FreeShoppingTool Toolbar
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is hp.myway.com?
Developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, FreeShoppingTool is a dubious application identical to PoliticalNewsCenter, LearnTheLyrics, YogaPoseOnline, and many others. This app claims to save time and money by providing shopping coupons and notifications of special deals/discounts available in various e-shops.
Therefore, many users believe that FreeShoppingTool is legitimate, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and a browser hijacker. It often infiltrates systems without permission and promotes a dubious search engine.
FreeShoppingTool promotes hp.myway.com. After successful system infiltration, it hijacks the most popular browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) and assigns hp.myway.com as the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options. These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that FreeShoppingTool reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, as long as FreeShoppingTool is present, returning browsers to their previous states is impossible and users are encouraged to visit hp.myway.com when they attempt to search via the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab.
This significantly diminishes the browsing experience. Although FreeShoppingTool is not confirmed to gather information, this behavior is common to browser-hijacking applications. Most gather IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar data that often includes personal details.
The information is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) and misused to generate revenue. Thus, the presence of data-tracking apps can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly advise you to eliminate the FreeShoppingTool browser hijacker immediately.
| Name | FreeShoppingTool 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. |
As mentioned above, FreeShoppingTool is identical to dozens of other browser-hijacking apps released by Mindspark Interactive Network. Although these apps offer different functionality, their behavior is identical. All help developers generate revenue by promoting hp.myway.com.
This app delivers no real value for regular users - most browser-hijacking apps offer "useful features" just to give the impression of legitimacy.
How did FreeShoppingTool install on my computer?
FreeShoppingTool is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, due to the lack of knowledge and careless behavior of many users, this app often infiltrates systems without permission, since developers promote it using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".
Developers are not honest enough to disclose installation of "bundled" apps - they hide them within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users often rush download/installation processes and skip steps. This behavior can lead to inadvertent installation of unwanted apps such as FreeShoppingTool.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Caution is the key to computer safety. Therefore, pay attention when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Closely analyze each step of the download/installation processes and opt-out of additionally-included programs. Avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since developers monetize them by promoting ("bundling") dubious programs.
Software should be downloaded from official sources only, via direct download links. Some unwanted apps are also distributed using intrusive advertisements that redirect to infectious websites or execute scripts that download/install rogue applications (or even high-risk malware).
These ads usually seem legitimate, since developers invest time and resources into their design, but they redirect to pornography, adult dating, survey, gambling, and other dubious sites.
Most are delivered by adware-type applications. Therefore, if you experience intrusive ads, uninstall all dubious applications and browser extensions. If your computer is already infected with FreeShoppingTool, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting FreeShoppingTool browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is hp.myway.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall FreeShoppingTool application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove FreeShoppingTool 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.
FreeShoppingTool 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, "FreeShoppingTool Internet Explorer..."), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications 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.
FreeShoppingTool 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 freeshoppingtool 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 "FreeShoppingTool" 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 "FreeShoppingTool", 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", 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 freeshoppingtool 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 on "Extensions" and remove "FreeShoppingTool", 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 "FreeShoppingTool", 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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with freeshoppingtool 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 freeshoppingtool 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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