Remove FindFormsNow(.)com and Search.searchffn(.)com Hijacker

by Berta Bilbao | May 17, 2016 | 0 Comments ad-supported application, browser extension, browser hijacker, redirects

Threat Summary FindFormsNow(.)com – Spread FindFormsNow(.)com – Technical Information Remove FindFormsNow(.)com Completely

FindFormsNow(.)com is a website that hosts an extension for a browser hijacker. The extension is of the same name. The site is considered an adware because it generates ads. The extension is a version of the related browser hijacker. This hijacker can be spread with other programs. To remove the unwanted programs and get your settings back to normal, read the article to the end.

Threat Summary

Name	FindFormsNow
Type	Browser Hijacker, Adware, PUP
Short Description	Your browsers will have their homepage, new tab and the search engine changed. Sponsored ads appear in your search results.
Symptoms	Shows adverts, redirects and modifies a browser’s homepage, new tab and search engine.
Distribution Method	Freeware Installations, Bundle Packages
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss FindFormsNow.

FindFormsNow(.)com – Spread

FindFormsNow can be located inside third-party installations. The unwanted application can intrude your computer without you knowing. That is because it hides in freeware installations and bundled packages. Similar packages often have additional components for installation selected by default. Avoiding those from being installed is doable by checking for a Custom or an Advanced menu within a setup.

FindFormsNow also has an extension that spreads it on the site. The FindFormsNow(.)com is only one of the sites that spreads it. Clicking on adverts or visiting sites with low reputation could also be a factor in the distribution. Browsers that are affected: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox.

FindFormsNow(.)com – Technical Information

FindFormsNow(.)com is the main website address where the browser hijacker and adware reside. The home page, new tab and search engine of your browsers will be changed to Search.searchffn(.)com. Even just staying on that page can show you advertisements. Here’s an example:

An extension hosted on various sites can also be installed. You can get redirected to other places from it. The extension connected to the unwanted application is able to do the following:

Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
Read and change your browsing history
Manage your downloads
Manage your apps, extensions, and themes

All your searches will be filtered via the Search.searchffn(.)com hijacker web address for every query. You can be redirected to affiliate sites of FindFormsNow(.)com. Sponsored advert content can appear on the search results page.

As you see in the image up above, Yahoo Search could be used as a search engine. Probably this is done to fool you that you are running a legitimate app. Advertising is present as pop-ups, pop-unders, banners or others. Websites you can be redirected to can get revenue on a pay-per-click basis.

The Privacy Policy of FindFormsNow(.)com clearly claims that information which is personal and non-personal is to be gathered. All information is shared with their third-party partners.

According to the policy information that can be collected is:

Search queries and all data you type in searches
Search data and specifics of searches
Browser (version and type)
URLs and clicks
IP address
Country of residence, home address
Name, education, interests
Communications preferences
Telephone number
Operating System (and other related data)

You can see an image of the Policy down here:

By using the FindFormsNow(.)com site, and all associated services and applications, you grant your consent for your data to be collected. Cookies and tracking technologies might be used to gather the data mentioned above.

Remove FindFormsNow(.)com Completely

To remove FindFormsNow(.)com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions given down below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the browser hijacker and ads completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a tool will help keep your system secure.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.

Guide 1: How to Remove FindFormsNow from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of FindFormsNow on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove FindFormsNow in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase FindFormsNow from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall FindFormsNow from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove FindFormsNow from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate FindFormsNow from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable FindFormsNow Push Notifications in Your Browsers.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

How to Remove FindFormsNow from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove FindFormsNow

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall FindFormsNow 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by FindFormsNow 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 FindFormsNow there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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.

Step 4: Scan for FindFormsNow with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is 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. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of FindFormsNow from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall FindFormsNow and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to FindFormsNow:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to FindFormsNow. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. 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 FindFormsNow. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 FindFormsNow 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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as FindFormsNow. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 FindFormsNow files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as FindFormsNow, 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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for FindFormsNow:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove FindFormsNow 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Erase FindFormsNow 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Uninstall FindFormsNow 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove FindFormsNow 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 FindFormsNow will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate FindFormsNow 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.