How to Remove Fast Browser Malware

Can’t Remove Fast Browser hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Fast Browser Removal instructions!

Fast Browser is a browser extension that is supposed to enhance your user experience. Once you install it, however, the app reveals its true face. Fast Browser is a parasite which falls under the browser hijacker category. It is an utter menace that knows no boundaries. The hijacker follows programming to bombard you with ads. It injects banners on every website you visit. It also opens pop-ups, plays commercials, turns random text into hyperlinks. And it doesn’t stop here! The hijacker also dares load third-party websites in new tabs and windows. And to top all that off, it changes your homepage and default search engine. The hijacker, of course, locks the changes and forces you to use its questionable search tool. Do not put up with this situation. The hijacker is not a mere nuisance. Its reshuffles are dangerous! The hijacker has no filters nor security mechanisms. Its ads often redirect web traffic to dangerous websites. Its search engine, too, manipulates you by inserting fake entries among the results it displays. Fast Browser turns its victims into targets. Do yourself a huge favor and remove the parasite before it gets a chance to cause you harm. That’s your best course of action, so don’t waste time. Remove the parasite ASAP!

How did I get infected with?

Fast Browser relies on malvertising. It pretends to be a great app and lures you into downloading it. The hijacker, of course, also has other tricks up its sleeve. It also travels the web hidden in bundles, fake updates, pirated software, and spam messages. There are myriads of malware distribution tricks. If you, however, choose caution over carelessness, you can prevent infections. The thing about this parasite is that it needs you (the user) to approve its access. No permission, no admission! The hijacker is bound to seek your consent. And it does. The hijacker always asks. But it does so in the sneakiest way possible. This menace hides in the fine print and infects your computer when you give into recklessness. Don’t make that mistake. Your diligence is the key! Even a little extra attention can spare you an avalanche of problems. So, don’t be lazy. Always take the time to do your due diligence! Don’t visit questionable websites. Download software and updates from reliable sources only. And, of course, don’t skip installation steps. Forget about the “Next-Next-Finish” strategy. When available, use the advanced/custom setup wizard. Deselect the unwanted extras and go through the terms and conditions. Don’t hesitate to abort an installation process if you notice anything suspicious!

Why is this dangerous?

Fast Browser is a complete and utter menace. It sneaks into your computer and affects every aspect of your browsing experience. Whether you watch a video or browse your favorite website, the hijacker is always there to annoy you. You can’t so much as touch your browser without getting your screen flooded with its ads. Don’t waste time complaining about its annoying advertisements, though. They are your warning! Take a close look at them and you’ll realize that you are in serious trouble. You are under surveillance! The ads are not random but targeted at you. They are related to the websites you visit, the links you follow, the videos you watch. Even your activities under the Incognito mode trigger ads. That’s how the hijacker operates. It studies your habits and uses your preferences against you. The parasite turns you into an easy target! Do you think that ends well? Do you trust Fast Browser with your personal information? Don’t be naive! Any crook out there can use the hijacker and its resources against you. The criminals show you what you want to see, but when you click, bad things happen. And as if that’s not bad enough, but the hijacker also sells the collected data on the black market! Don’t test your luck. Remove the parasite now! Find where Fast Browser hides and delete it upon detection! The sooner, the better!

How to Remove Fast Browser virus

The Fast Browser infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Fast Browser infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down Fast Browser related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Fast Browser startup location

STEP 3: Delete Fast Browser traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Fast Browser related processes in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Fast Browser startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Fast Browser virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean Fast Browser traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Fast Browser by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Fast Browser

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Fast Browser, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove Fast Browser argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Fast Browser Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.