TestOnlineSpeed New Tab - How to remove

TestOnlineSpeed is a browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox) plugin that was released by Mindspark Interactive to, supposedly, help users test their internet speed. This is far from the only internet speed measuring plugin that they’ve released, which reveals something about the real goal of this extension – hijacking and advertising to users of the TestOnlineSpeed new tab.

TestOnlineSpeed adware

TestOnlineSpeed does provide a functional test for how fast your computer uploads and downloads from the internet, revealing the real speed of your connection. But it doesn’t work like other speed tests – it doesn’t hide in a pop-up that you can access whenever you click the icon extension. Instead, TestOnlineSpeed takes over your whole new tab page and to access it, you always need to open that page. That’s an essential part of extensions like TestOnlineSpeed because the real product isn’t the tool to test your internet speed; the real product is the new tab page and especially the search box in the middle of it. InternetSpeedTracker, InternetSpeedRadar, DownSpeedTest, and a few other names were used for new tab add-ons that behave just like TestOnlineSpeed addon by putting a MyWay search bar in the middle of the new tab page.

TestOnlineSpeed features and removal:

Classification	Browser hijacker Adware
TestOnlineSpeed effects	The homepage and the new tab page is hijacked by TestOnlineSpeed (it look like “hp.myway.com/testonlinespeed/ttab02/index.html”) MyWay.com and Ask.com are the search engines promoted by the hijacker Browsing history and search terms exposed to the add-on
Installation	Advertised on torrent and streaming sites Downloaded hidden in the installers of other free programs
Uninstall TestOnlineSpeed	Find suspicious programs (Combo Cleaner for Mac, SpyHunter for PC) Remove TestOnlineSpeed manually

TestOnlineSpeed new tab is made by Mindspark to advertise that company’s products, like its own search engine MyWay.com. If you install TestOnlineSpeed manually, it’s likely that the Search Extension by Ask add-on will come with it because the same company owns that, too. It’s like a little family of adware comes to live inside your browser. Your search engine might be hijacked and your browsing history is definitely being read by these add-ons, while they do the bare minimum to try to appear useful.

It’s then no surprise that TestOnlineSpeed is adware according to so many antivirus programs. Users of these extensions sometimes complain about pop-up ads appearing everywhere when they’re browsing, as well as unwanted notifications. But one of the most common complaints is the installation, which is sometimes unexpected and unwanted.

Unwanted installation

Though it’s possible to find this extension by just searching for a way to test your internet speed, that seems unlikely. More probably, you got TestOnlineSpeed without meaning to install it. It’s totally possible:

• Bundlers can install unwanted new tab plugins without your explicit consent.
• Ads and redirects trick people to install add-ons.

This add-on uses bundling, which is a way for new tab plugins, spyware, and other unwanted extensions to be delivered to the computers of unsuspecting users. The bundler is the front program that you download from some software sharing site, or even the developer’s website. If TestOnlineSpeed is bundled with it, it’ll probably be a footnote in one of the setup screens. Its installation might even be put off by a few days, making it appear like TestOnlineSpeed just fell out of the sky.

Online pop-ups and ads is another good explanation. Various notification spammers, such as Ckk.ai and other URL shorteners, are used to promote TestOnlineSpeed and similar new tab add-ons on online streaming and torrent sites. Less commonly, ads for new tab adware appear on mainstream sites, so being careful about which ads you click on is always important.

Deceptive websites sometimes try to take over your screen and try to force you to complete the installation, but going along with it is never the correct answer. If a website takes over your browser, you can close it using keyboard shortcuts (just press the keyboard buttons at the same time):

• Close the current window with Alt+F4 for Windows, Cmd+W for Mac.
• Alternatively, open the current processes using Ctrl+Shift+Esc for Windows, Cmd+Alt+Esc for Mac OS, and close the process of your browser.

How to get rid of TestOnlineSpeed

This new tab add-on affects PC, Mac, even Linux computers – it depends on the browser. Chrome is the most popular and TestOnlineSpeed definitely works on it, but a version for Internet Explorer exists, too. different browsers have slightly different ways to access extension settings (the instructions are in the following section) and uninstalling the TestOnlineSpeed plugin should be enough to get rid of it. If it’s not, you might need the help of an antivirus program, like a malware remover like SpyHunter for PC, or Combo Cleaner for Mac.

If it was a bundler that downloaded TestOnlineSpeed to your computer, that might be worth examining. You can use antivirus tools to look for potentially unwanted programs in your computer. Applications that smuggle junkware tend to get a poor reputation for that. Consider finding a different, safer website for finding freeware. And always scan installers with antivirus tools.

Ads for TestOnlineSpeed might be very difficult to avoid, so just remember to be careful. Ad-blockers could help, anti-malware tools with web protection could also be useful. Keeping your browser and operating system up-to-date is quite important when dealing with malicious ads, so don’t delay installing security patches.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove TestOnlineSpeed New Tab using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab from macOS

Delete TestOnlineSpeed New Tab from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab, 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab. Click on the trash bin icon next to TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab, 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab, 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab. Click on the "Remove" icon next to TestOnlineSpeed New Tab 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the TestOnlineSpeed New Tab. 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 TestOnlineSpeed New Tab, 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.