According to the web site, Fast At Last.com, is a feature site of Ascentive Software who also operate the Finally Fast.com site, which, as many computer users are aware, is heavily promoted worldwide on both radio and television.
Like its cousin, Finally Fast.com, the Fast At Last.com web site appears legitimate and professional, purportedly offering leading edge software tools to “speedup your PC”, “speedup your Internet connection”, and protect your computer from malware, amongst other promises.
It’s been said that “necessity is the mother of invention”, and I suppose that if a company, in this case, Ascentive Software, has developed a reputation for a less than frank presentation of its software’s effectiveness, then reinvention is necessary – and so we have Fast At Last.com; same company, same products, different name.
Notice that the add is the same in both cases, the web site address is not.
As I said in my review “Finally Fast.com – Fast Scam! Free Alternative Software” – while I won’t go so far as to call this company and its software applications useless, or suggest that the company is run by scam artists at best, or thieves at the worst, I will say this – don’t waste your time, or your money.
The following is a rundown of the products offered by this company. In addition you’ll find listed, free, well tested, and well known, alternative software application that will do the job with vastly improved functionality.
(You can click on any pic to get a larger view)
Their Product: SpeedScan Pro (described as malware/deceptive)
Free Alternative: Regseeker
The longer you use Windows, the more cluttered your registry can become, especially if you regularly install and uninstall software. Many applications, on being uninstalled, leave behind “orphan” registry entries. They don’t remove all traces of themselves; causing problems such as sluggish performance, system lockups, or a bloated registry that takes longer to load on startup. With the click of a button, Regseeker will scan your registry for these fragmented files, and safely remove them.
Their Product: PC Scan&Sweep (no independent reviews)
Free Alternative: CCleaner
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system – allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it’s fast; normally taking less than a second to run.
Their Product: Spyware Striker Pro (described as malware)
Free Alternative: Spyware Terminator
Having tested virtually all of the major anti-spyware applications over the past year or more, I’ve settled, for now, on Spyware Terminator primarily due to its strong real-time protection against spyware, adware, Trojans, key-loggers, home page hijackers and other malware threats. Spyware Terminator excels in strong active protection against know and unknown threats.
For additional information on consumer complaints regarding Ascentive Software, check out The Pissed Consumer web site.
39 responses so far ↓
g // January 26, 2009 at 10:19 pm
i’ve noticed those ads on tv and i just shake my head.
billmullins // January 27, 2009 at 10:54 am
Hey Glenn,
I hear ya. Shaking your head is exactly the right response!
Bill
whatsonmypc // January 27, 2009 at 10:00 am
Bill,
Great post!
G indicated this is being advertised on TV! A lot of people will fall for this…
Rick
billmullins // January 27, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hey Rick,
I’ve been keeping track of where this TV ad has been playing. Here in North
America was the first time I noticed it. I have now followed it to the U.K.,
and as of yesterday, I noticed a ton of hits from Australia.
It’s apparent that this has been a very effective marketing campaign. You
can fool some of the people ……..
Bill
Dave Brooks // January 27, 2009 at 10:02 am
I particularly liked the original finallyfast.com tv ads, all the machines were Macs with Windows XP running on them. Technically that’s possible but I doubt these clowns know that.
Dave Brooks // January 27, 2009 at 11:57 am
I’m curious as to the reason for the new name though, finallyfast starting to get a bad reputation maybe?
billmullins // January 27, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Hey Dave,
I’ve been watching this TV ad make it’s way across North America, then to
Europe, and as of yesterday Australia. There’s no doubt that this has been a
successful marketing campaign for this company.
Like all things that may not be quite what they appear to be, to some
extent, this company has developed a bit of a bad rep, although not as much
as it deserves, in my view.
With all the PEBCAKS out in the wild blue, no doubt this company will
continue to roll in the dough.
Talk to ya later,
Bill
techpaul // January 27, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Thank you for alerting us to the *new* FastAtLast name-change game. I will alert my readers as well.
Since the Registry “cleaner” tool in Ascentive’s product has been know to damage people’s machines.. I will go farther than just calling it junkware.
Here is how you get a faster computer — buy one.
Here is how you get faster Internet — pay for more Mbps.
billmullins // January 27, 2009 at 12:45 pm
TechPaul,
As usual, your comment cuts right to the heart of the matter.
I couldn’t agree more.
