GetFreeGifs Toolbar

What is hp.myway.com?

Developed by Mindspark Interactive Network (now known as IAC Applications), GetFreeGifs is a deceptive application that claims to provide access to various GIF images. Judging on appearance alone, GetFreeGifs may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app can infiltrate systems without consent.

Furthermore, it stealthily modifies web browser options without permission. For these reasons, GetFreeGifs is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.

Following infiltration, GetFreeGifs hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to hp.myway.com.

These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states - GetFreeGifs reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, reverting changes performed by GetFreeGifs becomes impossible and users are forced to visit hp.myway.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar.

Unwanted redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. Modification of settings is common behavior to browser-hijacking applications. Furthermore, these programs track browsing activity.

It is currently unknown if GetFreeGifs collects information, however, most browser hijackers record IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, queries entered into search engines, and other similar data that might contain private details.

Cyber criminals sell this information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who also aim to increase their revenue by misusing personal data. This situation might cause serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, all browser-hijacking applications (including GetFreeGifs) should be eliminated immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	GetFreeGifs browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit 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 browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady 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 browser hijackers identical to GetFreeGifs including, for example, FileSendSuite, NewNoteCenter, AnytimeAstrology, and RecipeHub.

 In fact, all browser-hijacking applications are very similar. Note that the above apps offer different features, but have identical behavior: they claim to provide "useful functionality", but these are merely attempts to trick users to install. Browser hijacking applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and deliver no value for regular users.

They cause unwanted redirects (to promote other websites, most of which are fake search engines) and record various user-system information. Rather than enhancing the browsing experience, fake search engines simply generate fake results (thereby promoting suspicious sites), deliver intrusive advertisements, and record user-system information.

Bear in mind that the fake results and intrusive advertisements can also lead to malicious websites. The intrusive ads might execute scripts that download and install malware or other PUPs. For these reasons, fake search engines pose a direct threat to your privacy and browsing safety.

How did GetFreeGifs install on my computer?

GetFreeGifs has an official download website, however, developers also proliferate these PUPs using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" and the aforementioned intrusive ads. Therefore, users often install browser-hijacking apps inadvertently, without their consent.

Bundling is stealth installation of third party applications with regular software/apps. Developers hide bundled apps within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. Skipping this section and clicking intrusive advertisements exposes systems to risk of various infections and puts users' privacy at risk.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be extremely cautious when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet in general. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings, carefully analyze each download/installation step, and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

Download your software only from trusted sources and (if possible) using a direct download URL rather than third party download tools. Third party downloaders often include additional apps (they are often concealed, thus preventing users from opting-out).

Therefore, using these tools is very risky. Furthermore, avoid clicking intrusive advertisements. Cyber criminals design these ads to seem genuine. Determining if they originate from the visited (legitimate) website is virtually impossible. No matter how tempting these ads may seem, do not take the risk of clicking them. The key to computer safety is caution.

Website promoting GetFreeGifs browser hijacker:

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 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.

Quick menu:

• What is hp.myway.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall GetFreeGifs application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove GetFreeGifs 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.

GetFreeGifs 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, "GetFreeGifs Internet Explorer..."), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that 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.

GetFreeGifs 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 "myway".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the getfreegifs 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 "GetFreeGifs" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hp.myway.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click 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", and 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 getfreegifs 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "GetFreeGifs", and 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, 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: "myway"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with getfreegifs 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 getfreegifs 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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