Remove MapMyWayFree from your browser

What is hp.myway.com?

MapMyWayFree is yet another rogue application released by Mindspark Interactive Network. It is endorsed for quick access to maps, routes, and traffic-related content. It is supposedly capable of providing maps, driving directions, traffic reports, public transport fares, car services, etc.

Due to most users installing this app inadvertently, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA). MapMyWayFree operates as a browser hijacker by making unauthorized changes to browsers and promoting hp.myway.com, a fake search engine. Furthermore, it has data tracking capabilities and employs them to monitor users' browsing habits.

Typically, browser hijackers target Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and other popular browsers. After successful infiltration, these applications assign their fake search engine addresses as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URL.

MapMyWayFree promotes hp.myway.com in this manner. Therefore, each search query typed into the URL and each new tab/window opened redirects to hp.myway.com. These modifications significantly diminish the browsing experience. While they may seem relatively easy to undo, this is not the case.

Any changes users make to browsers are reset (if indeed access to the settings is permitted at all). To recover the afflicted browser, the hijacker application must be removed. As mentioned, MapMyWayFree can also track data.

It records browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search engine history, etc.) and collects users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations, and other details). This sensitive data is then shared with third parties (often, cyber criminals) intent on misusing it for financial gain.

Therefore, the presence of data tracking content on devices can lead to privacy issues, financial loss, and even identity theft. To ensure browser/system health and user safety, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins.

Threat Summary:

Name	MapMyWayFree browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:UnwantedSig [PUP]), DrWeb (Adware.MyWebSearch.145), 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)	MapMyWayFree
Supposed Functionality	GPS-related functionality.
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
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. ▼ 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.

Browser hijackers have certain common traits, and those apps released by the same developers are usually identical. GetFlightUpdates, MyMapsExpress, and GetFormsHere are some other browser hijackers released by Mindspark Interactive Network.

In general, PUAs tend to be very similar. They often seem legitimate and entice users to install by offering various "useful" and "beneficial" features, however, the only purposes of all these applications is to generate revenue for the designers, In fact, the advertised features tend to be nonoperational, making them useless to regular users.

Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs hijack browsers, cause redirects to sale-based, untrustworthy and malicious websites, deliver intrusive ad campaigns (pop-ups, surveys, banners, coupons, etc.), and track private data.

How did MapMyWayFree install on my computer?

Some PUAs, such as MapMyWayFree, have "official" download web pages. They also proliferate via the download/install set-ups of other software. The deceptive marketing method of packing regular programs with unwanted or malicious content is called "bundling".

This tactic is widely used by PUA developers and is often successful in proliferating their products. Rushing download/installation processes (ignoring or skimming terms, skipping steps and sections, using pre-set options, etc.) endangers devices with potential system infiltration and infections.

Typically hosted by compromised sites, intrusive advertisements also proliferate PUAs. Once clicked, these ads can execute scripts designed to make rogue downloads/installs of these applications.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to research software/content to verify its legitimacy, before downloading/installing. Use only trustworthy and verified download channels. P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.), unofficial and free file-hosting websites, third party downloaders and similar sources are untrustworthy and should not be used.

Download/installation processed should be treated with caution. Read the terms, explore all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of downloading/installing supplementary apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive ads usually seem legitimate and innocuous, however, they often redirect to dubious sites (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling, etc.).

If you encounter these ads/redirects, check the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with MapMyWayFree, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

MapMyWayFree browser hijacker installer set-up:

MapMyWayFree browser hijacker asking for various permissions:

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

MapMyWayFree 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, "MapMyWayFree 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.

MapMyWayFree 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 mapmywayfree 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 "MapMyWayFree" 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 MapMyWayFree, 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 mapmywayfree 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 "MapMyWayFree", 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 MapMyWayFree, 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 mapmywayfree 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 mapmywayfree 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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