Fast Media Converter – a PUP that claims to be a handy converting app while throwing unwanted ads on the user's PC

Fast Media Converter, created and released by Applon, describes itself as a useful tool for file converting when it truly has been flagged as a PUP by many cybersecurity researchers. The app offers fast audio file converting by only clicking one button. However, everything is not that nice as it might appear to you from the first view. The bogus tool has earned the name of Fast Media Converter for a reason. Its distribution is based on deceptive tactics and it includes some adware-related features such as advertising and redirecting. Also, once the app stealthily appears on the computer system, you might see the FastMediaConverterApp.exe process running in the Task Manager location.
| Name | Fast Media Converter |
|---|---|
| Category | Potentially unwanted program/adware |
| Process | Once this app gets installed, it places the FastMediaConverterApp.exe file in the PC's the Task Manager section |
| Goal | This app presents itself as an audio file converting program when it truly is categorized as an unwanted program. It seeks to benefit from users and bring income via pop-up ads |
| Actions | Regarding the fact that this app might act as adware, you have a chance of receiving unwanted advertisements, redirecting during browsing tasks, and discovering unexpected changes in the browser's homepage/new tab URL bar |
| Spreading | The app can be downloaded from third-party websites such as cnet.com, download.com, softonic.com, etc. |
| Removal | You can get rid of the adware with the help of automatical software or by using step-by-step guidelines (look at the end of this website) |
| Fix | If the PUP has compromised some system components on your machine, you can try fixing them with a system repair tool such as FortectIntego |
Fast Media Converter is not only a program that can be used for converting files. It may also become a totally annoying intruder that causes such things as pop-up ads, redirects, browser changes, and computer/program slowdowns. Even though most of these activities are only intrusive, some of them can carry the risk of potential harm.
If Fast Media Converter aims to infect some of your browsers, you might spot unexpected changes in the homepage and new tab URL sections. Also, the adware might fill your browser settings with unwanted extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons as additional components that allow the PUP[1] to perform a bigger variety of activities.
By the way, this program may also be set to track its victims and collect information about their browsing habits. No matter that it states that the only thing it is interested in is personally non-identifiable data, you can never know what information Fast Media Converter may start to collect.

Recording information such as the pages visited, hyperlinks accessed, adverts clicked, saved bookmarks, geographic location, IP address, and other browser-based data allows the developers of Fast Media Converter to generate targeted advertisements and provide users with misleading deals.
In some cases, Fast Media Converter might load you with various surveys, questionnaires, and reward claims. Be aware of such content as it is considered to be fake and might aim to swindle your personal information or money. DO NOT enter personally-identifiable or credential data if you are asked to by random pop-ups.
Furthermore, Fast Media Converter ads can redirect you to other places that are considered to be suspicious or even potentially dangerous. If you land on a malware-laden location, you are at a big risk of catching a malware infection, such as trojan, ransomware, or others.
To avoid the mentioned risk, you should remove Fast Media Converter from your computer system and web browser apps. For this purpose, you can choose automatical software or complete the step-by-step guidelines that are added to the end of this article. Also, if the PUP has compromised some system objects, you can try repairing them with FortectIntego software.
Fast Media Converter removal is necessary not only to avoid the risk of malware infiltration but also to gain back full browsing quality. Intrusive advertising and redirecting sessions might require a big amount of your CPU's[2] energy that might result in struggling applications, system freezes, and so on.

PUPs distribute by using deceptive techniques
Potentially unwanted programs can be downloaded from various download sites, including download, cnet, softonic, etc. Such programs may also infiltrate computers without being noticed in a bundle with other programs. If you do not recall installing a particular app, this might be the way how it could have ended on your machine.
If this is the case, you have to start taking your cybersecurity more seriously. For that, we recommend choosing only Custom/Advanced installation that allows checking what programs are attached to the application that you need to install on the system. Avoid all Quick modes that permit the installation of all additional products.
Continuously, be aware that PUPs might enter your system from questionable hyperlinks an advertisements that you might click while visiting secondary pages online. Keep a distance from all the websites that are flagged as unsafe to proceed with. Install reliable antivirus security software that will also alert if something deceptive is awaiting.
Removing Fast Media Converter
Technically, Fast Media Converter is not malware but it may cause lots of inconveniences and distractions when inside the system. That is the main reason why we recommend you eliminate the suspicious program from your computer.
You can accomplish Fast Media Converter removal with the help of the below-provided guidelines that are here to lead you throughout the entire computer and browser cleaning process. However, there is also another option that you have. According to Virusai.lt experts,[3] the second possibility is even a better one.
You can also remove Fast Media Converter with the help of antivirus software. These programs are safe to use and will find every suspicious product that has been added by the PUP. This way you will save some time by leaving the entire process for the antimalware tool to complete.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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