| Name | FDownloader |
| Type | PUP, adware |
| Short Description | Many annoying ads appear. They may redirect the user to suspicious sites that might contain malware or non-legitimate products. Those products might trick the user into making a purchase. |
| Symptoms | The user may have the website set as his homepage without his approval. |
| Distribution Method | Bundling, Freeware installers. |
| Detection tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By FDownloader |
“FDownloader” is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) that after being installed on your machine affects registry entries and browser settings. It then can collect important personal data and display many unwanted advertisements. The user might be redirected to fake product pages which aim is to generate revenue per every click or by the purchase of such a product.
FDownloader – How Did I Get It?
FDownloader usually gets into your system through third-party installers. It can sneak into your computer without your knowledge, by concealing itself in freeware installations and bundled packages. In these packages, additional components for installation are not always disclosed in a proper manner, and people get tricked into installing potentially unwanted programs such as this “FDownloader”. Sometimes that can be avoided by clicking on the “Advanced” or “Custom” option in an installation setup to see what will be installed.
Another way of getting this adware is by installing it as a free application or browser extension for popular browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and etc. Also, it can get in your machine through drive-by-downloads via outdated browser or Flash Player plugin.
FDownloader – More About It
FDownloader claims that it is a legitimate program that will help you with managing your downloads, especially your video downloads and the free converting of those videos into other formats. Those are false claims, because the program has only two main options “Download site” and “Download video”. Videos that you try to download contain one file that is really small in size and there is no converter involved – just the file type extension is renamed, and selecting the option for converting or not gets you an unusable file. Trying to “Download a site” also gets you one small-sized file which if you choose to be a text file it can open some code from the page but serves you no purpose.
Moreover, FDownloader has this written in their license agreement:
- “Use of Cookies – 3. Software Provider uses various technologies to collect and store information concerning the Internet usage habits of the User, by using tracking technologies such as cookies or anonymous identifiers, pixels, and beacons, deployed to User’s Internet device.”
- “Software Provider mainly uses information it gathers in order to (i) provide User with content such as targeted advertisements promotional and marketing material…”
So the user agrees to be targeted with advertisements upon clicking “Agree” when installing the application from the site or by simply installing the program from bundled freeware and not knowing about the program or its license agreement at all.
When this very suspicious program is installed on your computer, it can collect information such as your IP address, the websites you visit, specific pages you view, your search queries, and etc. Such information might contain personally identifiable details and according to the agreement above – it is shared with third party companies, who can abuse it to generate revenue for their sites.
After the adware is on your machine it modifies registry entries and can also modify browser settings, in order to potentially add an extension or a plug-in to it as well. When you are browsing websites intrusive ads could appear such as discount coupons, pop-up and pop-under ads, banners, and other promotional products and search suggestions and even hyperlinks might be embedded into the text of popular webpages. If any of those ads are interacted with, the user could be redirected to a site with malicious content or an advertisement page of a fake product.
The main aim of Fdownloader is to generate as much traffic as possible to domains, which could easily be monetized through an online marketing platform. Also the user can be tricked into buying one of the advertised, suspicious products which might not help at all, and even infect the computer with similar PUPs.
Remove FDownloader Completely
To remove FDownloader manually from your computer, be sure to follow the step-by-step removal instructions below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of this PUP completely, you should search for and remove the leftover files with an advanced anti-malware program. Installing such a program will also make sure that your system is safe from other, future threats you may come across.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall FDownloader in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 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 get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes 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:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall FDownloader.
Step 2: Remove FDownloader 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 FDownloader and click “Remove”
After FDownloader is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select FDownloader 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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall FDownloader. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the FDownloader will be removed.
Step 3: Remove FDownloader automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
To clean your computer you should download an updated anti-malware program on a safe PC and then install it on the affected computer in offline mode. After that you should boot into safe mode and scan your computer to remove all FDownloader associated objects.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove FDownloader from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for FDownloader with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall FDownloader and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader (Windows).
Get rid of FDownloader from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall FDownloader 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 FDownloader. 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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as FDownloader, 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 FDownloader (Mac)
Remove FDownloader 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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader will be removed.
Eliminate FDownloader 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".
FDownloader-FAQ
What Is FDownloader?
The FDownloader 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 FDownloader?
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 FDownloader?
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 FDownloader Work?
Once installed, FDownloader 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.
FDownloader 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 FDownloader 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 FDownloader Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this FDownloader 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 FDownloader?
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 FDownloader threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.