Do you know what Search.fastsearchanswer.com is?
Search.fastsearchanswer.com is a browser hijacker that may look like it has something to do with the Google Search engine. You might get that impression because the “Search” title logo on its main page sports the same color scheme as the Google logo. However, that is done in order to convince you that this website is a reliable search provider, thus tricking you into using it for your search queries. You should remove Search.fastsearchanswer.com before you even try using this fake search engine. Do yourself a favor and make sure your computer is absolutely free of such applications.
Quite often, it is hard to determine who makes and who distributes browser hijackers. Their distribution network usually is decentralized, and users are not aware of the most common distribution tactics. For instance, we know that the website’s IP address, which is 35.161.211.93, is located in the United States, but most of the detections and complaints about this browser hijacker are registered in India. So the origins of the program might be quite different from its target region. Nevertheless, one should not forget that programs can infect computers anywhere in the world, as long as they are connected to the Internet, and the users enter associated websites.
Search.fastsearchanswer.com does not have a direct distribution source, and that is a very common thing for browser hijackers. Instead, this program comes bundled with freeware. This also means that when you installed the browser hijacker on your computer, you allowed a few other unwanted applications on board. Of course, you did not know that you were about to add this fake search engine to your browser. It is very likely that you were focused on some other tool that you wanted to have. But whenever you download programs from third-party sources, you have to remember that these third-party installers could bundle several programs in one.
So when you install a program that you downloaded NOT from its official source, you should be careful and check all the steps in the installation wizards. Of course, sometimes the likes of Search.fastsearchanswer.com would not even bother to inform you about the additional installation, but, most of the time, there are a few notifications that would help you avoid setting up unwanted applications. Since prevention is the best remedy, you should pay attention to your web browsing habits and the way you install new programs. If you are careful about it, it should be enough to protect you from browser hijackers and other unfamiliar “guests.”
Search.fastsearchanswer.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Now, once this program enters your computer, it changes your homepage and then displays modified search results. It does not matter which browser you use to surf the web. Search.fastsearchanswer.com affects Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer, so the chances are that you will soon notice this intruder if you happen to install it.
Since this browser hijacker displays modified search results via a custom version of the Google search engine, some users may think that it is an official extension, designed to show useful search result links. Unfortunately, most of the links displayed by Search.fastsearchanswer.com will be associated with your web browsing history because this program will try to convince you to click them. If you click those links, you will generate a financial profit for the browser hijacker via the pay-per-click system.
The problem in this scheme is that Search.fastsearchanswer.com cannot check who or what places those links in its search results. It is only concerned about the revenue it gets from your clicks. Therefore, the program could be easily exploited by cyber criminals for malware distribution, and users could fall into this trap without even meaning to.
Therefore, you have to protect yourself from your potential downfall by removing Search.fastsearchanswer.com today. Please follow the manual removal instructions you will find below this article to get rid of the browser hijacker. You should also scan your PC with a security application after the manual removal, just to be sure that you have taken care of all the unwanted or dangerous files.
As far as other intruders are concerned, the fastest way to remove them would be getting a licensed antispyware tool. Your computer’s security should be one of your utmost priorities, so do not hesitate to invest in it.
How to Remove Search.fastsearchanswer.com
Internet Explorer
- Press Win+R and type regedit. Click OK.
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
- Right-click the Start Page value on the right.
- Select Modify and change your start page address. Click OK.
Chrome
- Press Win+R and type %LocalAppData%. Click OK.
- Navigate to Google\Chrome\User Data\Default.
- Find and delete these files: Preferences, Secure Preferences, and Web Data.
Firefox
- Press Win+R and enter %AppData% into the Open box.
- Click OK and go to Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[User ID].
- Use Notepad to open the prefs.js file.
- Delete the following string: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://Search.fastsearchanswer.com");
- Save changes and close the file.
In non-techie terms:
Search.fastsearchanswer.com is a potential computer security threat that users add to their browsers without even realizing it. It is a browser hijacker and as such it can change your browser’s settings without your permission. If you do not remove Search.fastsearchanswer.com from your computer immediately, eventually you will have to face serious computer infections that could destroy your system and steal your money.