search glow is part of the Windows Live Toolbar Annoying but it is not malware, well not yet anyway. We will investigate more. Search glow or search glow is buggy in Live Toolbar A number of people are finding a process called search glow on to their PCs. Some are having problems with it (crashes, hangs, etc.). It's causing to stir on various security forums, and among Secrets Windows readers like Lou Nihoul, too. When I start IE 7,0, Task Manager shows an application, search glow. What Is this, and what does it do? I can't find anything out about this app / software.†Search glow is part of Microsoft's Windows Live Toolbar package, and it's apparently linked to in that product. A number of problems have been reported about it crashing. Fortunately, the immediate solution is easy. Just go to the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel and uninstall Windows Live Toolbar and Desktop Search. To toolbar and its search glow component will go away. After removing to toolbar, I would do a full spyware scan, google do a good package of free software, check the link on the right, just to be certain your PC is clean and free from virus / malware. There's no indication that it is malicious or that hackers are using search glow or Windows Live Toolbar for malware entry point, but it to never hurts to check. The trouble with search glow or any part of the Windows Live Toolbar, be sure to uses Microsoft's feedback form on the Microsoft site, this will inform them of the problem and allow them to create a patch or update. The easiest way to get rid of Search Glow is by just turning off the Windows Live toolbar. Go to menu item View->Toolbars and simply uncheck Windows Live Toolbar. Then install the google toolbar !! link is on the right !! I have had the same sort of problem, but after some investigation I have found some information that you might find usefull. It is a Java applet used by some web sites to pre-load graphics for other areas of their site for quick display when you visit that particular area. MSN.com(Microsoft Network) is one site that uses it. (which was my particular problem) as I had it set as one of my Home pages. How I found that out was, I removed all my home pages off the list and then while task manager was running I closed down and restarted Internet Explorer.(no search glow appeared). I then added one home page at a time until I saw search glow appear in the task manager. Now I have found that search glow is supposed to start up load the graphics then shut down but on the odd occasion it freezes then another one will start up. this might explain why you are seeing multiple copies of it in task manager. I got over the problem by removeing MSN from my home page list and adding it to my favourites instead so it only loads when I choose it to. Thats the only way I know to get around the problem. Another answer: The number of problem reports about it is climbing. Fortunately, the immediate solution is easy. Just go to the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel and uninstall Windows Live Toolbar and Desktop Search. The toolbar and its search glow component will go away