Stop FreeArticleSkimmer toolbar from hijacking your browser

What is hp.myway.com?

FreeArticleSkimmer is a rogue application, advertised as a text skimming/searching tool for webpages, accompanied by a fake search engine. It is categorized as a PUA (potentially unwanted application), due to its ability to invade systems without user permission.

It is also a browser hijacker, as it makes unauthorized changes to browsers and monitors browsing activity. Developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, it is designed to appear absolutely legitimate and highly functional, as most of this network's products.

Browser hijackers typically target browsers boasting biggest popularity (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer).

They change browser's homepages, new tab/window URLs and default search engines. In other words, every new tab/window, every search query typed in the URL bar - all redirect to their fake search engine tools or cause redirection chains, ending in a legitimate search engine.

FreeArticleSkimmer reassigns it all to hp.myway.com. This severely affects the usability and effectiveness of a browser. While these changes seem easy to undo, any attempts to do so may be denied or simply reset. Therefore, without actually removing the application, browsers become practically unusable.

Additionally to being a browser hijacker, FreeArticleSkimmer may also be a data tracking app. By gathering intel on users' browsing habits (e.g. URLs visited, pages viewed, search engine history and similar), such applications can infer personal information (such as, IP address, geolocation and real-life identity info).

What is important to understand is that this data is then sold to third parties and can end up serving criminal purposes. To summarize, PUAs (including browser hijackers) can damage browser integrity, cause various system invasions and infections, as well as lead to serious privacy issues (even identity theft).

Immediate removal of all rogue applications is strongly advised, in order to ensure device and user safety.

Threat Summary:

Name	FreeArticleSkimmer browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	FreeArticleSkimmer
Supposed Functionality	Article skimming tool.
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Promoted Domain	hp.myway.com
Serving IP Address (hp.myway.com)	23.67.240.173
Detection Names (hp.myway.com)	Avira (Malware), Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
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.

The number of browser hijackers is constantly growing. Relevant examples from Mindspark Interactive Network include: TotalRecipeSearch, CrazyForCrafts, PoliticalNewsCenter and etc. - while they offer different features, their behavior is identical. Browser hijackers are often difficult to identify, as they frequently look truly legitimate.

However, that is not the only way they trick users into allowing them onto their systems. Nearly all PUAs offer some sort of "practical" and "beneficial" features. All their alluring promises are either false or utterly nonfunctional. What is important to understand, is that the only purpose that these unwanted applications serve is to generate revenue for their creators.

Once successfully infiltrated, they cause rogue redirects to sale-oriented and/or outright malicious websites, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns (pop-ups, banners, coupons, etc.) and track user data.

How did FreeArticleSkimmer install on my computer?

PUAs can invade devices without user knowledge or be unintentionally installed onto them by users themselves. By clicking on invasive ads (typically located within unreliable sites), users can trigger them to execute scripts, designed to make autonomous downloads/installs of rogue applications.

FreeArticleSkimmer is also offered free to download in its official website, where it is promoted as a very useful tool. PUAs can also proliferate through install packs/bundles. By downloading programs from untrustworthy sources, users are more likely to get their desired software pre-packed with something else.

"Bundling" is a term used to describe a false marketing method, by which ordinary programs are packed with PUAs. Refusing these undesirable applications can be possible, however such options are frequently difficult to spot within the installation process.

Presence of PUAs can be buried within terms; possible opt-outs hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings and similar.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to do at least the base amount of research on programs/apps/features to verify their legitimacy. Always use official and verified sources for downloading software (preferably, through direct download links).

Due to the threat of bundled programs or outright deceit, P2P (peer-to-peer) sharing networks and other third party downloaders - are strongly advised against. Install recommendations include: exploring terms and possible options, using "Custom/Advanced" settings, opting-out from additional applications/features.

When browsing, it is prudent to avoid visiting suspicious websites and clicking on various adverts. Intrusive advertisements tend to look ordinary and harmless, thereby fooling many users into exploring them. However a telltale sign of an invasive ad can be the questionable sites it redirects to (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography and others).

Should users encounter such ads/redirects, they are recommended to check their system without delay and to remove any dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with FreeArticleSkimmer, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting FreeArticleSkimmer 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:
▼ 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 FreeArticleSkimmer application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove FreeArticleSkimmer 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.

FreeArticleSkimmer 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, "FreeArticleSkimmer 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.

FreeArticleSkimmer browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects (Windows OS):

Video showing how to remove FreeArticleSkimmer 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://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 freearticleskimmer 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 "FreeArticleSkimmer" 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, 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 "hp.myway.com" 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 freearticleskimmer 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 "FreeArticleSkimmer", 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 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 freearticleskimmer 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 freearticleskimmer 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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