FreeTemplateFinder Search Hijacker - How to remove

FreeTemplateFinder is a browser extension by Mindspark, it’s supposed to help people find free printable templates easily on the yourtemplatefinder.com website. Although it does do that, FreeTemplateFinder also oversteps the bounds of a well-meaning extension and turns into a search hijacker by claiming the homepage settings and reading your browsing history. Antivirus vendors consider FreeTemplateFinder to be a PUP and an adware app.

What is FreeTemplateFinder

The homepage set in your browser by FreeTemplateFinder once it’s installed looks like this: hp.myway.com/FreeTemplateFinder/ttab02/index.html?. It might not show this URL in your address bar while it is installed, but that’s what the site looks like. FreeTemplateFinder tries to get you to use the Myway search engine by putting a search bar that leads to it in the middle of this mandatory new tab page. On top of reading your search queries, FreeTemplateFinder reads your browsing history and uses it to improve targeted advertising.

FreeTemplateFinder problems and removal:

Classification	Adware Browser hijacker
Issues with FreeTemplateFinder	Browsing history and search terms are exposed to the extension Other extensions are promoted through FreeTemplateFinder The hijacker takes over the new tab page
Distribution	Bundling Ads and redirects
Remove FreeTemplateFinder	Uninstall suspicious browser extensions Scan the computer for PUPs (Combo Cleaner for Mac, SpyHunter for PC)

This is mostly what all MyWay extensions look like: instead of being as out-of-the-way as possible, they take over the homepage, look at what other extensions you have installed, and otherwise act like browser hijackers: FreeTemplateFinder, QuickTemplateFinder, YourTemplateFinder, AnytimeAstrology, and dozens of other browser add-ons.

Years ago, MyWay extensions used to promote Ask.com as the search engine. They still do that somewhat. For example, FreeTemplateFinder tries to get you to install Search Extension by Ask.com using misleading design: right after you install FreeTemplateFinder, the page shows a box with a partially filled loading bar, implying that the installation is ongoing – when it’s actually offering a new extension.

While FreeTemplateFinder takes over your new tab page, Ask makes its home in your address bar. Both of these extensions are owned by the same company, so they’re cooperating here. And though the Ask extension recently stopped being able to see everything that you did on every website you go to and now only reads you on its own ask.com sites, it’s still not great for your privacy and your ability to choose how you search the web.

FreeTemplateFinder is not as bad as it would have been a few years ago – with pop-up ads on every site. But people’s concerns about their privacy have also gone up, so FreeTemplateFinder is still considered a potentially unwanted application. FreeTemplateFinder is meant to help its developers gather data about their users to improve their advertising efforts, the free template finding functionality (just a few links to a website that you can use with or without FreeTemplateFinder) has nothing to do with it.

Distribution

Let’s look at Mozilla’s tips for assessing the safety of a browser extension. Even before you install FreeTemplateFinder, it’s suspicious:

• The developer is known for creating a lot of browser hijackers.
• There are no in-depth reviews of the extension by its users, nothing commenting on specific features candidly – despite hundreds of thousands of users having installed FreeTemplateFinder.
• Some of the permissions have nothing to do with the functionality of the extension. There are explanations in FreeTemplateFinder’s description, but they’re shaky. For example, why does it need to replace your new tab page when it could have contained the page in a pop-up shown by clicking on FreeTemplateFinder’s extension icon?

It looks as if FreeTemplateFinder is not always installed by people voluntarily or even with their knowledge. Looking at web analytics, a lot of FreeTemplateFinder’s ads come through URL shorteners like Ckk.ai. Ads for MyWay extensions tend to be very aggressive. A small fraction of people find it through search.

Search hijackers tend to get installed with the help of adware bundles – free useful programs that install potentially unwanted applications alongside. If FreeTemplateFinder appeared in your browser and you don’t know why, think about whether you’ve installed a free program recently. The pay-per-install model is used for spreading a variety of search hijackers, tracking applications, and paid utility programs.

FreeTemplateFinder removal

FreeTemplateFinder and other suspicious browser extensions can be removed manually and it’s advisable to scan your computer with an antivirus tool that can detect PUPs, like Combo Cleaner for MacOS or SpyHunter for Windows.

Also, it’s a good idea to check your other browser extensions and review where you download your software from and what kinds of websites you visit. The websites that advertise FreeTemplateFinder also have a higher chance than average of promoting fake virus warnings and software updates. And bundling spreads shady software like Advanced Driver Booster and DriverDoc.

Automatic Malware removal tools

TopRemoving FreeTemplateFinder Search Hijacker from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to FreeTemplateFinder Search Redirect. Click on the trash bin icon next to FreeTemplateFinder Search Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to FreeTemplateFinder Search Redirect, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset 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.

TopRemoving FreeTemplateFinder Search Hijacker from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything FreeTemplateFinder Search Redirect related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to FreeTemplateFinder Search Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to FreeTemplateFinder Search Redirect and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to FreeTemplateFinder Search Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.