What is the Fast Browser Search virus (redirect)?
The Fast Browser Search virus, also referred to as the fastbrowsersearch.com redirect, is potential malware developed by Blucora (Infospace) categorized as a browser hijacker. Fast Browser Search malware primarily changes internet browser settings including the home page and default search engine of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Intenret Exoplorer causing browsers to start up on and redirect to fastbrowsersearch.com and other websites. The Fast Browser Search search engine and Toolbar (add-on, extension) also bundles with third-party malware including adware and spyware used to display unwanted advertisements and/or collect sensitive information, such as home addresses, telephone numbers, and potentially credit information manually submitted online.
Blucora, Infospace, and other similar companies operate many “search engines” that target the unsuspecting computer user in order to generate revenue. Though some may find that these search engines are safe and legitimate it should be noted that Fast Browser Search via fastbrowsersearch.com and other websites may display irrelevant search results and advertisements that promote malware, including scareware used to “scaremonger” uncuspecting vitims into purchasing harmful or non-beneficial computer system software and tools.
Fast Browser Search malware may install unwanted software onto the computer system including Fast Browser Search Toolbar, and other browser hijackers used to start up on the Fast Browser Search search engine and redirect to fastbrowsersearch.com and other websites. Fast Browser Search malware may also change browser shortcuts in order to make it difficult to remove the Fast Browser Search redirect.
Is Fastbrowsersearch.com safe (Fastbrowsersearch.com review)?
Fast Browser Search is not considered safe for reasons concerning associations with cyber criminal activity, social engineering, unethical marketing practices, entrapment, and relationships with suspicious third-parties. Furthermore, victims of Fast Browser Search malware have reported minimal symptoms below which potentially condludes that Fastbrowsersearch.com may add or allow third-parties to add users to marketing lists without their direct consent or knowledge.
- Excessive email spam
- Frequent telephone calls from telemarketers
- Junk mail (snail mail)
- Telephone phishing attacks
How to remove Fast Browser Search malware
- Uninstall Fast Browser Search – Use the correct procedures to uninstall Fast Browser Search software (2 options)
- Scan computer for malware – Scan for and remove additional malware infecting your computer
- Automatically repair browser settings – Automatically remove hijacked Fast Browser Search browser settings and automatically uninstallFast Browser Search
- Manually remove fastbrowsersearch.com homepage
- Manually remove fastbrowsersearch.com search engine
1. Uninstall Fast Browser Search (2 options)
Option 1: Windows Uninstall (Manual Uninstall)
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program (depending on your version of Windows).
3. In the list of installed programs search for Fast Browser Search, Fast Browser Search Toolbar, and other suspicious third party programs. Uninstall Fast Browser Search and unwanted software by double clicking the program’s icon, or highlight the program in the list and click the Uninstall button/tab.
Option 2: CCleaner by Piriform (Automated Uninstall)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can be used to uninstall Fast Browser Search if it’s difficult to remove. CCleaner is notorious for removing similar hijackers such as Conduit Search.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, navigate to Tools > Uninstall tab and locate Fast Browser Search and other unwanted software in the list. To automatically uninstall Fast Browser Search and other software click Run Uninstaller.
2. Scan computer for malware (Automated removal)
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be used to detect and remove additional and/or third-party malware from your computer system, including malware that may be responsible for symptoms of the Fast Browser Search virus.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, please do so.
3. Open the first tab labeled “Scanner” and select the Perform full scan option. Click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting your computer system.
4. Once the full system scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a message stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected).
3. Automatically repair browser settings (Automated repair)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can also be used to repair internet browser settings and stop your browser from redirecting to http://fastbrowsersearch.com and other websites.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, run the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found. Look for anything that may be suspicious or contain “FastBrowserSearch” or simply “fast” in the title or filename.
4. Manually remove fastbrowsersearch.com homepage
- In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options or click Firefox in the top left corner and click Options > Options. Under the General tab remove fastbrowsersearch.com from the “Home Page:” field and replace it with your preferred home page URL.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove fastbrowsersearch.com from the Home Page field and replace it with your preferred URL.
- In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings.Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove fastbrowsersearch.com and replace it with your preferred URL.
5. Manually remove fastbrowsersearch.com search engine
- In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove the fastbrowsersearch.com search engine from the list of search providers by highlighting the selections and clicking remove.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons > Search Providers and remove the fastbrowsersearch.com search engine from the list.
- In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to fastbrowsersearch.com to remove it as your search engine.
Please note, If http://fastbrowsersearch.com is set as Google Chrome’s default search engine, add (or select) a new search engine (such as Google.com) and select the new search engine as the default search engine, then remove www.fastbrowsersearch.com by clicking the X next to it.
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