How to uninstall FreeMaps potentially unwanted app?

What is hp.myway.com?

FreeMaps is a rogue application that supposedly allows access to street views and maps of various areas. Initially, FreeMaps may appear legitimate and useful, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and a browser hijacker.

It modifies of web browser's settings and collects information related to user's Internet browsing activity. Typically, users download and install PUAs like FreeMaps unintentionally (accidentally).

Following successful infiltration, FreeMaps hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, assigning the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to hp.myway.com. These changes may not seem significant, however, users are unable to revert them. FreeMaps automatically reassigns these settings when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are forced to visit hp.myway.com when they search via the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience.

In addition, FreeMaps continually tracks Internet browsing activity by gathering IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar data. Many users believe that this information is insignificant, however, it might contain personal details that developers (Mindspark Interactive Network) share with cooperating third parties who misuse private data to generate revenue.

Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app such as FreeMaps on your system can result in serious privacy issues. You are strongly advised to eliminate this potentially unwanted app immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	FreeMaps browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:UnwantedSig [PUP]), AVG (Win32:UnwantedSig [PUP]), ESET-NOD32 (Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch.BA Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Browser Extension(s)	FreeMaps
Supposed Functionality	This app supposed to allow users to search for maps and directions
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Promoted Domain	hp.myway.com
Serving IP Address (hp.myway.com)	23.65.238.106
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers.
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Mindspark Interactive Network has released dozens of PUAs, all of which are identical. Applications such as MyTelevisionHQ, SimplePackageFinder and MapMyWayFree offer different functionality, and yet, have identical behavior. Claims to provide useful features or any other value are merely attempts to deceive users to installing them.

The only purpose of Mindspark Interactive Network products is to generate revenue for developers, whilst regular users receive no significant value. These browser hijackers simply cause unwanted redirects and gather various data.

How did FreeMaps install on my computer?

As a rule, users download and install PUAs unintentionally. In most cases they cause it by clicking certain deceptive advertisements or through download and/or installation setups other, mainly free software. It is common that developers distribute PUAs by using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".

It means that they include unwanted apps in setups of other software as additional offers. In most cases those offers can be found in "Custom", "Advanced", and/or other settings. Unintentional downloads and installations are caused when users download and/or install programs that have PUAs in their setups without changing the aforementioned settings.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is not recommended to download (or install) software from untrustworthy sources such as torrent clients, eMule and other Peer-to-Peer networks, through third party downloaders, installers, from questionable websites, etc. It should be downloaded from official, trustworthy websites and via direct links. 

Also, it is recommended not to leave "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options of any download/installation setup unchecked. They often mention offers to download and/or install PUAs. Furthermore, intrusive ads that appear on shady pages often open other untrustworthy, potentially malicious pages. In some cases they cause unwanted downloads, installations.

Therefore, it is not safe to click those advertisements. All unwanted, unknown, suspicious extensions, add-ons or plug-ins that are installed on a browser should be removed.

The same applies to programs of this kind that are installed on a computer. If your computer is already infected with FreeMaps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Installation setup of FreeMaps browser hijacker:

Website promoting FreeMaps browser hijacker (Chrome):

Website promoting FreeMaps browser hijacker (Firefox):

Website promoting FreeMaps browser hijacker (Internet Explorer):

Notification saying that FreeMaps can read and change various data (on Chrome):

Notification saying that FreeMaps can access various data (on Firefox):

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Quick menu:

• What is hp.myway.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall FreeMaps application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove FreeMaps browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove hp.myway.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

FreeMaps browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "FreeMaps Internet Explorer..."), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the hp.myway.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

FreeMaps browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://hp.myway.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "hp.myway".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the freemaps browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "FreeMaps" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable FreeMaps, look for a browser hijacker URL (hp.myway.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "Ask Web Search" when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the freemaps browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "FreeMaps", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window disable FreeMaps, remove hxxp://hp.myway.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with freemaps browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the freemaps browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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