Experienced security researchers named the Flash App+ a PUP (potentially unwanted program) and a browser hijacker because it is developed to take over the web-browser and control user’s surfing preferences. The Flash App+ can sneak into the machine unnoticed due to the fact that it’s actively being promoted in free applications. It mostly aims at Google Chrome web-browser, but it is possible that it can affect other internet browsers too. We suggest you to remove Flash App+ as soon as it hijacks your startpage or search provider.
Most often, browser hijackers and PUPs such as the Flash App+ promote fake search providers by setting their address as the default search engine. In this case, the hijacker installs searchpowerapp.com as a search provider. This means that users whose web browser is affected with the browser hijacker are forced to visit searchpowerapp.com each time they search in the Web, open a new window or tab. And since searchpowerapp.com is not a real search engine and does not have the ability to find the information users need, this website redirects the user’s web-browser to the Yahoo search engine.
Moreover, an adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software) may be additionally installed on to your system by this browser hijacker, which will show unwanted ads, or even massive full page advertisements that blocks surfing the Net. Often such these advertisements may recommend to install other unknown and undesired apps or visit malicious websites.
Threat Summary
Name | Flash App+ |
Type | browser hijacker, search engine hijacker, home page hijacker, toolbar, unwanted new tab, redirect virus |
Symptoms |
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Removal | Flash App+ removal guide |
How can a browser hijacker get on your machine
A hijacker may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malicious software, but most often, the browser hijacker infection like Flash App+ is bundled within some free software. Many authors of freeware include optional software in their install package. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the installation of any hijackers like Flash App+: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced setup option, unset all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new free programs.
The guide below explaining steps to get rid of Flash App+ start page problem. Feel free to use it for removal of the hijacker infection that may attack Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge and other popular web-browsers. The guidance will allow you revert back your web-browsers settings that previously changed by hijacker.
How to remove Flash App+ from Chrome and other web-browsers (Removal guide)
There are several steps to uninstalling Flash App+ , because it installs itself so deeply into Microsoft Windows. You need to uninstall all suspicious and unknown software, then remove harmful addons from the Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge and other web browsers you’ve installed. Finally, you need to reset your web browser settings to get rid of any changes Flash App+ browser hijacker has made, and then check your computer with Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM), MalwareBytes Anti Malware or Hitman Pro to ensure the browser hijacker is fully removed. It will take a while.
To remove Flash App+, execute the steps below:
- How to delete Flash App+ without any software
- Automatic Removal of Flash App+
- Run AdBlocker to stay safe online
- To sum up
How to delete Flash App+ without any software
The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, which will help you manually get rid of Flash App+ from the IE, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
Delete suspicious software using MS Windows Control Panel
Some PUPs, browser hijacking software and adware software may be deleted by uninstalling the free software they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed apps in MS Windows Control Panel. Use the “Uninstall” command in order to remove them.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, click Windows button , then press Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as displayed on the screen below.
After the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category like below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as shown on the screen below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of apps installed on your system. Most likely, one of them is the Flash App+ PUP. If you have many applications installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious apps by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused application, right click to it, after that click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel such as the one below.
After the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to press ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as displayed on the image below.
You will see a list of programs installed on your personal computer. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the applications that were installed last. Most probably, it’s the Flash App+ or other unwanted software. If you’re in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the program which you need to delete is found, simply press on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ such as the one below.
Remove Flash App+ from web browsers
This step will show you how to delete malicious plugins. This can delete Flash App+ and fix some surfing issues, especially after browser hijacker infection.
Google Chrome | Mozilla Firefox |
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You can also try to get rid of Flash App+ by reset Chrome settings. |
If you are still experiencing problems with Flash App+ search removal, you need to reset Mozilla Firefox browser. |
Internet Explorer | Safari |
Another method to delete Flash App+ from Internet Explorer is reset IE settings. |
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Automatic Removal of Flash App+
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not fully remove Flash App+ browser hijacker from the infected personal computer. So, we recommend to scan your PC for any remaining malicious components with free malware removal tools below.
Remove Flash App+ with Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM)
You can download and use the Zemana for free. This anti-malware utility will scan all the registry keys and files in your personal computer along with the system settings and web-browser addons. If it finds any spyware, browser hijacker, adware or malicious extension then the Zemana will remove them from your computer completely.
Now you can install and run Zemana Anti Malware to delete Flash App+ from your browser by following the steps below:
Click the link below to download Zemana Free installer named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your computer. Save it on your Desktop.
164107 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Start the setup file after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to install this utility on your computer.
During setup you can change certain settings, but we recommend you don’t make any changes to default settings.
When installation is finished, this malicious software removal utility will automatically run and update itself. You will see its main window as on the image below.
Now press the “Scan” button . Zemana Free utility will start scanning the whole machine to find out the Flash App+ hijacker. While the Zemana Anti Malware is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
When the scan is done, Zemana Free will produce a list of unwanted software and browser hijacker infection. Review the report and then click “Next” button.
The Zemana Free will delete Flash App+ browser hijacker. After finished, you may be prompted to reboot your machine to make the change take effect.
Remove Flash App+ with Hitman Pro
If the Flash App+ problem persists, use the HitmanPro and scan if your web-browser is hijacked by browser hijacker. The HitmanPro is a downloadable security tool that provides on-demand scanning and helps get rid of adware software, potentially unwanted programs, and other malware. It works with your existing antivirus software.
Download HitmanPro from the following link.
After the downloading process is done, open the directory in which you saved it and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will start the HitmanPro utility. If the User Account Control prompt will ask you want to open the application, click Yes button to continue.
Next, click “Next” to begin checking your system for the Flash App+ PUP. Depending on your PC system, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the HitmanPro utility is checking, you can see count of objects it has identified as being infected by malicious software.
When the scan get finished, you can check all threats detected on your PC as on the image below.
You may remove threats (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Next” button. It will open a prompt, press the “Activate free license” button. The Hitman Pro will remove Flash App+ website and move security threats to the Quarantine. Once that process is done, the tool may ask you to reboot your personal computer.
Delete Flash App+ with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM)
We recommend using the MalwareBytes which are fully clean your PC of the hijacker. The free tool is an advanced malicious software removal program developed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti-malware technology. It’s able to help you remove browser hijacker infection, potentially unwanted programs, malicious software, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your computer for free.
- Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Free on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the link below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326460 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your internet browser will open the “Save as” prompt. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- After the downloading process is complete, please close all applications and open windows on your personal computer. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup.
- This will run the “Setup wizard” of MalwareBytes AntiMalware onto your computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes AntiMalware will launch and open the main window.
- Further, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Anti-Malware program will scan through the whole PC for the Flash App+. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient.
- As the scanning ends, you’ll be displayed the list of all found items on your machine.
- All detected threats will be marked. You can delete them all by simply press the “Quarantine Selected” button. After finished, you may be prompted to restart the PC system.
- Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.
Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.
Run AdBlocker to stay safe online
If you surf the Net, you cannot avoid malicious advertising. But you can protect your web browser against it. Download and use an adblocker program. AdGuard is an ad-blocking that can filter out tons of of the malicious advertising, stoping dynamic scripts from loading harmful content.
Visit the page linked below to download AdGuard. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
26656 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen like below.
Follow the prompts. After the install is done, you will see a window as shown below.
You can click “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block malicious or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.
To sum up
Now your PC should be free of the Flash App+. We suggest that you keep Zemana Free (to periodically scan your machine for new browser hijackers and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block undesired advertisements and harmful webpages). Moreover, to prevent any hijacker, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to detect potentially unwanted software.
If you need more help with Flash App+ related issues, go to here.