eSpeedDownload Search is a browser hijacker, that spreads as an extension, which supposedly helps you instantly access your internet speed test and organize downloaded files, but at the same time configures browser’s settings, fully replacing homepage and search engine. These modifications are not meant to benefit the user, but to bring a good profit to eSpeedDownload developers, therefore if you happen to see this plugin on your Chrome, then it’s about time to remove it.
Espeeddownload Search Hijacker quicklinks
- Is eSpeedDownload Search extension safe
- How does eSpeedDownload Search hijacker spread
- How to remove eSpeedDownload Search hijacker
- Automatic Malware removal tools
- Ways to uninstall eSpeedDownload Search plugin from Chrome
(Win)
Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,
(Mac)
Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,
Even though companies are trying to fight against malicious applications being placed on their plugin offering sites, it is not uncommon for browser hijackers to cunningly bypass the regulations and disseminate as extensions for browsers, especially Chrome, because that is the most widely used search provider. The eSpeedDownload Search too has a devious strategy allowing to put all the blame for its bad actions on the victim, who according to the warnings automatically aggress to everything the extension does by simply keeping it installed.
In this post, we’ll disclose all the negative sides of eSpeedDownload Search hijacker, consequences you should expect after using it and also techniques our researchers found to be most effective for the removal of this malevolent extension. Apart from that, don’t forget that prevention is better than cure, and spare some time learning about how to tell Legitimate extensions from malware apart.
Is eSpeedDownload Search extension safe
As you can already tell by the given name and introduction, eSpeedDownload Search is a browser hijacker and is not trustworthy at all. Typically, users are able to tell whether such plugins are safe to use or not, depending on how they got inside the system and also Privacy Policy (which people Barely ever read). Obviously, if eSpeedDownload Search extension appeared on your Chrome out of nowhere, right after the set up of another program or you got redirected to its Chrome Web Store from a shady site, then for sure these are the red flags of an application, which is potentially malicious and has to use other side help to gain popularity, instead of trusting own advertising and natural user interest in product.
Since eSpeedDownload Search hijacker is developed as a tool to generate revenue for the crooks, there is not much use of it, because the main focus of the developers was to make functions which will allow unmonitored online marketing and very little of it spent on adding a useful feature. The same concept is seen in News.mysearches.co, Searchitnow.info, SpecialSearchOption and etc. So what are these advertising tricks that put users in danger but make hackers their money?
Each malware uses a different technique to Build their revenue, however, for the past few years e-commerce has been on the peak allowing anyone to earn tons of cash if you are able to push a significant amount of ads to crowds of people, part of who end up clicking or purchasing the promoted product/service. PPC/PPV/PPA are the ways how compromised users add money to eSpeedDownload Search hijacker’s pocket. Moreover, the replaced homepage and redirected traffic to Yahoo Search also contributes to developers wealth. And that is exactly why after the installation of eSpeedDownload plugin, each time you browse, you’ll notice excessive promotions, banners, offers all over the World Wide Web.
Mind you, the third-party content that eSpeedDownload Search hijacker creators are posting on your screen is not regulated at all, as long as they sponsor the extension, therefore you can easily end up seeing some inappropriate content (Like the beauty apps that send users porn ads), as well as become a victim of Malvertising, when an eye-catching article banner will redirect you to an installer of some computer virus. But on top of everything, the worst part is that since eSpeedDownload Search virus will be fully responsible for the content you see and search provider you use, all of the information that will go through your browser will be gathered, analyzed and possibly sold to other unknown corporations for marketing reasons and more.
The browsing history, visited websites and entered search queries, passwords, credit card numbers, emails, names, gender, and location will all be visible to eSpeedDownload Search hijacker developers, which will be making money out of it. So if you want to keep your data, online identity and computer safe, you must begin the removal process of eSpeedDownload Search virus or else you may end up with an even more compromised computer, empty bank and hacked accounts.
How does eSpeedDownload Search hijacker spread
The eSpeedDownload Search hijacker spreads with the help of self-advertising on the espeedcheck.com website and Chrome Web store, which users come across when looking for a tool to effectively measure internet speed. But this technique is not the main one that brings the biggest traffic. It has been noticed that a lot of visitors of eSpeedDownload Search website and extension store come from redirects from other websites, meaning that developers of the plugin are paying ad networks to place diverting banners on some other pages, which will lead to their hijacker’s installation domain. Additionally, eSpeedDownload Search virus can sneak in as an additional, potentially unwanted app in a bundle of other programs as an automatically preselected software, which user can opt out only if they run the Setup Wizard in Advanced/Custom mode.
How to remove eSpeedDownload Search hijacker
The best way to get rid of eSpeedDownload Search hijacker is to combine both manual and automatic removal techniques. Although using an anti-spyware tool is typically enough to cleanse the computer fully, at times the extension blocks users from downloading any new security software or tries to sell another shady product instead of the reputable one, therefore it is best to begin eliminating eSpeedDownload virus by uninstalling it from the Chrome yourself as shown in the instructions below, so the further processes and your browsing won’t be interrupted anymore.
After the successful elimination of eSpeedDownload Search hijacker, it is very beneficial to run a free scan with Spyhunter malware removal programs, which use their large virus databases to find other potential threats that may have entered once the system’s vulnerabilities were exposed or were always there hidden inside of the computer, but you have not noticed before.
Automatic Malware removal tools
(Win)
Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,
(Mac)
Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,
Ways to uninstall eSpeedDownload Search plugin from Chrome
Here we present the step-by-step instructions on how to remove eSpeedDownload Search hijacker from the extensions section on your Chrome. It is very important to delete it fully and not just disable. The uninstall does not differ than any other plugin removal, yet if you have never done it or got challenged at one step or another, it should be beneficial for you. If for some reason that does not work, simply continue with the removal with an anti-spyware tool.
TopHow To remove eSpeedDownload Search hijacker from Google Chrome:
- Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
- Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
- Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
- Select Manage Search engines
- Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
- Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
- If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
- Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings
If you are still experiencing any issues related to eSpeedDownload Search hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
- Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
- Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
- Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.
TopHow to remove eSpeedDownload Search hijacker from Google Chrome on Mac:
- Open Chrome browser.
- Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
- Find eSpeedDownload Search hijacker on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
- Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
- Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
- On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.
- On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
- Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.
