What is Free Forms?
Free Forms, also known as Free Government Forms is a browser hijacker which is also classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) and Adware program according to IT security experts.
Free Forms claims to offer web enhancement functions to download, print or submit forms online. But, this is all fake, and its aim is to generate earnings through its advertising scheme.
Your browser’s status bar may show messages like ‘Waiting for Free Forms’, ‘Looking up Free Forms’, ‘Read Free Forms’, ‘Transferring data from Free Forms’, ‘Connected to Free Forms’, etc. while redirecting to certain sites.
Free Forms is an undesirable browser extension that brings complications once added to your web browser. Its main motive is to exploit your computer so as to gain revenue through its advertising network.
If by any means, you got Free Forms browser hijacker, the only solution is to remove it immediately. Use a reputed Anti-malware tool to ensure that your system is free from malware and other potentially harmful applications. Get to know how to remove Free Forms from your PC. Read the full article to find out.
Free Forms is a type of malware which silently enters your PC without your permission and executes numerous malicious activities in the background. This hijacker is designed to change your web browser’s settings.
Once this browser hijacker gets installed on your system, it takes over your all your web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge and makes various unwanted modifications in the settings.
It acquires complete control over the browser and changes your web browser’s settings, including your search provider, start page and new tab page.
It installs undesired extension deep inside your system. Therefore, you need to delete Free Forms from your PC in order to return back to your browser search provider and home page.
How Free Forms Enters your System?
Free Forms can enter the system through any of the following methods:
- It sneaks into the targeted system through freeware and shareware programs.
- In most cases, Free Forms arrives uninvited on the PC. It enters the PC through a popular method called bundling. This approach is used by many malware distributors to spread adware and other PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs).
- It can enter the system through social networking and other websites which provoke the users to click on malicious ads. This method is known as Social Clickjacking.
- It can get into your computer through malicious email attachments and URLs.
- It can infect the browser through Torrents & P2P File Sharing as Torrents.
- It can also enter the system through portable storage devices like hard drives, USB sticks, flash drives, etc.
ALSO READ: Remove Watch TV Now Browser Hijacker Extension (Latest PC Threats)
What are the Harmful Effects of Free Forms?
Free Forms can lead to the following malicious effects on your system and web browsers:
- It replaces the default home page, new tab page and search engine with checkmailnow.net. If you try to revert the settings to default, those settings will be automatically changed again after the next system reboot.
- It installs several helper objects on the web browser in order to prevent the settings from being restored to default.
- It floods your PC screen with endless irritating ads. These ads are connected with sponsored links which lead your browser to third-party web pages which are trying to increase their popularity and get more visits.
- It highly disrupts your web sessions.
- Web browser crashes frequently.
- Slow response time of the system and slow internet browsing speed
- Suspicious programs appear on the desktop screen.
- It manipulates your search results and shows inappropriate outcomes that are filled with ads and pop-ups.
- It aims to promote third-party websites and make easy revenues.
- It changes the critical DNS configuration.
- It restricts you from accessing many popular websites.
- It displays fake security warnings, update notifications and error messages.
- It tricks you into downloading infectious programs.
- It uses up an enormous amount of memory resources and highly lowers down the overall PC performance.
- It adds many malicious domains in the bookmark list and removes some important domains from the list.
- It enables remote hackers to control the system and execute nasty acts.
- It spies on your web activities such as which websites you visit, which links you open, what keywords you enter, etc.
- It gathers important information related to your preferences through which it displays eye-catching advertisements. The collected data may also include your personal and confidential information such as your user id, passwords, credit card information, bank account information and other financial information. By using your private information, cybercriminals can take away all your money leading to a big financial loss.
How To Remove Free Forms Browser Hijacker?
Follow the given Free Forms Removal Process to get rid of the malicious extension.
You can easily remove Free Forms with Free Forms cleaner tool. Use an effective and automated free malware removal tool to delete the rogue extension permanently from your system.
How to Prevent Installation of Adware and Browser Hijacker in Future?
Follow the given steps while installing freeware programs to avoid the installation of unnecessary browser extensions, browser hijackers and adware:
-
Be more vigilant while downloading and installing free programs.
-
Make sure that the desired application program is coming from an official website or some reliable source.
-
Opt out of any extra add-ons, plug-ins or extensions included in the program.
-
While installing a freeware software or a free online game, make sure you go through the license agreement section and read all the terms and conditions.
-
If you are not able to read the complete terms and conditions, then while installing the freeware application, if the installation offers you “custom and automatic installation”, it is always recommended that you select the custom installation as this would disclose all the other programs that might get installed along with the freeware program.
-
If you see any additional add-ons or toolbars checked with the freeware program, then remember to uncheck them as this would avoid the installation of browser extensions, browser hijackers and adware.
After successfully eliminating the malicious browser extension, make sure to create a robust firewall to avoid any such issue that makes our system and privacy vulnerable to various online threats.
ALSO READ: Remove FREE FORMS NOW Browser Hijacker Completely (UPDATED GUIDE)
Tips to Prevent virus and malware from Infecting Your System:
- Enable your popup blocker: Pop-ups and ads on the websites are the most adoptable tactic used by cybercriminals or developers with the core intention to spread malicious programs.
So, avoid clicking uncertain sites, software offers, pop-ups etc. and Install a powerful ad- blocker for Chrome, Mozilla, and IE
- Keep your Windows Updated: To avoid such infections, we recommend that you should always keep your system updated through automatic windows update.By doing this you can keep your device free from virus.According to the survey, outdated/older versions of Windows operating system are an easy target.
- Third-party installation: Try to avoid freeware download websites as they usually install bundled of software with any installer or stub file.
- Regular Backup: Regular and periodical backup helps you to keep your data safe in case the system is infected by any kind of virus or any other infection.Thus always backup important files regularly on a cloud drive or an external hard drive.
- Always have an Anti-Virus: Precaution is better than cure. We recommend that you install an antivirus like ITL Total Security or a good Malware Removal Tool like Download Virus RemovalTool