Faster Light Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Faster Light?
Developed by SuperWeb LLC, Faster Light is a rogue browser extension claiming to enhance the Internet browsing experience by enabling coupons, comparison shopping, and other similar functions. Although this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, be aware that Faster Light is considered to be adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
These associations are made due to a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software) employed by Faster Light to install on Internet browsers without users' consent.
Following successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, Faster Light delivers intrusive online ads and tracks users' Internet browsing activity.
Advertisements generated by Faster Light include (but are not limited to) banner, pop-up, transitional, search, interstitial, and full-page ads. It is highly probable that clicking advertisements generated by Faster Light will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, this PUP continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geo-locations), unique identifier numbers, website URLs visited, search queries entered into search engines, pages viewed, and other similar data that may be personally identifiable.
This behavior may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft. SuperWeb LLC has released several hundred rogue browser extensions identical to Faster Light. Some examples are Web Result, Forever Net, AppEnable, and Lite Web among many others.
None of these extensions are useful to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online ads and sharing collected data with third parties.
The developers of Faster Light intentionally release identical browser plug-ins under different names to prevent detection by legitimate anti-virus and anti-spyware suites. Therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Faster Light from your system.
Research shows that most adware is distributed via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as download.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, etc.
Download clients are used by these websites as free services and traffic monetization tools, since they offer installation of promoted (according to the developers, '100% virus-free') browser extensions together with the chosen software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often leads to adware or malware infections.
This situation can be avoided by closely observing each step of the free software download procedure and clicking 'Decline' if installation of any additional programs is offered.
Furthermore, if you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.
If you have installed Faster Light, and you observe 'Ads by Faster Light', 'Faster Light Deals', and 'Powered by Faster Light' advertisements while surfing the Internet, follow the removal guide provided to uninstall this adware from your Internet browsers.
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 Faster Light?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Faster Light application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Faster Light plug-in from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Faster Light add-on from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Faster Light extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Faster Light extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Faster Light 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 "Faster Light", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Faster Light ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Faster Light 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 "Faster Light", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by faster light, 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 "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate: "Faster Light", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by faster light, 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 plugins 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 "Faster Light".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by faster light 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 faster light, 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.
Post a comment:
If you have additional information on ads by faster light or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
▼ Show Discussion