Fastest Searches Extension

The Fastest Searches Extension is another program by Polarity Technologies Ltd. that is promoted to enhance the user's online search experience. The Fastest Searches Extension has an official site at hxxp://fastestsearches[.]com that may be promoted through advertisements on partnering sites and pop-ups generated on browser extension platforms. The home site for the Fastest Searches Extension does not appear to list advantages of the Fastest Searches Extension compared to applications of the same class. It may be hard to determine if Fastest Searches Extension is helpful without installing the application. Malware researchers installed the Fastest Searches Extension in Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. Mozilla Firefox users may be able to install the Fastest Searches Extension from free software bundles since the official version is missing from the download location listed on hxxp://fastestsearches[.]com.

The Fastest Searches Extension requires the following rights in Google Chrome:

• Read and change all your data on the websites you visit.
• Change your search settings to search.fastestsearches.com.
• Manage your apps, extensions and themes.

The Fastest Searches Browser Help Object requires the following rights in Internet Explorer:

• Make Fastest Searches your homepage & new tab.

The Fastest Searches Extension delivers access to a new tab page powered by hxxp://search.fastestsearches[.]com that features links to a news feed by 5thavenuenews[.]com and links to services you may know like Amazon, Yahoo, Gmail and Terraarcade.com. The Fastest Searches New Tab page and the search service at Search.fastestsearches[.]com may be free to use, but they are monetized by Polarity. Web surfers who have installed the Fastest Searches Extension may experience browser redirects and notifications with promotional materials. The Fastest Searches software is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) by Polarity Technologies Ltd. The Privacy Policy and Terms of Use employed by Polarity Technologies Ltd regarding the Fastest Searches Extension can be found at hxxp://legal.fastestsearches[.]com/home/terms and hxxp://legal.fastestsearches[.]com/home/privacy. You may want to know that you don't need to install the extension if you want to search from Search.fastestsearches[.]com. However, it should be noted that Search.fastestsearches[.]com works as a redirect-gateway to search results on hxxps://search.yahoo[.]com. The installer package of Fastest Searches for Internet Explorer, as well as related files for Chrome and Firefox, may be marked by AV scanners with the following names:

• AdWare.StartSurf.jh
• Adware.Downware.18374
• Adware.Spigot
• Application.AdSearch (A)
• PUF.Spigot!8.14EA
• PUP.Optional.Spigot
• PUP/Win32.WinWrapper.R228632
• RiskWare[Downloader]/Win32.AGeneric
• Unwanted-Program ( 005187961 )
• W32/S-826cf115!Eldorado
• Win32.Application.WinWrapper.B
• not-a-virus:HEUR:Downloader.Win32.Generic