Speedtestace.co: what it is and how to remove it
Speedtestace.co, also known as Speed Test Ace, is a browser hijacker that modifies the settings of Google Chrome or another browser and sets the https://www.speedtestace.co/homepage/homepage.html?id= as the homepage, as well as new tab URL. Additionally, a customized search engine is appended, which redirects all the searches to Yahoo, and fills them with sponsored links directing users to affiliated sites.
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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Speedtestace.co: summary
| Name | Speedtestace.co |
|---|---|
| Type | Potentially unwanted program, browser hijacker |
| Associated app | Speed Test Ace |
| Installation | Third-party sites, Google Web Store, official website |
| Developer | HyperConnectMedia |
| Potential risks | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, personal information disclosure to unknown parties |
| 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 9 more facts
| Symptoms | A browser extension or add-on Speed Test Ace added to all applicable web browsers Homepage and new tab address set to https://www.speedtestace.co Unwanted advertisements show up on sites that the infected users common visit Search results are redirected to http://search.yahoo.com Search results are filled with sponsored links |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | speedtestace.co |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 21 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Speedtestace.co changes in your browser
We may share your information, including your Personal Information, with our Commercial Partners in furtherance of our provision of Services to you, including our services, advertising, and content partners (collectively, "Commercial Partners") or allow those Commercial Partners to gather information directly from you.
Is Speedtestace.co dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Speedtestace.co is a potentially unwanted application that collects a variety of information about users and shares it with its partners
Speedtestace.co, also known as Speed Test Ace, is a browser hijacker that modifies the settings of Google Chrome or another browser and sets the https://www.speedtestace.co/homepage/homepage.html?id= as the homepage, as well as new tab URL. Additionally, a customized search engine is appended, which redirects all the searches to Yahoo, and fills them with sponsored links directing users to affiliated sites.
Speedtestace.co functionality might seem quite attractive for some, as it allows them to test the internet speed whenever they want. However, the app is considered to be a potentially unwanted program that heavily modifies the installed browsers to deliver ads, and collects a variety of personal and anonymous information about its users.
In other words, if you do not like intrusive ads and being tracked every step you take on the internet, you better remove Speedtestace.co from your browsers as soon as possible.
While users might download Speed Test Ace from its official website or the Google Web Store, it can also slip in during the installation of freeware or shareware apps downloaded from third-party sites.
Suchlike installers are often filled with optional components that are often deliberately hidden from users' sight, so they often miss the infiltration of PUPs. However, as soon as they open the web browser, they will see that Speedtestace.co is now their homepage.
Browser hijackers like Speedtestace.co are initially not considered to be malicious or even dangerous, although users should be aware that potentially unwanted programs serve as an inconvenience at least. The main goal of developers is to expose them to pop-ups, flashing windows, in-text links, auto-play videos, and other types of ads for monetization purposes. Each click, even an accidental one, generates Speed Test Ace authors money.
For an effective way to monetize, Speedtestace.co also users targeted advertising.
The only way to target users with particular ads, however, is to gather information about them, and Speed Test Ace collects a lot of it with the help of such technologies like web beacons, flash cookies, unique identifiers, etc. If you read Privacy Police on their official website, it becomes clear that the app is terrible when it comes to privacy, as it gathers both anonymous and personal data.
To make matters worse, Speedtestace.co also shares this information with affiliates and even third-parties:
Therefore, if you want to keep your searchers private and avoid the ads that would plague your browsers each time you launch them, we advise you to proceed with Speedtestace.co removal as soon as possible.
Doing so should not be difficult (we provide the detailed guide below), although it is also important to note that you should reset all the installed browsers or stop the Speedtestace.co notifications via browser settings if you enabled them.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Beware of bundled software packages, as PUPs may be installed on your system without you noticing
Software bundling is a marketing technique that has been around for many years now - it allows third-party application developers to propagate their software deceptively.
The main reason why this technique works is because of users' carelessness, as they rarely pay attention to the installation process of the freeware.
