Remove the Download Forms Now browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Download Forms Now?
Download Forms Now is a browser hijacker, however, it is advertised as providing quick access to various forms and a search engine (search.easyformsnowtab.com). Most users install this application inadvertently, and thus it is categorized as a PUA (potentially unwanted application).
This app works by changing browser settings to promote its fake search tool. Additionally, Download Forms Now has data tracking abilities.
Browser hijackers usually target popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. They modify these browsers by changing the homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URL settings to promote their fraudulent search tools.
When users open a new browser tab/widow or type a search query into the URL bar, the hijacker redirects to a fake search engine. Download Forms Now promotes search.easyformsnowtab.com in this manner. This search engine cannot provide any search results and simply redirects to search.yahoo.com.
While these modifications may seem easy to undo, it is impossible without removal of the hijacking application. Browser hijackers can reset any user changes and deny access to certain settings entirely. Note that Download Forms Now is often distributed with Hide My Searches, also a PUA.
Most browser hijackers are capable of data tracking. By monitoring users' browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, and search engine history), they can record personal information (IP addresses, geolocations, and personal details).
This sensitive data is then passed on to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to generate revenue by misusing private information. Data tracking can lead to severe privacy issues and even identity theft. To ensure device and user safety, all dubious apps, browser extensions, and plug-ins must be removed immediately.
| Name | Download Forms Now. |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:AdwareSig [Adw]), DrWeb (Adware.Spigot.145), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.WebSearch.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Download Forms Now, Forms. |
| Supposed Functionality | Document form downloads. |
| Promoted URL | search.easyformsnowtab.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.easyformsnowtab.com) | 34.206.62.241 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the internet using their search engines. |
| Additional Information | Download Forms Now is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are thousands of PUAs online, most of which share similarities. Examples of browser hijackers similar to Download Forms Now include Online News Now, Free Forms Online, and Your Template Finder. To trick users into installing them, criminals offer "useful" features, however, the only purpose of PUAs is to generate revenue for the developers, whilst users receive no value.
PUAs hijack browsers, cause redirects to untrustworthy/malicious websites, run intrusive advertisement campaigns (e.g. pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, etc.), and gather vulnerable information.
How did Download Forms Now install on my computer?
PUAs are often proliferated through download/installation set-ups, together with regular software. This false marketing tactic is called "bundling", by which ordinary programs are pre-packed with dubious content. Rushed downloads/installations (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps, using pre-set options, etc.) increases the risk of rogue applications infiltrating users' systems.
Some PUAs have "official" download websites on which they are typically endorsed as "free" software. Intrusive ads can also proliferate unwanted apps. By clicking these ads, users can trigger them to execute scripts designed to download/install PUAs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Verify all software and files before downloading and installing. Only official and verified download sources should be used. Using peer-to-peer sharing networks (e.g. BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders is not advised. Untrustworthy download sources are more likely to offer software bundled with PUAs.
Read download/installation terms and study the possible options. Use "Custom/Advanced" install settings and opt-out/decline additional applications or features. Intrusive advertisements usually seem harmless, thereby tricking users into clicking them. In fact, these ads can redirect to dubious websites such as gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and similar.
If you encounter these ads/redirects, check for suspicious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins and remove them. If your computer is already infected with Download Forms Now, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Download Forms Now browser hijacker installer set-up:
Download Forms Now download web page asks for various permissions:
Website promoting Download Forms Now browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Download Forms Now?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Download Forms Now application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.easyformsnowtab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Download Forms Now browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.easyformsnowtab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.easyformsnowtab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Download Forms 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, "Download Forms Now"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.easyformsnowtab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Download Forms 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.easyformsnowtab.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 "Download Forms Now".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.easyformsnowtab.com redirect, 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 "Download Forms Now" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), 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, disable "Download Forms Now" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.easyformsnowtab.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.com) 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 "hxxp://search.easyformsnowtab.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.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 search.easyformsnowtab.com redirect, 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 "Download Forms Now" (or simply "Forms"), as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
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 "Download Forms Now" (or simply "Forms") or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.easyformsnowtab.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.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 search.easyformsnowtab.com redirect 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 search.easyformsnowtab.com redirect, 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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