried to install the Alexa Toolbar, my virus scanner told me that the toolbar comes with Adware! 
Now, tell me. Which should I believe – the virus scanner, or Alexa?
I guess I won’t take chances. Out you go, Alexa. I’ll stick to Firefox and SearchStatus. I’d browse happy. 
Interestingly Alexa has a nice little box on the toolbar download page that goes like this:
My oh my… looks like something went wrong somewhere huh.
Tags: adware, alexa_toolbar, google_pagerank, google_toolbar
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Tan Kian Ann is blog marketer based in Singapore. He now works with individuals and small businesses reach out to the world using blogs. 
March 23rd, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Visit Walter
Haha…. sometimes anti-virus scanners can behave like adware products themselves! Simply by popping up now and then with upgrades, reminders, and so on….
March 24th, 2007 at 1:10 am
Visit Mike
thats alexa for you they’ve always used spyware why I never touch alexa.
March 24th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Visit Kian Ann
Walter, you got a point. Maybe its the anti-virus scanner is behaving erratically. So ironic. Actually last time I have thought about this – can anti virus programs be infected by viruses?
Mark, thanks! In that case Alexa becomes pretty useless huh? The rankings are not really representative and the toolbar uses spyware!
March 26th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Visit john
Thank Kian Ann,
Me better uninstall tonight.
John Tan
http://www.JohnTanBlog.com
March 26th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
Visit Kian Ann
Heh John, use Firefox!
November 2nd, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Visit SysOp
The Alexa toolbar monitors browsing habits in order to compile the Alexa stats. This type of “snooping” behavior is consider to be a malware trait and has gotten the toolbar flagged by most antivirus system.
Looking past a bit of spying, some frivolous network traffic, a few spare cpu cycles and a prime strip of browser real estate it’s not all bad (or is it?).
Typically each toolbar user’s traffic is amplified by a very large factor to get a ballpark figure of traffic patterns, this presents the opportunity for a small group of users or a single user exploiting multiple accounts to significantly skewer the Alexa statistics.
Another potential issue might be a malicious exploit that hooks into the relatively insecure local toolbar via javascript to elevate access permission beyond those normally granted to remote scripts.
@ Kian Ann: AV scanners are a prime target for “smart” viruses trying to operate in stealth mode. Some taint the AV software while others have been known to disable and then mimic the user interface to provide a false sense of security. Rootkits take this a step further and go directly for the system kernel to hide their presence. Still, the most disturbing attack I’ve witnessed was an internet worm that gained entry to systems via Norton Anti-Virus’s “LiveUpdate” service. Now there’s irony for you.
December 20th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Visit Ian L.
I have the same anti-virus software you have (avast) I would believe them before any toolbar! I have google toolbar and it never had a problems with it so I think any toolbar I try to install and that warning pops up, its not going on my computer! Would rather be safe than sorry!!!
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Visit Paul
Thank you for the info sharing. I’ve read about this from other people’s experience & personally have the same experience too. Its too common the toolbars actually bring out lot of problem to the users.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Visit Hristiyan Hristov
Hmmm, i personally wouldn’t take my chances, that is once Avira’s Anti-Virus program pops up with a warning.
Avira says: Contains recognition pattern of the DR/AlexaBar.N.207 dropper.
Of course it’s been configured for maximum sensitivity (better safe than sorry).
I’ve also personally seen exactly how inaccurate Alexa’s statistics actually are, that is, unless you’re in the top 500 (very difficult to reach that one).
November 17th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Visit Kian Ann
Hi Hristiyan,
Yes, Alexa stats are inaccurate.
If you rank high, you have very good traffic, but anything below 20,000 only tells you that there isn’t a flow of net savvy visitors.
Here is Matt Cutts’ thoughts on Alexa Traffic 2 years ago
Its funny, because I do use a FireFox plugin with Alexa Rankings, and I was working on a client’s project – and with just ME accessing the site many times a day to make changes to the site, I upped the rankings from the initial 26 mil to 6 mil within 2 weeks. Heh.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Visit Bob
I have just downloaded the alex toolbar but Avast says it is a virus! Oh my, I can not delete it. Pls help. Thanks.