Stop browsers from opening the fastandprettysearch.com website address
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is fastandprettysearch.com?
fastandsearch.com is a fake search engine, however, it is advertised as useful and legitimate. Generally, developers distribute search engines of this type through rogue download or installation set-ups. These set-ups promote fake search engines by changing browser settings. The search engines are generally used to gather various information.
In most cases, download/installation set-ups change browser settings within Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer. In this case, the address of the homepage, new tab URL, and default search engine are assigned to fastandsearch.com.
Generally, users cannot undo or change these settings, since the set-ups install 'helper objects' - apps (extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins) that prevent users from modifying or undoing the aforementioned settings.
As long as these apps are installed, people are forced to visit a specific web address (in this case, fastandsearch.com) when they open a new browser window, tab, or enter a search query into the URL bar. To stop this, users must to uninstall the 'helper objects'.
Additionally, fake search engines and 'helper objects' usually collect details such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited web pages, geolocations, and other information relating to users' browsing activity.
Typically, people behind these apps and search engines share all gathered data with other parties (potentially cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. Note, the data might also include sensitive information.
| Name | fastandprettysearch.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Serving IP Address | 128.199.42.156 |
| Supposed Functionality | This fake search engine supposedly provides faster searches, more accurate results, etc. |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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 browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Other examples of fake search engines are approvedresults.com, searchinggood.com, and page-ups.com. Unfortunately, there are many more.
Typically, people who use them have no idea that they can cause problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and even identity theft. Developers advertise them as legitimate search engines, however, most are useless and designed only to generate revenue by dubious means.
How did fastandprettysearch.com install on my computer?
Some potentially unwanted apps can be downloaded from websites that are used to advertise them, however, most users download and install them through intrusive advertisement that they click, or when they are included in set-ups of various (usually free) software.
Generally, offers to download or install this additional software (unwanted apps) are hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" or similar settings of the download/installation set-ups. Furthermore, many users download and install software without checking settings included in the set-ups, thereby causing additional unwanted downloads and installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Download software from official, trustworthy websites. Third party software downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks and other similar channels/tools are often used to promote/distribute unwanted applications.
Check all available "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings or options during any download or installation process, and deselect offers to download/install additionally-included apps. Intrusive ads should not be trusted or clicked, especially if they are displayed on dubious websites.
For instance, on those relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, and so on. To stop browsers from showing unwanted ads and opening dubious web pages, remove all unwanted programs that are installed on the computer and apps (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) installed on the browser.
If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
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Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is fastandprettysearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove fastandprettysearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove fastandprettysearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove fastandprettysearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove fastandprettysearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
fastandprettysearch.com redirect 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the fastandprettysearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
fastandprettysearch.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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://fastandprettysearch.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 "fastandprettysearch.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the fastandprettysearch.com 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
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.fastandprettysearch.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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 "fastandprettysearch.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 fastandprettysearch.com 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 on "Extensions" and remove all 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, remove hxxp://fastandprettysearch.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: "fastandprettysearch.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with fastandprettysearch.com 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 fastandprettysearch.com 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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