Remove CinematicFanatic from your browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is hp.myway.com?
CinematicFanatic is a rogue application, developed by the Mindspark Interactive Network. It is endorsed as a tool for accessing free movies online, requiring no registration (though, it then rectifies this, by claiming that some services do need registration) and accompanied by a web searching tool.
It is supposedly capable of granting access to free film streaming services, trailers, reviews and other cinema related content. However, CinematicFanatic is a browser hijacker, employed to promote hp.myway.com - a fake search engine. It is also classified as a PUA (potentially unwanted application), due to most users installing it unintentionally.
This rogue app also has data tracking abilities and uses them to spy on browsing activity, consequently gathering users' personal information.
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and other popular browsers are common targets of browser hijackers. These applications make unauthorized changes to browsers in order to promote their fraudulent web searching tools. They modify these settings: homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URL.
To elaborate on how CinematicFanatic affects browsers, then: every web search done via the URL bar and every single new tab/window opened - they all redirect to hp.myway.com. These modifications may seem relatively easy to undo, however access to certain settings may be limited and/or denied, and any changes made automatically reset.
Therefore, without removal of the hijacking app - recovering the affected browser is impossible. Most browser hijackers possess data tracking abilities, CinematicFanatic is no exception to this. By monitoring users' browsing habits, it can gather their personal information (IP address, geolocation and real-life identity details).
What is crucial to understand, is that this sensitive data is then sold to third parties and can end up being used for criminal purposes.
Therefore presence of data tracking content on users' devices can lead to serious privacy issues, even culminate in identity theft. To ensure browser and system integrity, as well as user safety - all PUAs must be removed immediately upon detection.
Name | CinematicFanatic browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Detection Names | Avast (Win32:UnwantedSig [PUP]), DrWeb (Adware.MyWebSearch.147), ESET-NOD32 (Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch.BA Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Browser Extension(s) | CinematicFanatic |
Supposed Functionality | Access to movies online. |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
Promoted Domain | hp.myway.com |
Serving IP Address (hp.myway.com) | 74.125.34.46 |
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. |
PUAs typically share common traits, as do browser hijackers. Products distributed by the Mindspark Interactive Network tend to be identical (e.g. Your Daily Trailer Toolbar, MyQuickLotto Toolbar, FreeArticleSkimmer Toolbar, MyFashionTab Toolbar and many others).
Unwanted content is designed for maximum legitimate appearance and this goal is often successfully achieved. By looking harmless and offering a wide range of "useful" features, they trick users into allowing them onto their devices.
However, it must be emphasized that the only purpose of PUAs is to generate revenue for their developers, that is why the features they offer are rarely functional - they are merely bait.
Undesirable applications operate by hijacking browsers, causing redirects to sale-oriented/untrustworthy/malicious websites, delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns (pop-ups, coupons, banners, surveys, etc.) and by tracking vulnerable information.
How did CinematicFanatic install on my computer?
Some PUAs have official websites, where they can be downloaded (often for "free"); CinematicFanatic also has such a site. Another way that these undesirables proliferate is via download/installation setups. "Bundling" is a term used to describe a false marketing technique, by which ordinary software is packed together with unwanted content.
Rushed download/installation processes (skipped steps, ignored terms, used pre-sets and etc.) - increase the risk of PUA invasions. Intrusive adverts are also known spreaders of these rogue applications. By clicking on such ads, users can trigger them to execute scripts, designed to make autonomous downloads/installs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Researching desired content is crucial in allowing only legitimate and functional software onto devices. It is advised to use only trustworthy and verified download sources, as opposed to peer-to-peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders. Downloading and installation processes should be approached with caution and care.
It is recommended to read download/installation terms, in order to verify that there is no foul play involved. Using "Custom/Advanced" install settings is also advised, as is opting-out/declining supplementary apps, features and other offers. Invasive advertisements typically look utterly ordinary an innocuous, therefore they are easy to get tricked into clicking.
However, a telltale sign on an intrusive advert can be the types of webpages it redirects to (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling and many others). Should users encounter such ads/redirects, they are strongly urged to inspect their devices and remove all dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins.
If your computer is already infected with CinematicFanatic, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
CinematicFanatic browser hijacker installer set-up:
CinematicFanatic download page asks for various permissions:
Website promoting CinematicFanatic browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is hp.myway.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall CinematicFanatic application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove CinematicFanatic 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.
CinematicFanatic 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, "CinematicFanatic 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.
CinematicFanatic 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 cinematicfanatic 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 "CinematicFanatic" 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 CinematicFanatic, 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 "CinematicFanatic" 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 cinematicfanatic 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 "CinematicFanatic", 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 CinematicFanatic, 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 cinematicfanatic 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 cinematicfanatic 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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