How to eliminate the Easy Maps Now browser-hijacking application
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Easy Maps Now?
Easy Maps Now is a deceptive application that claims to provide GPS-related features. Its appearance suggests that Easy Maps Now is a legitimate and useful application, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and a browser hijacker.
There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) installation without users' consent; 2) promotion of a fake search engine [search.searchemn.com], and; 3) tracking of browsing activity.
This browser-hijacking application promotes the search.searchemn.com fake search engine. To achieve this, it hijacks popular browsers and assigns the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to search.searchemn.com (settings are assigned to maps.mysearches.co in the Mozilla Firefox web browser).
These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them. This is due to a search.searchemn.com feature that allows it to reassign (or simply prevent users from accessing) options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, as long as Easy Maps Now is present, returning browsers to their previous states is impossible.
Note that search.searchemn.com is a useless search engine, since it merely redirects users to search.yahoo.com when a query is entered. Therefore, it generates no unique results and users simply end up searching via Yahoo (a legitimate search engine). Another significant downside is data tracking, which is a common behavior to browser hijackers and fake search engines.
The list of collected data types usually includes (but is not limited to) IP addresses, search queries, URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar data. This information is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing private data.
Thus, information tracking might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to eliminate the Easy Maps Now browser hijacker and never return to search.searchemn.com
| Name | Easy Maps Now |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Detection Names (ViewFreeRecipes-22614652.exe) | Avast (Win32:AdwareSig [Adw]), DrWeb (Adware.Spigot.145), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.WebSearch.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Maps, Easy Maps Now |
| Supposed Functionality | Access to GPS-relating functionality. |
| Promoted URL | search.searchemn.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.searchemn.com) | 52.5.182.68 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| 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. |
Easy Maps Now is identical to Free Online Manuals, My Forms Suite, Local Weather Radar, and dozens of other browser-hijacking applications. All offer "useful features", however, these false claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy.
Easy Maps Now and other similar applications are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than giving any real value for regular users, these programs cause unwanted redirects and gather data.
How did Easy Maps Now install on my computer?
Easy Maps Now is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, this app often infiltrates systems without consent, since developers proliferate it using intrusive advertising and "bundling" methods.
Intrusive advertisements (most of which are delivered by adware-type applications) typically redirect users to dubious websites or execute scripts that download and install PUAs. "Bundling", on the other hand, is stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software.
Developers hide "bundled" applications behind "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users often click advertisements, rush download/installation processes, and skip steps. In doing so, they expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the Internet, and downloading and installing software. Bear in mind that intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate, however, once clicked, they redirect to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, and similar).
If you encounter these ads/redirects frequently, eliminate all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, select "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully study each window of the download/installation dialogs. Opt-out of all additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them.
We also recommend that you download software from official sources only (preferably, via direct download links) and avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since most are monetized using the "bundling" method.
The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with Easy Maps Now, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Easy Maps Now browser hijacker installer set-up:
Website promoting Easy Maps Now browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is Easy Maps Now?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Easy Maps Now application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.searchemn.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Easy Maps Now browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.searchemn.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.searchemn.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Easy Maps Now 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, "Easy Maps Now"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.searchemn.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Easy Maps Now browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects (Windows OS):
Video showing how to remove Easy Maps Now browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner (MacOS):
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.searchemn.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 "Easy Maps Now".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.searchemn.com redirect, 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 "Easy Maps Now" 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 look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.searchemn.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.searchemn.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 search.searchemn.com redirect, 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 "Easy Maps Now" (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 "Easy Maps Now" (or simply "Maps") remove hxxp://search.searchemn.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 search.searchemn.com redirect 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 search.searchemn.com redirect, 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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