Search.myspeedtestxp.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.myspeedtestxp.com?
My SpeedTest XP claims to be a legitimate application allowing users to test their Internet speed, search the Internet, and check the latest weather forecasts. On initial inspection, this app might appear legitimate and useful, however, My SpeedTest XP is categorized as a potentially unwanted browser-hijacking program.
There are a number of other browser hijackers identical to My SpeedTest XP including, for example, My Coupons XP, My Maps XP, My Weather XP, etc. All applications (including My SpeedTest XP) infiltrate systems without users' permission.
After infiltrating the system, My SpeedTest XP modifies browser settings, diminishes computer and browser performance, generates intrusive online advertisements, and monitors Internet browsing activity.
This browser hijacker targets the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers and modifies the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL settings by assigning them to search.myspeedtestxp.com. Furthermore, a number of 'helper objects' (applications and browser plug-ins) are installed to prevent users from reverting these changes.
This is performed without users' permission. Continual unwanted browser redirects significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience - when users open new browser tabs or simply try to search the Internet via the URL bar, they are redirected to search.myspeedtestxp.com without their consent.
Users who attempt to search via this site are redirected to Yahoo.com (a legitimate Internet search engine). Furthermore, My SpeedTest XP adware delivers intrusive online advertisements that not only conceal visited website content, but also redirect to malicious sites containing infectious content.
Therefore, accidental clicks on these advertisements might lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. Furthermore, this browser hijacker tracks users' Internet browsing activity and gathers various types of information.
Many users are unaware that collected information (for example, search queries entered into search engines, website URLs visited, pages viewed, cookies, IP addresses, and so on) might contain personally identifiable details.
This gathered data is later shared with third parties who can misuse it to generate revenue. Information sharing can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and thus, you should uninstall the My SpeedTest XP browser hijacker immediately.
My SpeedTest XP Privacy Policy regarding data tracking:
We may also collect, use and store information about your search activity when you use web search services (such as search queries) (“Search Data”). This information may be shared with third-party applications that use Search Data to function, or to offer you more customized information, advertising and services. Your Search Data is collected and stored and may include personally identifiable information, depending on your search query. For instance, if you search your own name, personally identifiable information would be included in the search query. BY USING THE SERVICES, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO GRANT My SpeedTest XP PERMISSION TO COLLECT YOUR URLS AND SEARCH DATA, INCLUDING SEARCH QUERIES THAT MAY CONTAIN PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION, SHARE THEM WITH THIRD PARTIES, AND USE SEARCH-RELATED COOKIES.
Browser-hijacking applications have many similarities. All claim to be legitimate, and yet, none provide the features promised. This type of software is designed to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than enabling the functionality promised, it causes unwanted browser redirects (thereby generating traffic for certain websites), displays intrusive online advertisements (using the 'Pay Per Click’ [PPC] advertising model), and collects personal data (which is later sold to third parties).
Applications such as My SpeedTest XP are designed to generate revenue for the developers - users receive no real value.
How did search.myspeedtestxp.com install on my computer?
Be aware that although My SpeedTest XP has an official download website, most users install this application against their will. This is due to a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of PUPs with regular software/apps) used by the developers to distribute this browser hijacker.
Many users do not expect rogue applications to be concealed within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. By rushing the download and installation processes and skipping the aforementioned section, they often install PUPs inadvertently, thereby exposing their systems to risk of further infections and compromising their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent installation of browser-hijacking applications, be attentive during the download and installation processes. Use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings when downloading and installing software, since bogus applications are often concealed. By skipping this section, users are not able to cancel these apps.
The key to computer safety is caution. Only by closely analyzing the download and installation processes will you be able to protect your system.
Website promoting installation of the My SpeedTest XP browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.myspeedtestxp.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall search.myspeedtestxp.com application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.myspeedtestxp.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove search.myspeedtestxp.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.myspeedtestxp.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.myspeedtestxp.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search.myspeedtestxp.com 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, "My SpeedTest XP"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.myspeedtestxp.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Search.myspeedtestxp.com 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.myspeedtestxp.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 "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.myspeedtestxp.com 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 "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "My Speed Test XP" and other recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://search.myspeedtestxp.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
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" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "myspeedtestxp" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.myspeedtestxp.com 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 "Extensions" and remove "My SpeedTest XP", as well as 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, remove hxxp://search.myspeedtestxp.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: "myspeedtestxp"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.myspeedtestxp.com 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 search.myspeedtestxp.com 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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