How to uninstall the Fast Search Assist unwanted app

What is Fast Search Assist?

Fast Search Assist is classified as browser hijacker, since it assigns certain browser settings in order to promote a fake search engine (fastsearchassist.com).

Apps of this type often gather browsing-related data as well. Generally, people download and install browser hijackers accidentally and, for this reason, apps such as Fast Search Assist are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Fast Search Assist forces people to visit fastsearchassist.com when they open a browser (new window), new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar by assigning this address as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab.

Note that fastsearchassist.com is classified as a fake search engine, since it redirects to search.yahoo.com and simply displays results generated by Yahoo (a legitimate search engine). I.e., it does not generate any unique results. Commonly, these apps do not allow users to remove the address of the fake search engine from the aforementioned settings as long as they are installed.

Therefore, fastsearchassist.com can be stopped from being opened on certain occasions by uninstalling Fast Search Assist. Additionally, apps such as Fast Search Assist often gather browsing-related information (e.g., IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries).

It is possible that installed browser hijackers will also collect sensitive (personal) details. The data could be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways.

People who have browser hijackers installed on their browsers and/or operating systems could thus become victims of identity theft, experience problems relating to privacy, browsing safety and other issues. Therefore, apps such as Fast Search Assist should never be downloaded or installed.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fast Search Assist
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), AVG (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.WinWrapper.lnx), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Browser Extension(s)	Fast Search Assist
Supposed Functionality	Fast Search Assist supposedly improves the browsing experience.
Promoted URL	fastsearchassist.com
Serving IP Address (fastsearchassist.com)	52.206.243.205
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.
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. ▼ 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.

Some more examples of apps similar to Fast Search Assist are Easy Flight Tracker, Quick Live News and Package Tracking Tab.

They are often advertised by the developers as legitimate, useful applications that supposedly include various features, improve the browsing experience and deliver other value, however, most do not function as promised and simply cause problems. Therefore, remove all browser hijackers from the browser and computer immediately.

How did Fast Search Assist install on my computer?

Users often download and install potentially unwanted applications inadvertently, when they are included into the download/installation set-ups of other software. This distribution method is known as "bundling" and is used to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted programs together with the required software.

Generally, information about additional downloads and installations can be found in "Custom", "Advanced", and "Manual" settings, however, many users fail to check and change them. Failing to change the default settings often allows PUAs to infiltrate.

In some cases, these rogue downloads and installations can be caused through deceptive ads (when clicked) that run certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Commonly, PUAs are distributed through Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers and other channels, tools of this kind. To avoid unwanted downloads and installations you are advised to download files and programs only from official pages and through direct links.

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings, and decline any offers to download or install potentially unwanted applications before completing the process. Do not click advertisements that appear on unofficial, dubious pages, since these tend to open other websites of this kind or cause unwanted downloads/installations.

Remove any suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser immediately. The same applies to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Fast Search Assist, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

fastsearchassist.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):

Fast Search Assist browser hijacker installer set-up:

Website promoting Fast Search Assist browser hijacker:

Notification stating that Fast Search Assist can read and change certain data:

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 Fast Search Assist?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Fast Search Assist application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove fastsearchassist.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Fast Search Assist browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove fastsearchassist.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove fastsearchassist.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Fast Search Assist 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 Search Assist"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the fastsearchassist.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Fast Search Assist 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://fastsearchassist.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 "Fast Search Assist".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the fastsearchassist.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 "Fast Search Assist" 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, disable "Fast Search Assist", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.fastsearchassist.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 "fastsearchassist.com", 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 fastsearchassist.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 "Fast Search Assist", 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 Search Assist", remove hxxp://fastsearchassist.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with fastsearchassist.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 fastsearchassist.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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