Fanatical Assistant Adware

What is Fanatical Assistant?

As presented on its website, the Fanatical Assistant application supposedly gives users access to various games at the best prices. It also allows them to quickly find over 5000 games.

This may seem to be a useful app, especially for people who often purchase games, however, Fanatical Assistant is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that operates as adware (ad-supportive software). Applications of this type feed users with intrusive advertisements and gather data relating to browsing activity.

Adware-type apps are mostly known for intrusive advertisements such as coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on. Once installed, they display them through tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site. Generally, they conceal underlying content of visited websites and are very annoying.

Furthermore, they often redirect people who click them to dubious, malicious websites. Clicking them can lead to download/installation of other unwanted applications. Many PUAs display intrusive ads and also gather browsing-related information.

Typically, they target data such as URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, geo-locations, IP addresses, and so on.

They might also gather personal details. PUA developers share the recorded information with third parties, potentially cyber criminals who misuse private data to generate revenue. Therefore, PUAs can cause problems with browsing safety, online privacy, and even identity theft. We recommend that you eliminate Fanatical Assistant and all other PUAs immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by Fanatical Assistant
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.

The internet is full of adware-type programs - AdsRemoved - AdBlocker & PopUp Blocker, MyPersonalPDF, and KraKraGames are just some examples of PUAs also categorized as adware. Developers usually present them as useful, legitimate, and so on, however, they provide no real value. On the contrary, most cause problems and generate revenue for their developers.

How did Fanatical Assistant install on my computer?

Fanatical Assistant is promoted through a website, however, potentially unwanted apps are often installed by users inadvertently. This happens when they click intrusive ads that should not be trusted or perform downloads and installations without paying attention to the details.

Typically, people are tricked into downloading and installing unwanted apps when developers use the "bundling" method. PUAs are hidden in software download/installation settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar sections. Despite this, users commonly download and installation PUAs when they fail to check the settings and leave them unchanged.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Avoid downloading software (especially if it is free) from dubious (unofficial) websites, using third party downloaders, torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), or other such tools/channels. Download using official websites and direct links.

Do not skip download or installation steps. Examine the "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual", and other similar settings and opt-out of (deselect) offers to download and install unwanted apps. Only then finish installation or download process. Bear in mind that intrusive ads are often rogue.

If clicked, they can open untrustworthy websites such as gambling, pornography, and adult dating. If you encounter intrusive ads or unwanted redirects, check your browser for any unwanted extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins and remove them immediately. Also apply this to unwanted programs installed on the operating system.

If your computer is already infected with Fanatical Assistant, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this adware.

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

Fanatical Assistant 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 "Fanatical Assistant", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Fanatical Assistant adware from 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 "Fanatical Assistant", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by fanatical assistant, 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 "Fanatical Assistant", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by fanatical assistant, 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 "Fanatical Assistant".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by fanatical assistant 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 fanatical assistant, 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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