Search.searchfstn3.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.searchfstn3.com?
According to the developers, Fast Speed Test Now is a legitimate application that supposedly allows users to test their Internet performance.
This functionality may appear legitimate and useful, however, Fast Speed Test Now is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker. There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) stealth installation without users' consent; 2) promotion of a fake web search engine [search.searchfstn3.com], and; 3) information tracking.
Following infiltration, Fast Speed Test Now hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox and stealthily assigns the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine settings to search.searchfstn3.com. These changes may seem insignificant, and yet, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that Fast Speed Test Now continues to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are forced to visit search.searchfstn3.com when they open a new browser tab or simply search via the URL bar.
These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. Furthermore, Fast Speed Test Now and search.searchfstn3.com gather data relating to web browsing activity. Once recorded, this data is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). The information might contain personal details that criminals misuse to generate revenue.
This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. In summary, the Fast Speed Test Now browser hijacker should be uninstalled and you should never visit search.searchfstn3.com
| Name | Fast Speed Test Now browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Fast Speed Test Now is identical to dozens of other browser hijackers developed by the same company. The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) The Reading Hub, Instantly Converter, My Utility Box, and My Local Transit. Although these applications offer different functionality, their behavior is identical. In fact, these programs provide no real value for regular users.
Claims to enable useful functions are simply attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. Browser-hijacking apps are designed only to generate revenue for the developers - most cause unwanted redirects and gather sensitive data. Some fake search engines generate intrusive advertisements and misleading results.
Research shows that these typically lead to dubious sites. Therefore, using fake search engines can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.
How did search.searchfstn3.com install on my computer?
This browser hijacker has an official download website, however, due to the lack of knowledge and careless behavior of many users, PUPs often infiltrate systems without permission. PUPs such as Fast Speed Test Now are distributed using "bundling" and intrusive advertising methods.
"Bundling" is stealth installation of third party programs with regular software/apps. Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes.
These people do not disclose these installations properly, whilst intrusive ads redirect to malicious websites and execute scripts that stealthily download and install malware/PUPs. Therefore, skipping download/installation steps and clicking various ads often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue programs such as Fast Speed Test Now.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention during the download/installation processes and when browsing the Internet. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings, carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes, and cancel all third party programs.
Furthermore, software should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links. Research shows that third party downloaders/installers are usually monetized using the "bundling" method and, therefore, these tools should not be used.
Be aware that criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design, thereby making them seem legitimate, however, these ads redirect to rogue websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.) Most intrusive ads are generated by adware-type PUPs - if you encounter suspicious redirects, immediately eliminate all dubious applications and browser add-ons.
Website promoting Fast Speed Test Now browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.searchfstn3.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Fast Speed Test Now application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.searchfstn3.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Fast Speed Test Now browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.searchfstn3.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.searchfstn3.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Fast Speed Test Now 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 Speed Test Now"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.searchfstn3.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Fast Speed Test Now 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.searchfstn3.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 "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fast speed test now 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Fast Speed Test Now" and other recently-installed suspicious browser 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, disable "Fast Speed Test Now", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.searchfstn3.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
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 engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "search.searchfstn3.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fast speed test now 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 Speed Test Now" (or simply "SpeedTest"), as well as 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, disable "Fast Speed Test Now" (or simply "SpeedTest"), remove hxxp://search.searchfstn3.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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with fast speed test now 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 speed test now 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.
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