Bill
Stop-Sign.com and FinallyFast.com* — Don’t « Tech–for Everyone // January 27, 2009 at 12:17 pm
[...] [update: Ascentive has re-packaged FinallyFast and is now also marketing it under the name FastAtLast. For more on that, see Fast At Last.com or Finally Fast.com - With this Software You’re Neither!] [...]
whatsonmypc // January 27, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Bill,
I see they are tagging themselves as a “Microsoft Certified Partner”… I could not locate Ascentive on Microsoft’s online database as a partner…
http://www.microsoft.com/hk/certpartner/default.mspx
Also noticed dead links on their site indicating they have been features in Forbes, Newsweek and the Wallstreet Journal. My guess they ran an ad in those magazines and I guess that counts as being “featured”…
Rick
billmullins // January 27, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Hey Rick,
Being a Microsoft Certified Partner has somehow lost the glow. More and
more, I’m coming across instances where this is being used fraudulently – no
surprise there.
Thanks for dropping by.
Bill
whatsonmypc // January 27, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Bill,
Check out their “WOT” rating… The rating tells it all..
Rick
billmullins // January 27, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Hey Rick,
Red says it all – thank goodness for WOT.
Thanks for the comment.
Bill
Levi // January 27, 2009 at 2:15 pm
This reminds me of the local auto mechanic in my mother’s hometown of Fortville, IN. The guys name is Paul Beeler. After suffering through some shady dealings and vowing never to return, we noticed that “Beeler’s Garage” changed its name to “Paul’s Auto Repair.”
Hmm…. that ought to squelch that word-of-mouth backlash for a few weeks! lol
billmullins // January 27, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hey Levi,
Too funny, but oh so real!
Thanks for the comment.
Bill
FWT // January 28, 2009 at 12:05 am
thanks
Bryan - After5PC.net // January 30, 2009 at 10:37 am
Hello,
Thanks for the useful review on this company and their product!
I appreciate the fact that you posted alternatives that are free and fulfills the same function…
JoWazzoo // February 2, 2009 at 4:48 am
Their ads run sort of randomly in Missouri on Fox news, CNBC and CNN.
Sad part is to think how many will be suckered in.
annette // February 10, 2009 at 10:40 am
I downloaded it and within minutes everything was worse, and I tried to cancel and suddenly there doesnt seem to be a way to cancel. I called my bank today and they added additional charges then the 29.99 cost it was suppose to be. I am in tears wondering how do I get this off my computer and cancelled and stop them from robbing me?
Vernon // February 16, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Thank you for the info on Finally Fast. Thank you for the free alternatives. Do I need to download all the alternatives or the one that best fit my need. Also do you have any information on Intelinet Smart Security?
billmullins // February 16, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Hi Vernon,
As you say; download only those applications that suit your needs.
Intelinet Smart Security does not receive favorable reviews in discussions I
have had with fellow geeks. In fact, WOT (Web of Trust), my browser security
application shows this company’s sites as being “dangerous sites”.
Hope that helps.
Bill
Nicole // March 8, 2009 at 8:46 pm
As you say, this company has started targetting Australia as I noticed last night when I sat down to watch TV (a rare thing for me). Not being particularly tech savvy, I thought it sounded pretty fantastic and am really glad I found your comments!
Bill Mullins // March 8, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Hey Nicole,
Glad to have helped!
Ed Grecsek // March 18, 2009 at 12:58 am
Total rip off don’t do it!
b.mclane // March 27, 2009 at 10:19 am
THIS BLOG IS A SCAM. THE FREE “ALTERNATIVES” ARE THE SAME TRAIL VERSIONS POSTED BY THE EXACT COMPANY HE SPEAKS NEGATIVELY ABOUT.
RUN THE “FREE” ALTERNATIVE. IT FINDS LOADS OF PROBLEMS AND THEN ASKS YOU TO PURCHASE THE EXACT SAME SOFTWARE FROM THE MOTHER COMPANY.
VERY CLEVER TO WRITE A NEGATIVE REVIEW ABOUT YOUR OWN COMPANY AND THEN OFFER FREE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE REALLY THE TRIAL VERSIONS ORIGINALLY PUT OUT. BUYER BEWARE!!
Bill Mullins // March 27, 2009 at 11:26 am
Its not very often I feel sorry for ignorant morons, but in your case, Ill
make an exception. Its obvious that you fall into the 40% of people who
cannot read for content. In order for you to feel less stupid, and more
comfortable, in a world that demands literacy, you should address this self
imposed limitation.
Out of 22,000 comments I have received on this site, yours is, without a
doubt, the most stupid. It’s obvious you did not read this article, nor did
you download any of the recommended alternative software applications.
