FileSendFree Add-on Virus - How to remove

FileSendFree is a browser add-on to help share files online. It’s made and released by Mindspark, a company responsible for tons of browser add-ons, most of which are considered hijackers and adware viruses. For example, here’s what very reputable antivirus programs think about FileSendFree’s installer: VirusTotal link. Although FileSendFree is not outright malicious and is not immediately dangerous, it is adware that hurts your web browsing experience.

In short about FileSendFree’s issues and removal:

Classification	Potentially unwanted program, adware, browser hijacker.
FileSendFree hijacking symptoms	Browser start page replaced with one that looks like hp.myway.com/filesendfree/ttab02/index.html, web search results come back in Ask.com or Myway.com.
Problems with the add-on	Asks for intrusive and unjustified permissions, can result in even more hijackers installed, uses an outdated and impractical design.
Remove FileSendFree add-on	Uninstall FileSendFree manually, use an anti-malware program to find adware (SpyHunter for PC, Combo Cleaner for Mac).

Problems with FileSendFree

A browser is a program for browsing the internet – it displays webpages and lets us interact with them. FileSendFree is a browser add-on. Browser add-ons change how a browser works. For example, some add-ons automatically press the “Skip ad” button on Youtube, some block malicious URLs, and some enable you to download videos.

FileSendFree makes money for its makers by directing you to Myway.com and Ask.com – two ad-supported sites owned by the same company as FileSendFree.

To make this happen, FileSendFree changes your start page. You can see what the start page looks like by going to hp.myway.com/filesendfree/ttab02/index.html. It also reads your search queries, displays pop-ups, and can install more browser add-ons (such as Search Extension by Ask).

Here’s a pop-up telling me to install Ask right after FileSendFree’s installation:

It’s possible to have FileSendFree installed and for your start page to not look like its. New browser add-ons overwrite older ones, so if you install a new tab hijacker after a new tab hijacker, only the newest one is visible.

The ones pushed into the background can still do the other stuff, like read your browsing history and stuff ads into your browser. In fact, it’s risky for your privacy and online security to have a lot of add-ons installed. There’s no shortage of malicious add-ons out there.

File sharing issues

By the way, we should talk about FileSendFree’s functionality. Maybe it’s so good that it makes it worth it to deal with the hijacking? Eh, not really. FileSendFree posts a ton of links to various file-sharing sites on the new start page. These links point to independent sites that should be evaluated on their individual merits… but one person likely only needs one or two of those sites to use regularly, not a dozen. Just go to one of those sites and save them to your favorites (Cmd+D on Macs, Ctrl+D on PCs). No need to give up the control over your start page.

There are a few problems worth mentioning. Some file-sharing sites have really dangerous ads and spam notifications. For example, Sendspace – a legitimate site, but its ads and notifications are obnoxious. Be careful and don’t use sites that you don’t feel safe on.

Also, be careful about personal files. If you have files that you don’t want anyone to see, don’t upload them to random websites, especially not to ones that work like URL shorteners, such as Ge.tt. Short URLs are easy for malicious actors to filter through and discover, simply by checking each and every possible character combination against a URL, all the files that are shared using such a service. At least, use something that generates a long address.

How to remove FileSendFree

FileSendFree can be uninstalled simply by removing it from your browser like any other extension. If it can’t, like if the option to remove it is missing, check this article.

Don’t try to correct the problems caused by FileSendFree by installing a new tab page manager or by installing a search engine manager. Just as you shouldn’t try to solve adware by installing an ad-blocker (although ad-blockers are good for your security, in general). You need to remove the cause of the problems – FileSendFree and related add-ons. You can do that manually (instructions below) or with an anti-malware program (Spyhunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for Mac OS, etc.). Using an anti-malware program would also help you find other adware – if there is any on your computer.

The more browser extensions you have, the riskier it is. Many browser add-ons that are free to use are actually supported by ads, sell your browsing data, or do both. You’re safer with as few browser add-ons as possible.

With that in mind, open your browser settings and consider every add-on that you have and whether you need it:

• Check each of their permissions and consider if they’re not excessive. For example, if a particular extension reads your browsing history, does it have a justification for it?
• Read the privacy policies of every extension and think about whether they’re acceptable to you. The sections about what data is collected and who it’s shared with are usually pretty short, so this won’t take long.
• Look up the developers of your extensions and check their reputation. For example, FileSendFree’s developer, Mindspark, has already made a few other file-sharing extensions, including FileShareFanatic and FileSendSuite – why would that be?

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manual removal of FileSendFree

TopRemoving FileSendFree Add-on Virus from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to FileSendFree. Click on the trash bin icon next to FileSendFree Add-on Virus or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to FileSendFree, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove FileSendFree Add-on Virus from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to FileSendFree Add-on Virus. Click on the "Remove" icon next to FileSendFree or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to FileSendFree Add-on Virus and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to FileSendFree, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.