FAssistant Adware

What is FAssistant?

Developers present FAssistant as a great tool to restrict access to various files/folders by adding password protection. Judging on appearance alone, FAssistant may seem legitimate and useful, however, this software is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) stealth installation without consent; 2) display of intrusive advertisements, and; 3) tracking of Internet browsing activity.

FAssistant delivers various intrusive advertisements (coupons, banners, pop-up, and similar). To achieve this, developers employ tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any visited website. Therefore, these unwanted ads often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.

Furthermore, intrusive ads can redirect to malicious websites and even execute scripts that stealthily download and install PUPs/malware. Therefore, even a single click might result in high-risk computer infections. Be aware that FAssistant collects information that typically includes personal details.

IP addresses, websites visited, queries entered into search engines, and other information that is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue. Therefore, the presence of a data-tracking app can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you uninstall FAssistant adware immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by FAssistant
Threat Type	Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus
Symptoms	Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner 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.

FAssistant is regular adware and virtually identical to Weather For Chrome, SearchAwesome, Quick Searcher, and dozens of other adware-type programs.

These applications offer different functionality, and yet their behavior is identical - all deliver intrusive ads and gather sensitive data. Adware is designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Claims to enable 'useful functions' are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. PUPs such as FAssistant deliver no real value for regular users.

How did FAssistant install on my computer?

As mentioned above, FAssistant infiltrates systems without permission. The reasons for this are the lack of knowledge and careless behavior of many users. Developers proliferate this PUP using intrusive advertisements and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" (stealth installation of third party software with regular [typically free] apps).

Developers hide all "bundled" programs within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes - they do not disclose this information properly. Therefore, rushing download/installation processes, skipping steps, and clicking advertisements often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue programs such as FAssistant2.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet in general. Carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

You are also advised to download your software from official sources only (using direct download links), rather than using third party downloaders/installers. These tools are monetized using the "bundling" method (promoting PUPs), and thus using them is not recommended.

Be aware that developers invest many resources into intrusive ad design, thereby making them seem legitimate. Despite this, they redirect to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, and similar). If you experience these redirects, immediately eliminate all dubious applications and browser plug-ins.

Screenshot of FAssistant PUP:

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

FAssistant 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 "FAssistant", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove FAssistant adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, FAssistant 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 fassistant, 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by fassistant, 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 fassistant 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 fassistant, 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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