TestForSpeed Search Redirect - How to remove

The TestForSpeed has a built-in internet speed tester, as well as an unsafe search hijacker that’s made to deliver ads and spy on people. That might sound a little extreme, but TestForSpeed is a very typical example of a potentially unwanted program that, while not being a real virus, is often adjacent to them.

Despite browsers trying to curb malicious and predatory extensions being installed on systems, the search hijacker industry seems to still be thriving. These add-ons, once installed, change the affected browser’s settings (they usually only affect one browser) to limit which websites are used by default to search for information and which page is opened on new tabs. Because TestForSpeed and other hijackers have the power to read and change the user’s data on some (or sometimes, all) websites that the user visits, they can inject ads and monitor the user’s activity closely.

That’s why, when an extension takes more power than it really needs for just measuring your internet speed, it’s put in the group of browser hijackers and declared unsafe.

How do people install TestForSpeed?

Normal and malicious ads are found distributing TestForSpeed and other Ask Applications products. Ads on filesharing websites, freeware hosting websites, streaming, torrent, browser game sites, and even wikis can lead to TestForSpeed. Besides normal ads, I also mean the types of ads that redirect you from your expected destination or are in some way dishonest, such as the ad thumbnail looks completely different from the landing page. For example, you click on an article’s title but have a new tab opened with the TestForSpeed installation page (free.testforspeed.com) — like Friendlyappz.com or gsafe.getawsome3.com.

TestForSpeed partners with some very aggressive advertising networks that employ redirecting websites like, for example, Install.notify-service.com. Besides forwarding people to random advertisements for hijackers, scams, and screen-lockers, these sites are capable of spamming people with unwanted pop-up ads by tricking people to invite notifications. The same ads advertise MyMapsExpress, Flash Media Start, and other hijackers.

Another possibility of how you installed TestForSpeed is with the help of bundler software. Free programs can profit by including additional, optional offers in their installer and collecting a small payment for each successful installation of the promoted software. This method is used a lot online by freeware distributors and can result in accidental, involuntary installation. This causes issues later, when the user experiences problems with their computer but cannot identify the cause — because they didn’t knowingly install the offending software.

Is TestForSpeed safe?

According to VirusTotal, TestForSpeed is at least a suspicious extension. The act of changing the default search engine, for example, is common to many browser hijackers that try to make their users view more ads that they can then profit from. If a user actually wants to change their search engine, they can do that in the settings.

On Chrome, the most popular web browser by far, the Ask extension can “read and change all your data on the websites you visit”, which includes your passwords. That doesn’t mean that Ask or TestForSpeed actually does it, but installing an extension with that permission is like giving your home key to an acquaintance.

Browser extensions are inherently a risk because, when installed, they get access to your browser and can abuse it, in theory. For example, some add-ons get popular, then are sold and turned into adware. Another problem is clone extensions. These are made by cloning legitimate add-ons, injecting malicious code into them, such as password stealing, and uploading them to the official store. There are tons of TestForSpeed-like search hijackers online, freely available and actively marketed, despite being so risky.

While TestForSpeed is not that malicious, it does exhibit some concerning behaviors, such as bundling Ask or using malicious and aggressive ads to promote itself. The fact that it collects information for advertisers might also make some users uneasy. And the way that TestForSpeed forces people to use only certain search engines to increase their popularity is dishonest.

How to remove TestForSpeed

Manual removal is sufficient for TestForSpeed and the instructions for different browsers are below this article. Supplementing manual uninstall with an automatic scan (try Spyhunter) would be beneficial. Completely removing risky and unwanted programs would ultimately improve your cybersecurity. The problem with malware is that even having only one unwanted app infect your machine increases your risk of encountering more malware.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove TestForSpeed using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like TestForSpeed Search Redirect install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to TestForSpeed . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make TestForSpeed Search Redirect easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove TestForSpeed from macOS

Delete TestForSpeed Search Redirect from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the TestForSpeed app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to TestForSpeed 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 TestForSpeed, 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.

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

How to remove TestForSpeed 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 TestForSpeed. Click on the "Remove" icon next to TestForSpeed 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 Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving TestForSpeed from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the TestForSpeed Search Redirect. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
  
• Restart Safari.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

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

• Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

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