This article has been created in order to explain what is the potentially unwanted program, many know as InternetSpeedTester and how to remove it from your computer.
A new unwanted program has appeared on the radar of malware researchers which opens the Fast.com website, belonging to the Netflix company instead of performing an actual Internet speed testing on your computer. The program, known as InternetSpeedTester may just be another one of those seemingly effective programs that only pretend to help on your computer, but In reality do more harm than good. If your computer has been affected by the InternetSpeedTester, recommendations are to remove it completely from your computer, preferably by using the information in this article.
Threat Summary
| Name | InternetSpeedTester |
| Type | Ransomware, Cryptovirus |
| Short Description | InternetSpeedTester is a program which may display different advertisements on your computer which lead to suspicious third-party sites. |
| Symptoms | Different types of ads are displayed on your computer. Cookies and other tracking technologies may also be added on it. |
| Distribution Method | Spam Emails, Email Attachments, Executable files |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss InternetSpeedTester. |
InternetSpeedTester – Distribution
In order for InternetSpeedTester to be spread, the program may be replicated as a result of a bundled free program installed on the computer of the victims. The InternetSpeedTester is the type of software which can be installed on your computer system alongside such free apps which the you may have downloaded and installed from third-party websites for software providing, or torrent sites. Such websites are the primary reason why programs, like the InternetSpeedTester are slithered into the computers unwanted, since in their installers, usually in the “Advanced” or “Custom” installation modes, the InternetSpeedTester installation prompt may be encountered. It often advertises the unwanted program as a “Free Extra” which in most cases is untrue.
Another method via which Internet Speed Tester may be installed on your computer is if the program’s installation module is directly uploaded online and promoted as a helper program. For one instance, researchers have detected the program to be downloaded via the following web page:
InternetSpeedTester – Further Information
The InternetSpeedTester program is the type of software which has been created to check for your internet speed. However, it uses the service from Netflix, called Fast.com by redirecting to it’s website, making it a hoax app, which does nothing by itself. Once installed on your computer, the InternetSpeedTester PUP may begin to create different types of program files in the %Program Files% or other directory. In addition to this, the app may also begin to modify your web browser and also create registry entries in the Windows Registry Editor.
More to it than that, malware researchers feel convinced that this program can be created in order to perform various different types of activities whose primary purpose may be to act without any confirmation from the user. Such can be the dropping of tracking technologies and other tracking software such as:
- Cookies.
- Pixels.
- Tags.
- LSOs (Locally Shared Objects).
- Geo-locators.
In addition to this, the InternetSpeedTester may use those technology to obtain different information from your computer, such as:
- Your browsing history.
- Your online search history.
- Your online clicks.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- IP address, location and language.
This information may be used by InternetSpeedTester in order to target you with advertisements of different type, which may lead to third-party sites. The ads may come in different shapes and forms:
- Browser Redirects.
- Pop-ups.
- Highlighted text ads.
- Ad-supported search results that appear as a result of you searching something.
Those advertisements may conceal various different types of dangers, since they lead to third-party websites. These third-party websites may be either scamming or malicious and may do more harm than good on your computer and this is why the removal of InternetSpeedTester is strongly advisable. But since the program has been classified as a program which is a low-level type of hazard, it may not be detected by traditional antivirus software.
Remove InternetSpeedTester Completely from Your PC
In order to remove InternetSpeedTester from your computer, recommendations are to follow the removal instructions underneath this article. They are specifically created in order to help you isolate and then get rid of InternetSpeedTester from your computer. If you lack the experience in eliminating the program from your computer, recommendations by experts are to download an advanced anti-malware software, whose primary purpose is to fully eliminate this program from your computer and prevent it from displaying advertisements on your PC in the future as well.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove InternetSpeedTester from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for InternetSpeedTester with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall InternetSpeedTester 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 4: Clean Any registries, Created by InternetSpeedTester on Your PC.
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 InternetSpeedTester 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.
Video Removal Guide for InternetSpeedTester (Windows).
Get rid of InternetSpeedTester from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall InternetSpeedTester and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to InternetSpeedTester. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- 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 InternetSpeedTester 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 InternetSpeedTester files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as InternetSpeedTester, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for InternetSpeedTester (Mac)
Remove InternetSpeedTester 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.
Erase InternetSpeedTester 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.
Uninstall InternetSpeedTester 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.
Remove InternetSpeedTester 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 InternetSpeedTester will be removed.
Eliminate InternetSpeedTester 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.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
InternetSpeedTester-FAQ
What Is InternetSpeedTester?
The InternetSpeedTester threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of InternetSpeedTester?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like InternetSpeedTester?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does InternetSpeedTester Work?
Once installed, InternetSpeedTester can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
InternetSpeedTester can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is InternetSpeedTester Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the InternetSpeedTester Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this InternetSpeedTester how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on InternetSpeedTester?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the InternetSpeedTester threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.