How to remove HideMeFast browser hijacker

Easy steps to delete HideMeFast from PC

HideMeFast is described as suspicious websites that is mainly designed to cause unwanted browser redirection as well as comes under the category of redirect virus. This perilous threat is created and developed by cyber hackers whose main motive is to earn illegal money through phishing innocent users. It is able to infect any Windows based computer and mostly used browsers such as Google chrome, Edge, Mozilla Firefox, IE, Safari and many others. After that, this software operates by making certain modifications to browsers in order to promote in order to promote fake search engines.

However, this malware behaves in different manner as it promotes legitimate search engine bing.com without redirecting web searchers. Due to its dubious methods, HideMeFast is considered to be potentially unwanted application. In simple words, we can say that you cannot visit the website that you want to due to its browser redirect behavior. Generally, such redirects are caused when users open new browser tab or type any query into URL bar. Thus, it becomes impossible for users to reset those changes unless they remove installed browser hijacker. Most browser hijacker has data tracking abilities.

Further, they collect all your information related to browsing habits such as IP addresses, pages viewed, entered search queries, URLs visited and other similar details and shared with potent cyber hackers who misused those data in order to generate revenue as much as possible. Therefore, presence of data tracking software on system as well as browsers leads to severe privacy issues, browsing safety and even also leads to identity exposure. So, to fix all such troubles, it is very much necessary to remove HideMeFast and all suspicious applications as soon as possible from the machine.

PUPs comes bundled with freeware and shareware

Like other harmful threats, HideMeFast enters into your system by using various different methods. The most common and popular methods used by them are software bundling and intrusive advertising. Bundling is described as the stealth installation of unnecessary programs that take place together with other free programs. In most cases, information about bundled apps is not disclosed properly as it is hidden behind custom or advance options as well as other similar settings. However, not all people check all those available settings and keep them remain unchecked and often cause installation of unwanted software. This virus can also invade inside through ads that are mainly designed to cause installation of malware.

Precautionary measures to avoid malware attack:

To prevent intrusion of HideMeFast and other harmful threats, you need to go through below mentioned steps:

Third part downloader, unofficial websites and other tools should not be used as they can offer bundled or deceptive content.

• Always use official websites and direct download links to download software and files as it safe and secure.
• Avoid opening spam emails that are received from unknown or suspicious addresses or if the sender seem irrelevant.
• Keep all installed apps and OS updated using tools or implemented functions provided by official software developers.
• Don’t skip custom or advance options as well as other similar settings of download/installation setups.
• Opt out for all additional attached apps and dismiss offers with the chosen software for download.

Remove HideMeFast

Complete step by step removal instructions have been provided below. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble while performing virus removal process. Besides this, you can also use an automatic malware removal tool such as Spyhunter that can remove HideMeFast and all installed browser hijackers completely and safely from the system.

Short description

Name: HideMeFast

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect, Search hijacker, unwanted new tab, toolbar

Affected browser settings: default search engine, new tab and homepage

Symptoms: modifies internet browser settings without permission and encourage users to visit hijacker’s websites in order to browse the internet by using their search engines.

Intrusion methods: software bundling, deceptive pop-up ads, corrupted websites, executable files, harmful links, fake Flash Player Installers, porn or torrent sites and many more.

Damage: display of unwanted and annoying advertisements, internet browsing tracking (possibly privacy issues) and redirects to dubious websites.

Removal: In order to remove HideMeFast, you are advised to follow given below step by step removal instructions or you can use reliable anti-malware removal tool.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove HideMeFast:

Remove the related items of HideMeFast using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing HideMeFast issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (HideMeFast) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to HideMeFast removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to HideMeFast still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove HideMeFast plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in HideMeFast removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete HideMeFast (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.