Internet Speed Tracker – a browser hijacker that offers to check the Internet speed in exchange for setting the default search provider to MyWay.com
Internet Speed Tracker is a browser hijacker that offers to check upload and download speed but truly seeks to hijack your browser’s new tab URL bar, homepage, and search engine. In fact, it has no use as there are other free apps that allow checking the Internet speed without modifying your web browser’s settings. If you visit free.internetspeedtracker.com you will be offered to download the extension to Google Chrome. You should not rely on such services even though they promise to reveal useful tips on how to increase the Internet speed. Internet Speed Tracker Chrome extension should be removed once discovered on the web browser app as the PUP can initiate other unwanted activities such as advertising and redirecting.
Besides infecting Google Chrome, Internet Speed Tracker, developed by Mindspark Interactive Network Inc.,[1] can appear also on other web browser applications such as Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari due to a deceptive distribution technique known as bundling.[2] Afterward, the browser hijacker will not only modify your web browser settings but also might fill these apps with unwanted components such as rogue browser extensions, plug-ins, and cookies.
| Name | Internet Speed Tracker |
|---|---|
| Developer | Mindspark Interactive Network Inc. |
| Type/sub-type | Browser hijacker/potentially unwanted program |
| Target(s) | The suspicious application can appear on web browser applications such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari |
| Changes | The browser hijacker sets the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL as MyWay.com |
| Activities | Besides modifying the browser’s settings, the suspicious application can display intrusive advertising notifications, redirect the user to affiliate sources, record information that is related to the user’s browsing activities and history |
| Distribution | Software bundling is the most common technique used by PUP developers to spread browser hijackers. Additionally, these threats can appear through fake software updates |
| Elimination | You can get rid of the browser hijacker with the help of automatical software or by using the manual step-by-step guidelines that have been added to the end of this article |
| Fix tool | Try employing Reimage Reimage Cleaner for fixing any corruption or compromisation found |
Internet Speed Tracker virus manages to enter the computer system seamlessly and modifies the user’s browser settings in the way this program wants. So basically it attaches to your Internet browser (Google Chrome or another one), and then it changes your homepage to Internet Speed Tracker search engine by myWay and it also installs Internet Speed Tracker Toolbar by myWay.
You should know that the logo “myWay” indicates that the program was developed by an infamous company that develops potentially unwanted software. This company is named “Mindspark Interactive Network.” You should not trust ANY application that is created by this company! It aims to generate pay-per-click revenue. Let us explain how Internet Speed Tracker app works and how it generates money for Mindspark.
Internet Speed Tracker is a browser-hijacking application that sets the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL to MyWay.com
Internet Speed Tracker provides an untrustworthy search engine, which, at first glance, delivers normally-looking search results; however, Mindspark aims to generate web traffic to its sponsors’ websites. This is why it replaces your previously-set homepage with its own search engine and sets it as your New Tab page as well.
You should never use this search engine because it delivers altered search results and you will not receive the information that you were expecting for. That means that Internet Speed Tracker supplements them with deceptive hyperlinks, which do not lead to accurate websites, but they cause redirects to third-party websites that pay Mindspark for promotion.
Keep in mind that some of the websites you might end up can be infectious, and that is the final reason why you should remove Internet Speed Tracker with no delay. You can do that using anti-malware software, which detects and deletes computer threats automatically. Additionally, if you have discovered any system corruption, try using software such as Reimage Reimage Cleaner for fixing it.
Another reason to perform Internet Speed Tracker removal on your computer and web browsers is the possibility that this browser hijacker might record data that is related to your browsing activities. This means that all of your search queries, recently visited websites, hyperlinks and adverts clicked, saved bookmarks, and IP address will get tracked by the developers who employ cookies, beacons,[3] or pixels for such purpose:
We may collect information from you in a variety of different ways. This is information that may identify you, and anonymous information, such as the number of your page views, link clicks, and login times. Your information may be kept in an identifiable format, or in an aggregate format which means that you cannot reasonably be identified from it.
Nevertheless, Internet Speed Tracker might bring other potentially unwanted programs to the computer system. Often, browser hijackers come with additional threats such as adware, other browser-hijacking apps, scareware, technical support scams, etc. Be aware that some developers might even use potentially unwanted programs for the delivery of malware.
As you have read almost all of the reasons why you should uninstall Internet Speed Tracker from your machine, we want to add another one. If you keep this product on your computer system for a long time, its activities such as advertising and redirecting will likely get very intense and start eating your system’s resources such as the CPU and GPU power. This might result in struggling applications (including browsers), constant computer crashes, freezes, slowdowns, and other symptoms.
Internet Speed Tracker is a potentially unwanted program that gets delivered through a deceptive technique called software bundling
PUPs use deceptive techniques to enter the computer system
Typically, the potentially unwanted software finds its way to the victim’s computer seamlessly and silently. Keep in mind that you can install such a program together with another free program that you wanted to have. This type of technique is known as software bundling. However, no one is going to tell you that your selected program promotes “third-party apps” unless you research it on your own.
According to experts from LesVirus.fr[4], you do not need to read all Internet forums searching for information about whether your desired program promotes dangerous software or not; you can simply find that out when you install a new program. All you need to do is to read the software’s Terms of Use (or End User License Agreement) document. You should find whether the program promotes sponsored freeware or not.
Moreover, you should set particular installation settings to avoid being infected with a browser-hijacking app without your consent. For that, set Advanced or Custom installation mode and then deselect the suggestions to install optional freeware. You should avoid configuration that is marked as Recommended or Quick as these modes allow the installation of all additional content together with the regular program.
To continue, other browser hijacker distribution sources can be found as fake software updates that are promoted by third-parties with the goal to push PUPs to random computer systems. If you are browsing the Internet sphere and accidentally encounter an update request, better visit the program’s official website and see if there were any updates truly released recently or is it just a scam.
Removing Internet Speed Tracker
Typically, potentially unwanted apps can be deleted manually. If you are an experienced PC user, it will be a piece of cake for you. Regarding this fact, we have provided a manual removal guide below the text. There you will see instructing steps that show users how to remove Internet Speed Tracker from both the affected operating system and modified web browser apps such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
However, if you are a less advanced computer user or have been running into a lack of time lately, the manual Internet Speed Tracker removal might not be the right option for you. In this case, you should try downloading and installing reliable antimalware software and eliminating the potentially unwanted program with the tool. Such products are capable of detecting the infection source in a few minutes of time and removing the cause safely and effectively.
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner . SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
