RunSpeedCheck Search Redirect - How to remove

RunSpeedCheck, Runspeedcheck.com, or just Run Speed Check is a browser add-on that changes your default search engine to Runspeedcheck.com which redirects to Yahoo, and then it also reads your browsing history and logs your search queries. It’s presented like it’ll help you check your internet speed, but all it does is change your search settings to show you more ads.

RunSpeedCheck search hijacker description:

Type of threat	Browser hijacker, adware.
RunSpeedCheck hijacking symptoms	Yahoo.com delivers search results, “RunSpeedCheck” appears in your omnibox.
Problems with the add-on	Reads your search queries and your browsing history, forces you to use Yahoo.com.
Remove RunSpeedCheck Yahoo redirect	Open browser settings and remove all unwanted browser extensions, check your computer for malware (automatically – with a program like SpyHunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for MacOS, etc.).

Runspeedcheck.com is a search hijacker

RunSpeedCheck is a web browser add-on, or extension. Browser extensions are small applications that change or add browser functions. In RunSpeedCheck’s case, it just changes your browser’s search settings. Regardless of what you used to use to search the web before RunSpeedCheck, it makes sure that you go to Yahoo.com.

This add-on is called “Run Speed Check” in the Google Play Store, but it’s “RunSpeedCheck” (no spaces) in the omnibox of a hijacked web browser, so that’s why I’m calling it that.

RunSpeedCheck reads your search queries – that’s made clear in the privacy policy. Basically, the whole reason for RunSpeedCheck’s existence is to make ad-money by forcing you to use the monetized search engine affiliated with RunSpeedCheck’s creators. They make money while your time is being wasted with search engine ads.

RunSpeedCheck is made by Webcoapps, just like RadioFanatics Search, SearchBox, and PDFPros. Their business model seems to be creating very minimal (or even useless) browser extensions and then monetizing them by hijacking the users’ search. Sure, most search engines make money from advertising. Though it might be difficult to notice because search sites try to make the ads look like genuine results as much as possible. But you can decide which search engine to use. RunSpeedCheck takes that away by hijacking the setting in your browser. If you’re to free your search, you have to remove this extension.

By the way, RunSpeedCheck.com does have an internet speed measuring function, also monetized with ads. It is borrowed from NetMeter.co.uk. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just a basic meter like any other one.

How RunSpeedCheck spreads

Hardly anyone installs RunSpeedCheck because they want to. That’s just not how browser hijackers work. Instead, ads for Webcoapp’s extensions, like appear on file downloading sites and monetized URL shortener stops. These ads appear next to gambling ads, diet pill promos, and adult chat advertisements.

As you can imagine, these types of ads tend to have deceptive designs that trick people into clicking on them even if they aren’t interested in the thing being advertised. For example, you could accidentally install RunSpeedCheck after clicking on an ad that was styled like a download button. Mistaken installation is very plausible as browser extensions are very easy to install.

I’m extrapolating from other products made by, presumably, the same company. There’s not a lot of info about RunSpeedCheck as it’s still a pretty small browser hijacker (and, hopefully, it will stay that way). But when you look up the products made by the same company, contact, or IP, you get a whole lot of malicious and semi-malicious websites and browser extensions (Linkury, Any Search Manager by Safe Finder, Install.stream-me.com and similar) that we have seen use deceptive installation methods, including the Flash SD App screen.

Another possibility for how RunSpeedCheck made it on your computer is bundling. Bundling is when a free program’s installer carries in it a bunch of potentially unwanted little programs. For example, you may be installing a freeware photo editor and it may offer you to enhance your web search or your browser’s new tab. These offers actually install browser extensions similar to RunSpeedCheck.

Worse, these offers can be really hard to notice sometimes – written in tiny font and tucked away on a screen with boring settings or terms of service that nobody reads. This is done on purpose to get as many installations as possible, even if those installations are unwanted.

How to remove RunSpeedCheck and restore your web search

Removing RunSpeedCheck should be pretty simple: just right-click on its icon in the upper right corner of your web browser. The icon is a little gray thing. After clicking on it, you should get a pop-up menu with one of the options being to “Remove” it.

If the icon is not visible, then go to browser settings where all the extensions are listed. The instructions are below. And take this opportunity to review all the extensions that you have installed and remove the ones that you don’t need.

Some of the tells of RunSpeedCheck and other browser hijackers:

• obscure and untrustworthy developer,
• permissions that aren’t required for the extension to work, like reading your browsing history,
• extensions that get installed without your knowledge,
• add-ons that have more than one function (for example, measuring your internet speed and changing your search settings),
• extensions promoted by confusing ads that require that you install them.

Scan your computer with an antivirus program, like SpyHunter for PC, Combo Cleaner for Mac, or another one. This would automatically check your computer for malware. Which might be a good idea, what with the Any Search Manager apparently being used as cover by an adware trojan. I hope that there’s no malware on your computer at all, but it’s good to always be vigilant.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually uninstall unwanted extensions

TopRemoving RunSpeedCheck Search Redirect 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 RunSpeedCheck Redirect. Click on the trash bin icon next to RunSpeedCheck Search Redirect 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 RunSpeedCheck 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.

How to remove RunSpeedCheck Search Redirect from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to RunSpeedCheck Search Redirect. Click on the "Remove" icon next to RunSpeedCheck Redirect 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 Microsoft Edge.