Free WiFi Hotspot Adware

What is Free WiFi Hotspot?

Free WiFi Hotspot is a deceptive application that falsely claims to allow users to share their Internet connections via WiFi. On initial inspection, this functionality may appear legitimate and useful, however, Free WiFi Hotspot often infiltrates systems without users' permission (the "bundling" method).

Furthermore, it delivers intrusive online advertisements and collects various user-system information relating to Internet browsing activity. For these reasons, Free WiFi Hotspot is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

Following infiltration, Free WiFi Hotspot delivers pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ a "virtual layer" - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying content, significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.

In addition, some of these ads may redirect to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. Free WiFi Hotspot continually records various information relating to web browsing activity. The collected data (IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) is later shared with third parties.

The data might contain personal details that these third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) misuse to generate revenue. The presence of a data-tracking app can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, we strongly advise you to uninstall Free WiFi Hotspot adware immediately.

Free WiFi Hotspot is virtually identical to hundreds of other adware-type applications such as Counterflix, WeatherBuddy, Shoppers Tab, and ParentalControl. Note that all of these apps offer 'useful features', however, their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers.

Apps such as Free WiFi Hotspot are useless for regular users - rather than providing any significant value, adware delivers intrusive online advertisements and collects various information relating to web browsing activity.

How did Free WiFi Hotspot install on my computer?

This PUP is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, most users install it inadvertently, without their consent. This is due to a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" that developers use to proliferate Free WiFi Hotspot. Bundling is stealth installation of third party apps with regular software/apps.

Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Therefore, bundled apps are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings - skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs such as Free WiFi Hotspot.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two simple steps you should take to prevent system infiltration by PUPs. Firstly, carefully analyze each download/installation step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Secondly, decline offers to download/install additional apps and cancel those already included.

Official Free WiFi Hotspot installation set-up:

Deceptive free software installer distributing Free WiFi Hotspot adware:

Screenshot of Free WiFi Hotspot application:

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Quick menu:

• What is Free WiFi Hotspot?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Free WiFi Hotspot application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Free WiFi Hotspot adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Free WiFi Hotspot ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Free WiFi Hotspot' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Free WiFi Hotspot extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Free WiFi Hotspot adware 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 "Free WiFi Hotspot 4.2.0", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Free WiFi Hotspot ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Free WiFi Hotspot adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Free WiFi Hotspot did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

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 browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by free wifi hotspot, 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by free wifi hotspot, 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", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by free wifi hotspot 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by free wifi hotspot, 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:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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