Search.hfastmapsanddirections.com Redirect

What is search.hfastmapsanddirections.com?

search.hfastmapsanddirections.com is one of many fake search engines that, according to the developers, enhances the browsing experience. Its appearance suggests that search.hfastmapsanddirections.com is legitimate, however, this site is promoted using a browser-hijacking application called Fast Maps And Directions.

In addition, search.hfastmapsanddirections.com and Fast Maps And Directions gather various information relating to browsing activity.

Fast Maps And Directions targets popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. It assigns search.hfastmapsanddirections.com as the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage. Furthermore, Fast Maps And Directions prevents users from reassigning modified settings.

Thus, users are forced to visit search.hfastmapsanddirections.com when a new browser tab/window is opened or a search query is entered into the URL bar. Redirects of this type significantly diminish the browsing experience. Furthermore, search.hfastmapsanddirections.com redirects users to search.yahoo.com each time a search query is entered.

Therefore, users end up searching the web via Yahoo, thus making search.hfastmapsanddirections.com redundant. Another significant downside is information tracking. Research shows that search.hfastmapsanddirections.com and "helper objects" continually record information relating to browsing activity.

Furthermore, the information usually includes personal details that developers share with third parties. These people generate revenue by misusing private information.

Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to search.hfastmapsanddirections.com, immediately eliminate all dubious applications/browser plug-ins and never visit this site again.

Threat Summary:

Name	Fast Maps And Directions 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.

There are hundreds of fake search engines similar to search.hfastmapsanddirections.com. The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) search.hmymapsfinder.com, search.hmyeasytemplates.com, and free-converterz.com. Developers present these websites as legitimate and useful, however, fake search engines are designed only to help developers generate revenue.

They deliver no real value for regular users, cause unwanted redirects and gather information, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience and putting your privacy at risk.

How did Fast Maps And Directions install on my computer?

Fast Maps And Directions has an official download website, however, this app often infiltrates computers without permission, since browser-hijacking apps are often proliferated using intrusive advertisements and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".

Intrusive ads redirect users to malicious websites and execute scripts designed to download/install unwanted applications. "Bundling" is stealth installation of unwanted software together with regular (usually free) apps. Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes.

Furthermore, many users often rush download/installation processes, skip steps, and click advertisements without understanding the possible consequences. In this way, they expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUAs, be very cautious when browsing the internet and downloading/installing software. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs. Opt-out of additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them.

Download software from official sources only, using direct download links. Third party downloaders/installers are often monetized using the "bundling" method (developers promote PUAs), and thus these tools should not be used.

Furthermore, bear in mind that intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate, however, they often redirect to dubious websites (gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.). Most are delivered by adware-type apps. Therefore, if you encounter redirects to search.hfastmapsanddirections.com, immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins.

The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with Fast Maps And Directions, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Fast Maps And Directions browser hijacker:

IMPORTANT NOTE! This deceptive site asks to enable web browser notifications.

Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:

Google Chrome (PC):

• Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Settings", scroll down to the bottom and click "Advanced"
• Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Content settings" and then "Notifications"
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Google Chrome (Android):

• Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click "Settings"
• Scroll down, click on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
• Select "Notifications" in the "Permissions" section and click "Block"

Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Options" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
• Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select "Block"

Internet Explorer:

• Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
• Select "Internet options"
• Select the "Privacy" tab and click "Settings" under "Pop-up Blocker" section
• Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the "Remove" button

Microsoft Edge:

• Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window
• Scroll down, find and click "Settings"
• Scroll down again and click "View advanced settings"
• Click "Manage" under "Notifications"
• Click the switch under each suspicious website

Safari:

• Click "Safari" button on the bottom of the screen and select "Preferences..."
• Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
• Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option for each

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Quick menu:

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

Fast Maps And Directions 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, "Fast Maps And Directions"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hfastmapsanddirections.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Fast Maps And Directions 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://search.hfastmapsanddirections.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 "Fast Maps And Directions".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the fast maps and directions 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 "Fast Maps And Directions" 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 "Fast Maps And Directions", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hfastmapsanddirections.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 "search.hfastmapsanddirections.com", 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 fast maps and directions 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 "Fast Maps And Directions" (or simply "Maps"), 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 "Fast Maps And Directions" (or simply "Maps"), remove hxxp://search.hfastmapsanddirections.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 fast maps and directions 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 fast maps and directions 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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