Search.searchflm.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.searchfml.com?
Developed by SaferBrowser, Fast Local Maps is a deceptive application that supposedly provides GPS functionality. On initial inspection, Fast Local Maps seems legitimate and useful, however, this app often infiltrates systems without permission.
Furthermore, it delivers intrusive online advertisements, modifies web browser settings, and gathers various data relating to users' Internet browsing activity. For these reasons, Fast Local Maps is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
Following infiltration, Fast Local Maps hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox browsers and assigns new tab URL/homepage/default search engine options to search.searchflm.com. These changes may seem insignificant, however, Fast Local Maps reassigns browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible. In addition, Fast Local Maps delivers various intrusive online advertisements that often conceal underlying content of visited websites. Some of these ads redirect to malicious websites - clicking them is risky and can lead to further computer infections.
Continual unwanted redirects and content-concealing ads significantly diminish the web browsing experience. As well as modifying web browser settings and delivering intrusive online advertisements, Fast Local Maps also collects various information relating to Internet browsing activity, including (but not limited to) URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and IP addresses.
SaferBrowser shares this collected data with cooperating third party companies who misuse personal details to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.
SaferBrowser has developed a number of potentially unwanted programs identical to Fast Local Maps including Get Sports, Email Faster, and Your Video Converter - these are just some examples from many.
All offer various 'features', however, they have identical behavior. SaferBrowser products are designed only to generate revenue for the developers, whilst regular users receive no significant value. Apps such as Fast Local Maps merely cause unwanted browser redirects, collect personal data, and deliver intrusive online advertisements.
How did search.searchfml.com install on my computer?
Fast Local Maps has an official download website, however, developers also promote this app via a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, most users install Fast Local Maps inadvertently, without their consent. Bundling is essentially stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with regular software.
Bundled apps are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download or installation processes. Rushing and skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs, such as Fast Local Maps.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, closely analyze the download/installation processes and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings, closely observe each step, and decline offers to download/install additional applications.
Fast Local Maps browser hijacker installer set-up:
Website promoting Fast Local Maps browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner
By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.
Quick menu:
- What is search.searchfml.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Fast Local Maps application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.searchfml.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Fast Local Maps browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.searchfml.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.searchfml.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Fast Local Maps browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "Fast Local Maps"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.searchfml.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Fast Local Maps browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.searchfml.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "OneSearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fast local maps browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Fast Local Maps", and other recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://search.searchfml.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "searchfml" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fast local maps browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "Fast Local Maps", and all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.searchfml.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "searchfml.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with fast local maps browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fast local maps browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
Post a comment:
If you have additional information on fast local maps browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
▼ Show Discussion