84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove File Type Assistant?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
74% remove it26% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Bad
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #1,372
United States Rank #1,124
Reach 0.4988%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 31.61 days
932.53 days >
Average installed length: 489.97 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
2014.5.21.0 2.70%
2014.5.6.0 22.61%
2014.3.25.0 7.01%
2014.3.4.0 8.94%
2014.1.24.0 7.52%
2013.4.8.0 39.62%
2012.11.29 6.44%
2012.11.9.0 1.75%
2012.10.26.0 3.42%

File Type Assistant

What is File Type Assistant?

File Type Assistant is typically bundled by various 3rd party software through modified installers of generally free open source software using the InstallIQ downloader. The modified InstallIQ installer will typically take a known product and wrap it in an installer that includes various types of adware toolbars and such. This includes Free File Viewer, Final Media Player, BitZipper and Music Oasis.

From the EULA:
"By accessing the Sites and downloading the Content, you hereby grant us permission to display promotional information, advertisements, and offers for third party products or services. The Advertising may include, without limitation, content, offers for products or services, data, links, articles, graphic or video messages, text, software, music, sound, graphics or other materials or services. The timing, frequency, placement and extent of the Advertising changes are determined in our sole discretion. You further grant us permission to collect and use certain aggregate information in accord with our Privacy Policy."

"Your download and software installation is managed by InstallIQ. InstallIQ: downloads the files necessary to install your software; and scans your computer for specific files and registry settings to ensure software compatibility with your operating system and other software installed on your computer. Once InstallIQ has been initiated, you will be presented with a welcome screen, it allows you to choose to install the software or cancel out of the process. We may show you one or more partner software offers. You are not required to accept a software offer to receive your download. We may also offer to: change your browser’s homepage; change your default search provider; and install icons on your computer’s desktop, including third-party offers. Software we own and our partner’s software may include advertisements within the application."

About  (from Trusted Software)

The File Type Assistant from Trusted Software is a little helper application that kicks in when you try to open a file you do not have a viewer or player for. You can select either to visit the Trusted Software website where we offer safe and tested software that can open the type of file you need a viewer for, or you ...  Read more
Overview
  • Malware detected in the program
  • Starts automatically
  • Delivers various 'optional' bundled software during install
  • Displays unwanted advertisements
  • The wisdom of the experts agree, if you don't use it you should remove it!
Warning, multiple anti-virus scanners have detected possible malware in File Type Assistant.
TSASetup.exe (138f539d2a00787d6b9dd09649233413) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareVersionDetection
AVG 2015.0.3496 MalSign.Trusops
ESET-NOD32 8.9703 Win32/FileTypeAssistant.A
K7 AntiVirus 13.176.11806 Unwanted-Program
K7GW 13.176.11806 Unwanted-Program ( 00495cd51 )
VIPRE Antivirus 28458 Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT
tsassist.exe (8da7fbaf30350ca1521a006a1f11ad1d) has been flagged by the following 5 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
AVG 13.0.0.3169 MalSign.Trusops.C4B
ESET-NOD32 9691 Win32/FileTypeAssistant.A
McAfee 6.0.4.564 Artemis!8DA7FBAF3035
McAfee-GW-Edition 2013 Artemis!8DA7FBAF3035
VIPRE Antivirus 28336 Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT
tsassist.20120810.exe (595a675f7267a77a01f867f99202bcfe) has been flagged by the following 2 scanners:
Anti-Virus softwareSoftware versionDetection
Baidu-International 3.5.1.41473 PUA.Win32.FileTypeAssistant.A
ESET-NOD32 11366 a variant of Win32/FileTypeAssistant.A potentially unwanted
File Type Assistant has been seen bundling various 3rd party software during the installation process. Make sure to check for and remove unused programs.

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.trustedsoftware.com/utility-software/free-file-viewer.html
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\File Type Assistant\
Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\File Type Assistant\unins000.exe"
Estimated size: 5.25 MB

Program filesFiles installed by File Type Assistant

Program executable:tsassist.exe
Name:The File Type Assistant
Find software to open your files
Signed by:Trusted Software ApS
Path:C:\Program Files\File Type Assistant\tsassist.exe
MD5:52ab8d22229957eecd72c1a0acbaef76
Additional files:
  • (Malware detected) tsassist.20120810.exe - The File Type Assistant (Find software to open your files)
  • tsassist.20121109debug.exe
  • TSASetup.exe - File Type Assistant
  • ftacfg.exe (by FTA ApS) - File Type Assistant Configuration
  • itdownload.dll
  • unins000.exe - Setup/Uninstall

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

3 Scheduled Tasks
  • TSASetup.exe is scheduled as a task named 'ProgramRefresh-ATFST' (runs daily at 3:40 PM).
  • tsassist.exe is scheduled as a task named 'C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\ProgramUpdateCheck.job'.
  • tsassist.20120810.exe is scheduled as a task named 'C:\WINDOWS\Tasks\ProgramUpdateCheck.job'.
2 Scheduled Tasks (Boot/Login)
  • tsassist.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named ProgramUpdateCheck.
  • tsassist.20120810.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named ProgramUpdateCheck.
3 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
  • tsassist.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\File Type Assistant\tsassist.exe'.
  • tsassist.20120810.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program\File Type Assistant\tsassist.exe'.
  • TSASetup.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\File Type Assistant\tsasetup.exe'.

