Search.hfreeformsnow.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.hfreeformsnow.com?
Developers present Free Forms Now as a legitimate application that supposedly provides various printable document forms. Initially, these functions may appear legitimate and useful, however, Free Forms Now is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) installation without users' consent; 2) promotion of a fake search engine (search.hfreeformsnow.com), and; 3) monitoring of web browsing activity.
Research shows that Free Forms Now targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, Free Forms Now stealthily assigns search.hfreeformsnow.com as the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine browser settings. In addition, Free Forms Now continues to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit search.hfreeformsnow.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. Another significant downside is information tracking.
Research shows that Free Forms Now and search.hfreeformsnow.com collect various user-system information. IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other gathered data might contain personal details that developers sell to third parties who misuse private data to generate revenue.
Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall the Free Forms Now browser hijacker and never return to search.hfreeformsnow.com
| Name | Free Forms Now browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are dozens of browser-hijacking applications released by search.hfreeformsnow.com's developers, all of which are identical. For example, My Local Transit, Digital Coin Tracker, Email Inbox Login, and many others. These applications offer different functionality, however, they have identical behavior.
PUPs such as Free Forms Now are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and deliver no real value for regular users.
Fake search engines cause unwanted redirects (thereby promoting fake search engines) and gather private data. In addition, some feed users with misleading results and intrusive advertisements. These typically lead to dubious (potentially, malicious) websites. Therefore, using a fake search engine might lead to high-risk computer infections.
How did search.hfreeformsnow.com install on my computer?
Free Forms Now has an official download website, however, due to the lack of knowledge and careless behavior of many users, this PUP often infiltrates systems without permission. Developers proliferate this PUP using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" and the aforementioned intrusive advertisements.
"Bundling" is stealth installation of third party applications together with regular (typically free) programs.
Developers hide "bundled" applications within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download or installation processes. Many users rush these procedures, skip steps, and click advertisements. This behavior often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs such as Free Forms Now.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The key to computer safety is caution and, therefore, pay close attention when browsing the Internet and, especially when downloading/installing software. Bear in mind that criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design. Therefore, most look legitimate. Despite this, intrusive ads redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites.
Most are delivered by adware-type PUPs. Therefore, if you encounter them, immediately eliminate all suspicious software/browser extensions. Furthermore, carefully analyze each window of the download/installation processes and cancel all additionally-included programs.
You are also advised to download your applications from official sources only using direct download links. Third party downloaders/installers are monetized using the "bundling" method, and thus, these tools should never be used.
Website promoting Free Forms Now browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.hfreeformsnow.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Free Forms Now application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hfreeformsnow.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Free Forms Now browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hfreeformsnow.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hfreeformsnow.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Free Forms Now browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "Free Forms Now"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.hfreeformsnow.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Free Forms Now browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects (Windows OS):
Video showing how to remove browser redirects to search.hfreeformsnow.com using Combo Cleaner:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.hfreeformsnow.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Free Forms Now".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the free forms now browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Free Forms Now" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hfreeformsnow.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "search.hfreeformsnow.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the free forms now browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "Free Forms Now" (or simply "Forms"), as well as all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, disable "Free Forms Now" (or simply "Forms"), remove hxxp://search.hfreeformsnow.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with free forms now browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the free forms now browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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