Despite this, you make a rather straightforward statement that my site is a
“Scam”.
Now where I come from, making that type of an accusation is seen as evidence
of defamation of character. Let me help you out here with a definition – “In
law, defamation (also called calumny, libel, slander, and vilification) is
the communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or
implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product,
group, government or nation a negative image”.
I strongly suggest, should you make future comments on the Internet, that
you do so in a moderate fashion, supported by hard evidence of your view
point.
For future reference you should know, there is no such thing as anonymity on
the Internet – less than 2 minutes worth of probing is all it takes to
identify slanderous jerks like you.
Bill Mullins
awesomeguy // March 28, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Wow, thanks a lot! My computer had been running a little slower than usual, so I was trying to figure out a solution. I heard an ad on the radio today, and thought “Oh, good idea!” I decided to check whether it was a scam or not, before i visited the site, though. THANK GOODNESS I found this blog! Thanks a lot. and to that guy who called this blog a scam…Seriously?
Highly doubt he actually followed those alternative links. That is true, though, with many real scams. They say that one is bad, but posts links to the same under another name. This isn’t like that, though, because I tried CCleaner before…
Helena // March 30, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Thanks for this post- I saw the ad this evening for the first time and decided to research this company. I thought it was a pretty amateurish ad, so I was unimpressed anyway, but my pc has been running slow and no amount of defragging and virus-scanning was seeming to help. Thanks for taking the time to post these links!!!
Bill Mullins // March 30, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Thank you for the comment. I’m glad the info helped.
Bill
Sterling // April 19, 2009 at 7:23 am
I’m “the computer guy” for my friends & family (in-laws included). I work for free, only in Windows XP & earlier, and consider myself to be an “intermediate” level fixer-upper, as there are some things I really don’t know much about (like networking, for example). But it never ceases to amaze me how stupid users can be. I understand how non-sensible acts of desperation culminate from sheer frustration, but falling for this cyber-snake oil? It’s just like users I have to clean up after that can’t seem to understand that the pop-up window that advertises a fix for those “annoying” pop-up windows that won’t stop, IS ONE IN THE SAME?! (Argggg!)
The computer is one of the most complicated devices we have ever managed to moronify for the masses. If people would just read 4 or 5 pages worth of directions, they wouldn’t be so stupid about them. But history shows us that more than 75% won’t, and as long as people choose to remain ignorant, they will continue to get robbed by slimy scammers & spammers.
Nice to be in the company of some folks who were smart enough to research the Ascentive clownware first. -A glimmer of hope.
Bill Mullins // April 19, 2009 at 8:31 am
“If people would just read 4 or 5 pages worth of directions” – I couldn’t
agree more. Oh so simple!
Thanks for the comment, Sterling.
Bill
Elizabeth Gressett // April 28, 2009 at 10:13 am
I used Accentive scan and speed and it worked great for windows XP. My computer was faster and it cleaned up all errors and harmful problems that slowed me down. I would just say that I do not agree with your statements eventhough I can not use it on my new one. Maybe you have a diffrent bit or something I’m just saying you my be right, but it worked for me. Liz
Bill Mullins // April 28, 2009 at 10:20 am
I’m happy to hear it worked for you.
Perhaps you could be more specific, and describe the “errors and harmful
problems that slowed me down”. I’m sure readers would be interested in this.
Thank you for visiting.
Bill
Elizabeth // May 26, 2009 at 6:44 pm
It’s good to know someone is watching out for the people that would get tricked into scams!!!!!!!
Bill Mullins // May 28, 2009 at 9:57 am
Thank you for your comment Elizabeth.
Bill
New FinallyFast – Same Scam – Exposed! « Tech – for Everyone // June 7, 2009 at 9:03 am
[...] Today’s free link: Bill Mullins has more on this, including a repackaging effort, here, Fast At Last.com or Finally Fast.com – With this Software You’re Neither! [...]
Matt // September 5, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I would just like to say this is an interesting blog.
As it happens , I work for a company that sells Finally Fast, and would like to say the following remarks,: It is not worth it! I receive more prank calls than anything regarding that product, so that right there should say something about it.
And the fact that i don’t believe in the very thing I sell for a living, should say it all. So everyone just save your money and get a better quality product for your own sake.
Bill Mullins // September 5, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Hey Matt,
Thank you for your honest and straightforward comment. It has to be tough, supporting a product you personally don’t believe in.
Much appreciated.
Bill
Like gas stations in rural Texas after 10 pm, comments are closed.