Just a few days ago, PC users found a new popup adware embedded a URL starting with fastonlinefinder.com. According to what victims report so far, fastonlinefinder.com has been verified to be able to double underline and color in-text words, implanting hyperlinks directing to sites like aol.careerbuilder.com and endlessmatches.com so that PC users will detect them when they hover the words.
Fastonlinefinder.com is obviously an adware, but alien from the average adware in general. PC users who detect fastonlinefinder.com on their browsers (e.g. IE, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome) also detect something go weird on the computer:
△ Fastonlinefinder.com pops up in a new window during the surfing session.
△ More advertising sites are seen than before.
△ Computer responds torpidly to commands.
△ It takes longer to load a web page.
△ Control Panel, anti-spyware programs and resetting browsers will not help get rid of fastonlinefinder popup adware.
Take the aforesaid dysfunction into consideration, fastonlinefinder.com can be identified as a browser malware that imposes risks of getting additional virus unknown to affected PC users. It can be told that fastonlinefinder.com popup adware has changed configurations arbitrarily given that the browser reset button doesn’t work well. As a consequence, vulnerability that can be easily exploited by deadly virus becomes into shape. At that moment, information stored in memory is much likely to be collected by tracking cookies and the system will be plagued by various virus.
All the working mechanism of fastonlinefinder.com popup serves to gain huge profit. To make itself popular so that advertisers become prone to ask fastonlinefinder.com for promotion, the adware employs advertising network technology to track domain for showing up the content catering to the target PC user’s preference. In other word, if one sees fastonlinefinder.com pop up around without actions to get rid of it, one’s whereabouts are bound to be recorded. To assure its traffic partners will not deviate from it and obtain another profit after they receive income, hacker behind fastonlinefinder.com would also share the collected information with them. Therefore, whether it is for the sake of computer health or information security, it is always highly suggested to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad as soon as possible. The steps below have been tested to be applicable to all walks of life.
Step1: Disable startup item to prevent fastonlinefinder.com popup ad from showing again.
※ Windows 8
Start screen -> type ‘Task’ -> hit Startup tab -> find and select fastonlinefinder’s startup item -> press Disable to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad.
※ Windows7/vista/XP
Start Menu -> select ‘Run’ -> type ‘MSCONFIG’ -> hit Startup tab -> find and select fastonlinefinder’s startup item -> press Disable all to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad.
Step2: Reset browser to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad.
※ Internet Explorer
> Open Internet Explorer.
> Click on the Tools menu and then select Internet Options.
> In the Internet Options window click on the Advanced tab. Then click on the Restore Defaults button and then press OK.
※ Firefox
> Click on the Firefox button.
> Help.
> Troubleshooting information.
> Locate a box containing ‘Reset Firefox’ button on the left uppers corner of the web page.
※ Google Chrome
> Choose ‘Customize and Control Google Chrome’ menu.
> Select ‘Options’.
> Click ‘Under the Hood’ tab on ‘Options’ window.
> Click ‘Reset to Defaults’ button.
Step3: Enable build-in popup blocker to stop fastonlinefinder.com from popping up.
※ Mozilla Firefox
> Open Mozilla Firefox.
> Click Tools.
> Click Options.
> Click the Web features button on the left hand side of the Options window.
> Get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad.
※ Microsoft Internet Explorer
> Open Internet Explorer.
> Click Tools.
> Click Options.
> Click the Privacy tab.
> Locate pop-up Blocker section at the bottom of the Privacy tab.
> Check “Block pop-ups” option to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad.
※ Google Chrome
> Use Google Toolbar that includes a free popup blocker to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad.
Step4. Manually modify browser settings.
※ IE
> Go to Tools.
> Select Internet option at the bottom of the drop down list.
> Select General tab to
※ Google Chrome
> Click on ‘Customize and control’ Google Chrome icon
> Select ‘Settings’.
> Manage ‘Extension’.
> ‘Manage search engine’.
※ Mozilla Firefox
> At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu.
> Manage Add-ons.
> Modification should be made under Extensions tab and Plugins tab respectively.
Step 5: Show hidden files and folders before find out and delete any item associated with fastonlinefinder.com popup ad in Drive C.
※ Windows 8
> Open Windows Explorer by clicking on Windows Explorer application from Start Screen.
> Select View tab on Windows Explorer window.
> Tick ‘File name extensions’ and ‘Hidden items’ options.
※ Windows 7/XP/Vista
> Open ‘Control Panel’ from Start menu and search for ‘Folder Options’.
> Under View tab to tick ‘Show hidden files and folders and non-tick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)’ and then click ‘OK’.
Step6: Go to the Database and navigate to HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows to find items related to fastonlinefinder.com contained in folders of infected browser (e.g. IE, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome)
※ Windows 8
> Move your mouse over lower right screen
> Click Search charm
> Type ‘regedit’/‘regedit.exe’
> Hit Enter key.
※ Windows 7/XP/Vista
> Press Win key and R key together
> Type ‘regedit’ (without quotation) in the box
> Hit Enter key.
Tips:
If one wants to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com permanently, one should always follow good PC practice:
> Do not use freeware and shareware if there are other better options;
> Check the reputation of the links sent through email and instant message;
> Update Windows as well as installed programs regularly;
> Run full scan at least once a week;
> Always give priority to custom install option when installing programs and install them to other drives, if any;
> Do not randomly click on adware popping up from nowhere;
> Do not update Adobe/ Flash player following the message popping up all of a sudden.
It is worth the notice that fastonlinefinder.com popup issue can happen after streaming videos on reliable source since the hacker behind it knows well that the more popular he/she manages to put fastonlinefinder on, the more profit he/she will get. But the odd is small. Follow the steps above strictly so that to get rid of fastonlinefinder.com popup ad completely and thoroughly. If one lacks of computer technology, feel free to contact VilmaTech Online Support here.
