Search.searchfmn.com

Posted by Max Lehmann on January 19, 2016

What is Search.searchfmn.com?

Search.searchfmn.com is a search engine that is promoted by the Fast Maps Now extension, so users only notice its presence after they click on the Install button available on fastmapsnow.com. It is the Click to Install-type button, and it will download and install the extension for Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. Google Chrome users usually get the Fast Maps Now extension from the Chrome Web Store (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/fast-maps-now/loacbfmngkflichcfamfmfjcaidijofb?utm_source=chrome-app-launcher-info-dialog). Either way, we are sure that the extension is installed if you see the presence of Search.searchfmn.com. Research carried out by the specialists at anti-spyware-101.com has shown that Search.searchfmn.com is very prevalent in the United States. Of course, it is spread in other countries as well, so there are no users who can be sure that Search.searchfmn.com will not replace their homepages and search engines one day. test

How does Search.searchfmn.com act?

Search.searchfmn.com itself is very similar to other search engines, e.g. Yourmapsnow.com, Yourmapscenter.com, Myinterestxp.com, and Mytelevisiongq.com. All the aforementioned search engines appear on browsers after a user installs a particular extension. Even though Search.searchfmn.com is identical to other search engines, we have managed to find out that Fast Maps Now, which will set Search.searchfmn.com, will add the loacbfmngkflichcfamfmfjcaidijofb folder to C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions. In addition, some changes will be applied to the system registry as well, for example, the Start Page value will be modified in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main and URL, TopResultsURL, FaviconURL, FaviconURLFallback values will be modified in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}. These changes will be restored if you remove Search.searchfmn.com and set another search provider in its place.

You might wonder why it is so important to remove Search.searchfmn.com. The answer is really simple – this search engine might put your system at risk rather quickly because it is going to provide you with the sponsored search results. Yes, this search engine really provides easy-access links to Google Maps and other similar web pages, and it will even allow users to check the weather forecast; however, you should still not keep Search.searchfmn.com on your browsers for the sake of your system’s safety. It is advisable to get rid of this search engine because it records information about users as well. For example, it gathers URL’s you visit, information about your search activities, e.g. search queries, and the like. Search.searchfmn.com gathers this data in order to provide users with more customized information, ads, and services. Unfortunately, there is also a possibility that the collected information will be shared with third-party applications. Theoretically, there is a slight possibility that you will experience privacy-related issues as well, so it would be smart to remove Search.searchfmn.com from all the browsers.

Research has shown that the Fast Maps Now extension not only sets Search.searchfmn.com in the place of users’ homepages and search engines, but might also modify the error page, e.g. Page Not Found. In addition, it might enable “additional search-related services”. Last but not least, it will update itself periodically, which means that it might become more dangerous software. Finally, it will allow its partners to store cookies on your browsers.

Where does Search.searchfmn.com come from?

As you already know, it is possible to download the Fast Maps Now extension from its official website or the Chrome Web Store. Unfortunately, this search engine might use other ways to slither onto computers as well. Research has shown that Fast Maps Now might be distributed by malicious software installers. Of course, it does not travel alone, so there is a very huge possibility that you have a bunch of other untrustworthy programs installed on your computer. We believe that it comes together with browser hijackers, adware, potentially unwanted programs, and other undesirable programs, which means that these programs are, most probably, installed on your computer. They might cause harm to your PC, use your system’s resources, and do other activities behind your back. Therefore, remove them as soon as you can as well.

How to remove Search.searchfmn.com?

Search.searchfmn.com can be removed rather easily from the system. You just need to erase its extensions from Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. In case your default browser is Internet Explorer and you want to erase this search engine from it, you will have to uninstall this software via Control Panel. Yes, an uninstall available in Control Panel will eliminate this search engine from Internet Explorer only. If you find this process really hard, scan your system with an automatic malware remover, e.g. SpyHunter. All the threats will disappear after you scan your system with this tool at least once.