Avoid installation of the MyPrivacyManager browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is hp.myway.com?
MyPrivacyManager is one of many apps created by Mindspark Interactive Network. It supposedly provides easy access to privacy tools and safety-related browser settings, however, MyPrivacyManager developers distribute it by including it into the set-ups of other software.
Therefore, many people download and install this app unintentionally, and it is thus categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Specifically, MyPrivacyManager is a browser hijacker that changes browser settings to promote a fake search engine (hp.myway.com).
Generally, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing browser settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine, and new tab. MyPrivacyManager assigns them to hp.myway.com. Therefore, each entered search query, new opened window or tab leads to hp.myway.com.
To undo or change these settings, users must uninstall the app that hijacked the browser. Otherwise, the browser hijacker will reassign settings after each attempt to modify them. Typically, apps such as MyPrivacyManager can be installed on browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
When installed, they gather information relating to users. For example, IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, geolocations, and so on.
Some browser hijackers might also collect personal details. Developers share the information with third parties (potentially cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue. This situation can lead to problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, or even identity theft.
| Name | MyPrivacyManager browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | MyPrivacyManager |
| Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly provides access to browser settings relating to privacy. |
| 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) | Avast (Malware), Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
Typically, browser hijackers are advertised as tools that provide useful tools, features, and so on. In fact, few PUAs function as promoted. They are designed only to help developers to generate revenue. More examples of browser hijackers are ProductManualsGuide, TotalRecipeSearch, and FreeAuctionFinder.
How did MyPrivacyManager install on my computer?
In some cases, people can download potentially unwanted apps from various websites, however, most download and install them inadvertently or unintentionally through clicked deceptive ads or with other software. To trick people into downloading or installing PUAs, developers use a deceptive marketing method known as "bundling".
They place PUAs in the set-ups of other programs and hope that people will not check or change settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on. Offers to download or install additional app can be dismissed in these settings, however, many people download and install programs whilst failing to check them.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent unwanted downloads or installations, download software (especially when it is free) from official, trustworthy websites. Note that tools/sources such as third party software downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule) are often used to distribute/promote unwanted software.
Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of any setup and deselect offers to download or install additional programs. Intrusive ads displayed on sites relating to gambling, adult dating, pornography (and other similar pages) often lead to potentially malicious sites.
If the default browser opens dubious sites or displays unwanted ads, remove all unwanted or suspicious extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins.
The same should be applied to programs of this type installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with MyPrivacyManager, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting MyPrivacyManager 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 hp.myway.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall MyPrivacyManager application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove MyPrivacyManager 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.
MyPrivacyManager 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, "MyPrivacyManager 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.
MyPrivacyManager 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 myprivacymanager 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 "MyPrivacyManager" 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 MyPrivacyManager, 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 myprivacymanager 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 "MyPrivacyManager", 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 MyPrivacyManager, 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 myprivacymanager 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 myprivacymanager 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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