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

tsassist.exe
Total CPU:9.2397350993%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:6.61192053%
0.016088% average
User CPU:2.62781457%
0.015104% average

How do I remove File Type Assistant?

You can uninstall File Type Assistant from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
  1. On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
    • Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
  2. When you find the program File Type Assistant, click it, and then do one of the following:
    • Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
    • Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
  3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove File Type Assistant.
  4. If for some reason uninstallation fails, please install Microsoft's uninstall fixer utility which will help fix problems with programs that can't be uninstalled at support.microsoft.com.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 67%
Win 7 0%
  
HOW IT STARTS
Scheduled task? Yes
(Runs on Windows boot)
  
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 74%
Keep it 26%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 71.31%
Windows XP 9.83%
Windows Vista 9.62%
Windows 10 9.20%
Windows Server 2003 0.03%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 44.44%
Windows 7 Ultimate 12.31%
Windows 7 Professional 11.38%
Microsoft Windows XP 9.68%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 7.41%
Windows 8.1 2.90%

Distribution by countryGeography

58.25% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 58.25%
  United Kingdom 6.21%
  Canada 3.70%
  Australia 3.01%
  Germany 2.99%
  India 1.72%
  France 1.26%
  South Africa 0.98%
  Israel 0.92%
  Netherlands 0.91%
  Belgium 0.80%
  Italy 0.79%
  New Zealand 0.70%
  Spain 0.69%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard 29.54%
Dell 25.67%
Acer 16.53%
Toshiba 9.13%
ASUS 5.84%
GIGABYTE 4.59%
Samsung 2.34%
Lenovo 2.15%
Intel 1.85%
American Megatrends 1.36%
Sahara 0.99%
Common models
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... 6.30%
HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... 5.80%
HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... 5.04%
HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P... 3.46%
Dell Inspiron 1545 2.65%
Dell Inspiron N5110 2.29%

About (from Trusted Software)

The products offered for download on this site is hand-picked by us, and regularly tested for malware and virus, making your download experience a safe and secu
Publisher URL: www.trustedsoftware.com

comments3 comments

user comment
user comment
Andrew•over a year ago
"File Type Assistant" is definitely very malicious malware. When "removed/deleted" using Windows' "Add/Remove Programs" functionality (Windows XP) it opens a form requesting information and asks, almost plaintifly, "Why did you delete me?" Suggesting that it has not been totally deleted because it still has enough control of your machine to open the form! Another piece of malware, "Mobogenie" behaves in exactly the same manner when deletion is attempted suggesting they were written by the same programmer(s) and are probably bundled together. I was infected with both at about the same time. The most apparent and annoying symptom is "cursor Hijacking" where you loose control of the cursor for about a second every ten seconds to a few minutes. This is often accompanied by the Windows generated sound effects made when inserting and removing a USB device from your machine in quick succession. I am using a USB mouse and it seems to be diconecting and reconecting it in rapid sucession. I get a real feeling that I am being bullied by somebody in REAL TIME, because as I attempt to post this message to warn all of you he is doing his level best to stop me. I have had to disconect the internet and write this in notepad so I can post it rapidly before he has a chance to stop me. I reckon this is like a vary nasty, malicious version of the legitimate remote control software "VNC" which you can install on somebody else's machine WITH THEIR CONSENT and it allows you to control their machine as if it was yours, but in this case you cannot install it without consent. Here (an) application(s) has/have installed itself/themselves without my consent and is/are trying to hijack the resources of my machine. Extremely nasty, very malicious software and the more you realize just what it is up to, the nastier it gets like most dishonest and manipulative people. Very difficult to get rid of even using multiple virus/malware scanners or removers. My suggestion, temporaliy disconect the internet, lift all your wanted files and e-mails off onto another clean machine then reformat the hard drive and re install the O.S.
user comment
Ben•over a year ago
Its really a legitimate program and the installation is clean. Their updates do show some ads during download, but nothing is forced upon you.
user comment
RB•over a year ago
Very anoying program. will install all kinds of crap with it. avoid!
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