Software bundling is still a viable PUP distribution method because many still resort to downloading applications from sites like Softonic.com. These third-party sites often employ deception and promotional campaigns in order to make you install software that does not always meet your expectations or, worse - exposes you to intrusive ads and tacks all your web browsing activities.
Therefore, before downloading apps from third-parties, rather opt for official sources like Microsoft Store, App Store, or Google Play - these stores got millions of apps in stock, so there is no need to rely on sites that employ software bundle packages.
Nevertheless, if you choose to download apps from these third parties, you should pay attention to the following:
- Read the comments and online reviews about the app before downloading it;
- Check if the program provides important documents like Privacy Policy and EULA;
- During the installation, always opt for Advanced/Custom settings;
- Read the instructions provided on each step carefully - you might miss important information;
- Decline all offers/deals that are suggested to you;
- Watch out for tricks that might make you miss and optional program: pre-ticked boxes, misplaced buttons, fine print text, etc.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Speedtestace.co
- Your Personal Information may also be shared with third parties in other circumstances, including without limitation, as follows: <...>
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
speedtestace.co
How to remove Speedtestace.co
How to remove Speedtestace.co and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete speedtestace.co
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
speedtestace.cofrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If speedtestace.co is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Speedtestace.co rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Speedtestace.co that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
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 uninstall programs from Windows, you need to reach the Control Panel:
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
If you don't reset Google Chrome the unwanted activity might continue on your browsers (along with tracking practices):
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.
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.
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.
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.
Delete from macOS
If Speed Test Ace infected your Mac, follow these steps:
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.
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 Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of Speedtestace.co homepage by uninstalling Speed Test Ace
To remove Speedtestace.co from your homepage and new tab, you will have to eliminate the potentially unwanted program Speed Test Ace or/and the browser extension from Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or another browser. If you enabled the Speedtestace.co notifications upon entering the site but did not install anything, you can get rid of unwanted ads by performing the following steps.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Google Chrome
- Click Menu and pick Settings
- Go to Advanced
- Under Privacy and security, select Site Settings
- Pick Notifications
- You should see Speedtestace.co under the Allow section
- Choose More Actions and click on Block
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Mozilla Firefox
- Pick Menu and then Options
- Click on Privacy & Security section and then select Notifications
- Go to Settings –and you should see Speedtestace.co
- Click on the the drop-down menu and select Block
- Finish with Save Changes
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
MS Edge
However, if you installed the add-on or/and the application, you will need to uninstall for a complete Speedtestace.co removal.
Many security applications recognize the app as potentially unwanted, so a scan with one of such programs could get rid of it automatically.
- Click on More and select Settings
- Pick View advanced settings and then got for Advanced
- Select Manage permissions
- Find Speedtestace.co entry and turn off notifications
Questions about Speedtestace.co
Is it safe to keep speedtestace.co as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through speedtestace.co usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.
You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set speedtestace.co, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Is speedtestace.co a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. speedtestace.co is a search page that an extension or program set as your default without a clear choice from you.
It does not destroy files or spread to other PCs, but it takes control of your searches, collects them and shows ads, and the software behind it is often bundled with other unwanted programs.
Many antivirus products flag such software as potentially unwanted. Removing the extension or program and resetting the search engine is enough in most cases. A full scan afterwards checks for anything else that came with it.
What is speedtestace.co?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Speedtestace.co. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is speedtestace.co dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Speedtestace.co, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Speedtestace.co affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did speedtestace.co record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of speedtestace.co can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Speedtestace.co
- clear cookies and site data for speedtestace.co
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why can't I change my search engine back?
Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.
Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.
Can I just block speedtestace.co?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?
Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.
Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.
Will Fortect remove Speedtestace.co?
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 Speedtestace.co, 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
- Wikipedia: Targeted advertising (read October 6, 2026)
- WhatIs: Flash cookie (read October 6, 2026)
- Speed Test Ace: Privacy Policy (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)