Downspeedtest is a suspicious toolbar that is provided by the infamous Mindspark industries. It is considered by some experts to be a browser hijacker. The program is installed as an extension to most of the widely used web browsers nowadays (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Explorer).As soon as it is situated on the user`s machine, it begins to modify settings on the browser. It also provides the user with a custom ad-supported search engine, called ‘myway.’
Downspeedtest Toolbar – How Does It Work?
The toolbar usually may be distributed via third party website installers of free software users install, but it can also be added as an extension via their official website (www.downspeedtest.com). Also, we have identified that it has some similarities with another Mindspark toolbar that we have reviewed previously – TrackAPackage(hotlink: https://sensorstechforum.com/delete-trackapackage-toolbar-completely/) which does not provide users with package tracking services and instead redirects them to third parties.
As soon as we added the toolbar, it displayed to us that it requests various permissions to provide the services properly. Some of those suspicious claims were to manage our downloads and our apps. Then we decided to take a look at the privacy policy, and we were redirected to Midspark`s website.
As visible, by agreeing, we provide permissions to the toolbar to collect personal and non-personal information about us while we browse. Also, we have reviewed the data distributions, and we noticed that they might share information with other parties and vendors, including advertisers, investors for business purposes. This is why it is advisable to be cautious, regarding the information you share over the Internet.
After this, we had decided to test out the services that the toolbar provides. When we made a speed test, the result was nothing like the real facts. More to that, it was the same result on every attempt (Result was 2 megabits download speed, and the actual download speed was around 25 times higher).
There we also some other app-like services the toolbar provided to us, like URL shortening, Facebook and a file sharing tab that links to several online file sharing providers. More so when we typed something in the search engine, we discovered that it the first results are ad supported and lead to third parties of unknown to us origin.
How to Uninstall Downspeedtest Toolbar?
There different actions which should be executed to eliminate fully Downspeedtest extension from your computer. You should follow the removal tutorial below or seek and install professional software that will actively detect, remove and protect you from future threats.
Spy Hunter scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the anti-malware tool.Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool / How to Uninstall SpyHunter
1. Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar from your browser
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select Downspeedtest Toolbar and click “Remove“
After Downspeedtest Toolbar is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select Downspeedtest Toolbar to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After Downspeedtest Toolbar has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on Downspeedtest Toolbar
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall Downspeedtest Toolbar. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the Downspeedtest Toolbar will be removed.
2. Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
To clean your computer with the award-winning software Spy Hunter –
It is highly recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.
- Guide 1: How to Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Downspeedtest Toolbar from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Downspeedtest Toolbar from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Downspeedtest Toolbar from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Downspeedtest Toolbar from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Downspeedtest Toolbar
Step 2: Uninstall Downspeedtest Toolbar and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Downspeedtest Toolbar on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Downspeedtest Toolbar there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Downspeedtest Toolbar from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Downspeedtest Toolbar and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Downspeedtest Toolbar via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Downspeedtest Toolbar from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Downspeedtest Toolbar from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Downspeedtest Toolbar from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Downspeedtest Toolbar will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Downspeedtest Toolbar from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
