What is Search.testmyspeeds.co?
If your browser’s homepage address was changed to Search.testmyspeeds.co, then we want to inform you that you have a browser hijacker on your hands. This search engine might look legitimate, but its creators distribute it using deceptive methods and not without reason. This search engine has nothing to offer apart from shady third-party ads it can show in its search results. Therefore, we suggest that you remove it from your browser to decease the chances of our PC becoming infected with more malicious software.
Where does Search.testmyspeeds.co come from?
Search.testmyspeeds.co is nearly identical to Search.bt-cmf.com, Search.instantnewsnow.co, Search.hfreeforms.co, and many others because it comes from Polarity Technologies Ltd. This company has been releasing browser hijackers for nearly a year now and has hundreds of almost identical search engines that were designed to replace your browser’s homepage address new tab page, and/or search provider without your authorization. Our cyber security experts have concluded that this new hijacker should be distributed in much the same way as its predecessors. However, unlike some of them, Search.testmyspeeds.co does not have an accompanying browser extension, so researchers say that it should be distributed via bundled software installers like many other hijackers in its family.
Researchers say that you can get Search.testmyspeeds.co if you download bundled software from Filewon.com, Filewin.com, Malavida.es, and Descargar.es. These sites are known for hosting freeware, but most people do not know that these websites bundle the freeware with browser hijackers form Polarity Technologies to make a bit more money as they should get paid per install. It can inject it into your browser secretly and will not let you deselect its installation in ht advanced or custom settings menu.
What does Search.testmyspeeds.co do?
Researchers say that the bundled software installers were configured to inject this hijacker into your browser directly. The installers can do that to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. It will replace the default homepage address and the new tab page for Chrome, but it could also replace the search provider as well. Its creators want you to use it for searching the web and few commercial advertisements that it is bound to include in the search results. We want to note that it redirects all entered search terms to a modified Yahoo search engine that presents you with search results. Unfortunately, the results can be customized to include promotional links that might be malicious in nature and redirect you to scam websites and malware distributing sites.
Furthermore, researchers have concluded that Search.testmyspeeds.co will collect some anonymous information about you to facilitate the presentation of ads. Indeed, this hijacker collects information for geotargeting purposes as it will collect your Internet Protocol (IP) address, approximate location, Internet Service Provider (ISP) domain name, search queries entered, pages visited, browser type and version, operating system type, and so on. This information will help show personalized that can potentially increase ad revenue.
How do I remove Search.testmyspeeds.co?
We hope that you found this article informative because can believably pose as a legitimate search engine. It can replace your default homepage and other search settings, show you customized promotional links that can redirect you to questionable websites. Therefore, it is recommended that you remove Search.testmyspeeds.co from your browser as soon as you can to prevent your PC from becoming infected with malware accidentally. See the guide below for more information.
Removal Guide
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Hold down Win+R.
- Enter regedit in the box and click OK.
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Find Start Page on the right side of the window and double-click it.
- Change the Value Data from http://search.testmyspeeds.co to your desired homepage address.
- Click OK.
Google Chrome
- Hold down Win+E and enter C:\Users\{User name}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default in the address box.
- Hit Enter.
- Delete Preferences, Secure Preferences and Web Data files.
Mozilla Firefox
- Hold down Win+E and enter C:\Users\{User name}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Unique Mozilla user ID} in the address box.
- Hit Enter.
- Find prefs.js and open it with Notepad.
- Replace http://search.testmyspeeds.co in user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", " http://search.testmyspeeds.co"); with your preferred address.
- Close and save changes.
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