Free Government Forms (Removal Instructions)
Free Government Forms is a browser extension that replaces your internet browser settings once it has been contracted. The Free Government Forms extension will change your homepage, new tab page, and default search engine with a Free Government Forms search page on the freegovernmentforms.net domain. This will cause affected web browsers to redirect to the website when you search the web via the address bar and start-up on the website when you open a new browser window or tab.
As previously mentioned, the Free Government Forms extension will cause affected web browsers to start-up on a Free Government Forms search webpage when you open a new browser window or browser tab. The web searches you perform in the browser address bar will also redirect to the same webpage. This is valuable to the Free Government Forms extension and it’s developers because it allows the party to aggressively generate revenue through advertisements and sponsored search results. The developer will essentially receive currency or commission from third-parties via cost-per-click ads and search results. The more internet browsers the Free Government Forms extension can inject, the more money developers of the browser attachment can potentially produce.
A big issue with the Free Government Forms extension is that it is very deceptive and intrusive. It primarily utilizes deceptive marketing tactics in order to persuade users to install it. It may also bundle with or be promoted alongside third-party programs and even malware. Users may not be aware that Free Government Forms has been contracted. It may be promoted as something it is not depending on the point distributor or advertisement used to promote this extension.
Free Government Forms Extension Permissions
There are some privacy concerns with the Free Government Forms extension. The permissions it has set in place allow it to read and change your data on the websites you visit, communicate with cooperating websites, and change your search settings to: freegovernmentforms.net.
Free Government Forms Details
Names | Free Government Forms, Free Government Forms virus *This extension is not technically defined as a computer virus |
Detection Categories | Adware, Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) |
Publisher Description | Access government forms from one place including: tax, DMV, citizenship, healthcare, and passport forms! |
Symptoms | Pop-up and in-text advertisements Sponsored search results Browser redirections to freegovernmentforms.net and other sponsored webpages Decreased internet speed and performance Decreased computer functionality and performance Bundles with malware and other potentially unwanted programs with additional symptoms |
Common Path(s) | C:\Program Files (x86) C:\Users\{USER}\Downloads\ C:\Users\{USER}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage\ |
Quick Detection & Removal Tool | Click Here To Download Free Government Forms Removal Tool (Malwarebytes) |
Free Government Forms Removal Instructions
- Step 1: Remove Free Government Forms extension from browser
- Step 2: Remove Free Government Forms and other threats with Malwarebytes
- Step 3: Remove Free Government Forms and malicious traces with HitmanPro
- Step 4: Clean-up and repair settings with CCleaner
1. The first step to remove Free Government Forms is to manually remove the Free Government Forms extension and other unwanted browser add-ons and extensions that may have installed from each web browser on your computer.
Google Chrome | Go to Customize and control Google Chrome > More Tools > Extensions |
Mozilla Firefox | Go to Menu > Add-ons |
Microsoft Internet Explorer | Go to Tools > Manage add-ons |
Apple Safari | Go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions |
2. The second step to remove Free Government Forms is to scan your computer and eradicate malicious files using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software that may have been contracted.
3. Download and Install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
4. Open Malwarebytes and click the large blue Scan Now button to begin a scan.
5. Once the scan is complete click the Remove Selected button and Finish button afterwards. If Malwarebytes suggests that you restart your computer please do so.
6. The third step to remove Free Government Forms is to scan your computer and eradicate remaining traces using HitmanPro; a reputable second-opinion scan and removal tool. This is to ensure that threats have been removed from your computer.
7. Download and Install HitmanPro by Surfright.
8. Open HitmanPro and click Next to start scanning your computer. *If you are using the free version you may chose to create a copy or perform a one-time scan.
9. When the HitmanPro scan is complete click the Next button and then click the Reboot button. *To activate the free version of HitmanPro: enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.
10. The fourth step to remove Free Government Forms is to clean-up and repair settings with CCleaner. This will allow you to make sure your settings are correct and it will help you get rid of junk files, registry entries, and more.
11. Download and Install CCleaner by Piriform.
12. Open CCleaner and go to the main Cleaner screen. Click the Analyze button. When the process is complete, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
13. Go to Tools > Startup and search for suspicious entries in each tab starting from Windows all the way to Content Menu. If you find anything suspicious click it and click the Delete button to remove it.
14. Go to the Registry window and click the Scan for Issues button. When the scan is complete click the Fix selected issues… button and click Fix All Selected Issues.