Search.hfastpackagetracker.net Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.hfastpackagetracker.net?
search.hfastpackagetracker.net is one of many fake search engines available on the internet. This site is usually promoted by a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker called Fast Package Tracker. According to developers, it provides quick access to package tracking services and direct access to web browsers.
In fact, most users install browser-hijacker apps unintentionally. Once installed, they modify browser settings and collect data relating to browsing habits.
Like most browser hijackers available, Fast Package Tracker targets popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Once installed, it assigns search.hfastpackagetracker.net as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL.
Therefore, users of a hijacked browser are forced to visit this website when opening a new tab, browser window, or when a search query is entered into the URL bar.
Most browser-hijacking apps ensure that users cannot undo these changes as long as the app is installed - this is the case with Fast Package Tracker, which reassigns settings when attempts are made to modify them. Furthermore, the search.hfastpackagetracker.net search engine is useless, since it does not generate unique results.
It simply redirects to search.yahoo.com (a legitimate Yahoo search engine) and displays results generated by Yahoo. Fast Package Tracker and its associated fake search engine record browsing-related information such as (Internet Protocol) addresses, search queries, URLs of visited websites, geo-locations, and so on.
In addition, these apps often record personal, sensitive information. Developers share the data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.
You are advised against using these apps or even having them installed, since this could lead to privacy issues, problems with browsing safety, or even identity theft. We advise you to uninstall Fast Package Tracker immediately.
Name | Fast Package Tracker 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. |
Generally, developers promote PUAs as useful and legitimate, however, these are merely attempts to trick people into downloading and installing them.
Once installed, PUAs provide none of the features promised or any other value. They are used only to generate revenue for their developers in dubious ways. Some examples of other apps similar to Fast Package Tracker include Watch TV Now, BaySearch Video, and StreamAll.
How did Fast Package Tracker install on my computer?
Fast Package Tracker is promoted via its website, however, most people install apps of this type unintentionally through clicked intrusive advertisements or when software developers use "bundling", a deceptive method used to trick people into downloading/installing unwanted apps together with other software.
These unwanted apps are usually hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other parts of the download or installation set-ups. With care, they can be identified and declined, however, many users rush the download or installation processes, thus causing unintentional installation of unwanted applications.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Download software using legitimate, official and trustworthy websites or other channels. Do not use third party downloaders, installers, and other such tools. Handle software downloads and installations with care - do not finish any of these processes without first checking available "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings.
Do not leave any checkbox unticked and suggesting your approval to install unwanted applications. Many intrusive ads seem legitimate/legitimate, however, they cause unwanted redirects to potentially malicious websites (gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).
If you experience these redirects (or redirects by ads) to untrustworthy websites, check your browser for suspicious extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons, and your computer for unwanted programs.
Remove dubious entries immediately. If your computer is already infected with Fast Package Tracker, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Fast Package Tracker browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.hfastpackagetracker.net?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Fast Package Tracker application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hfastpackagetracker.net redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Fast Package Tracker browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hfastpackagetracker.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hfastpackagetracker.net redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Fast Package Tracker 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 Package Tracker"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hfastpackagetracker.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Fast Package Tracker 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.hfastpackagetracker.net 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 "http://search.hfastpackagetracker.net".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fast package tracker 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 Package Tracker" or "Packages" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hfastpackagetracker.net) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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.hfastpackagetracker.net", 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 package tracker 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 on "Extensions" and remove "Fast Package Tracker" or "Packages", 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 Package Tracker" or "Packages", remove hxxp://search.hfastpackagetracker.net 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: "search.hfastpackagetracker.net"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with fast package tracker 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 package tracker 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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