Fast Media Converter ads: what it is and how to remove it

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.

Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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Fast Media Converter: virus
Fast Media Converter as our 2019 report showed it.

Fast Media Converter ads: summary

NameFast Media Converter
CategoryPotentially unwanted program/adware
ProcessOnce this app gets installed, it places the FastMediaConverterApp.exe file in the PC's the Task Manager section
GoalThis 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
ActionsRegarding 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
SpreadingThe app can be downloaded from third-party websites such as cnet.com, download.com, softonic.com, etc.
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 11 more facts
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
TypeAdware extension
SymptomsRedirects to an unknown domain
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Domainscnet.com
Ads shown asRedirects through ad pages
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen7 December 2019
Facts checked6 October 2026

Is Fast Media Converter ads dangerous?

From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since

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.

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 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 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 energy that might result in struggling applications, system freezes, and so on.

Fast Media Converter: virus
Fast Media Converter in our 2019 report.
Fast Media Converter: pup
Fast Media Converter in our 2019 report.

From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on Fast Media Converter

  • 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)

How Fast Media Converter ads got into your browser

From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since

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. 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.

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: cnet.com

How to remove Fast Media Converter ads

How to remove the Fast Media Converter extension

Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.

  1. Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add

    Fast Media Converter often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:

    • chrome://extensions
    • edge://extensions
    • Extensions and themes in Firefox

    Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.

    Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install

    Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.

    Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Fast Media Converter. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix

  3. Step 3: Reset the browser

    Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.

    Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  4. Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan

    Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.

    Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Uninstall from Windows

To clean your Windows computer system from unwanted products, you can complete the following guiding instructions

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

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

Remove the unwanted program:

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

To wipe out all extensions and plug-ins that you do not recall adding, use these steps

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

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

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

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

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2
Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

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

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

To erase unwanted objects from Explorer, apply the instructions that are provided below

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

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

Do not let government spy on you

The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.

Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.

You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.

Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.

Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack

Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.

Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.

When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.

From our report of Dec 2019 · not reviewed since

Removing Fast Media Converter

Technically, Fast Media Converter is not malware but it may cause lots of inconveniences and distractions when inside the system.

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, 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.

Questions about Fast Media Converter ads

cnet.com opens when I click links. What causes it?

When every click leads to cnet.com first, an extension or a script on the page is rewriting the links. If it happens only on one site, that site uses aggressive ads; close it and use another source. If it happens everywhere, open the browser in a private window, where extensions are normally off, and try again.

No redirect in the private window means one of your extensions is responsible: remove the ones you do not know. A redirect in the private window too means the cause is outside the extensions, such as a notification permission, a changed search setting or a program installed on the PC. The removal steps in this guide cover each of those.

Is it safe that my browser was redirected to cnet.com?

Landing on cnet.com does not infect the PC by itself. A browser does not run programs from a page without your action. The danger is in the pages that come next:

  • some ask you to allow notifications
  • some show fake virus warnings
  • some offer downloads
  • ask for card details

If you only saw those pages and closed them, nothing more is needed than removing whatever caused the redirect. If you allowed notifications, remove that permission.

If you downloaded a file, delete it unopened, or uninstall it if you ran it. If you typed a password or card number on one of the pages, change the password and call your bank.

What is Fast Media Converter?

Fast Media Converter is an adware extension, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.

Fast Media Converter does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.

Which browsers does Fast Media Converter affect?

In the cases we checked, Fast Media Converter showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.

Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.

Are the pop-ups I see really from Fast Media Converter?

Compare them with the details in the table above. Fast Media Converter produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to cnet.com. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.

If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.

Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?

No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:

  • running a downloaded file
  • installing an extension
  • giving a stranger remote access

That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.

Did Fast Media Converter collect my data?

Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:

  • the sites you visit
  • search terms
  • approximate location
  • browser and system details

Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.

If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.

I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?

Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.

Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.

If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.

Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?

Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.

Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.

Will Fortect remove Fast Media Converter?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For Fast Media Converter, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

  1. Search Security: PUP (potentially unwanted program) (read October 6, 2026)
  2. Digital Trends: What is a CPU? (read October 6, 2026)
  3. Virusai: Virusai (read October 6, 2026)
  4. Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
  5. FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)

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