How to remove the Maps & Driving Directions browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Maps & Driving Directions?
Maps & Driving Directions supposedly provides quick access to various maps, however, this app promotes search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com (a fake search engine) by changing browser settings. Apps of this type are browser hijackers, since most change settings and gather browsing data.
Browser hijackers are also classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), since people often download and install them inadvertently. Maps & Driving Directions is installed together with Hide My Searches, which is also a PUA.
Like most browser hijackers, Maps & Driving Directions changes settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. This app assigns them to search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com so that users are forced to visit/use this site when they open a browser, new tab or search by entering search queries into the URL bar.
Typically, browser hijackers prevent users from removing the address of the fake search engine from the aforementioned settings. The only way to change search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com to the address of a preferred search engine is to uninstall Maps & Driving Directions from the browser and/or operating system.
Note that search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com and many other search engines such as this are fake, since they do not generate unique results. Generally, they provide results generated by other, usually legitimate, search engines. In this case, search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com redirects users to search.yahoo.com.
Furthermore, browser hijackers often gather details such as IP addresses, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, geolocation, and other browsing data. Some also record personal details. In any case, developers usually sell collected data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.
This can cause problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and some people might even become victims of identity theft or experience other serious issues. Therefore, do not use these browser hijackers and eliminate them immediately.
| Name | Maps & Driving Directions |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | Maps & Driving Directions. |
| Supposed Functionality | This PUA supposedly provides maps and driving directions. |
| Promoted URL | search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com) | 52.5.10.233 |
| 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. |
| Additional Information | Maps & Driving Directions is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
| 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. |
More examples of apps that are categorized as browser hijackers include Search Plus, Online TV Streamer and TV Streaming Online.
Typically, these apps supposedly deliver useful features, however, most do not operate as advertised and are designed only to promote fake search engines and collect data. PUAs place users at risk of serious problems. Therefore, remove any installed browser hijackers immediately.
How did Maps & Driving Directions install on my computer?
PUAs are often distributed by including them into the download and/or installation set-ups of other programs. This distribution method is known as "bundling". Typically, it is used to trick people into downloading/installing PUAs together with other, regular software.
In most cases, information about these additionally-included apps is placed in "Custom", "Advanced" and similar settings/options of the set-ups.
When people download and/or install programs without checking or changing these settings, they also allow PUAs to be downloaded and/or installed. In some cases, unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking advertisements that execute certain scripts. These ads then download/install unwanted software.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Download software from official web pages and via direct links. Do not use third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule) unofficial sites, or other sources. Never perform installations through third party 'installers'.
Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the download/installation setup and decline offers of any additional downloads or installations before finishing the process. Do not click advertisements displayed on dubious web pages. Once clicked, they tend to open untrustworthy websites or cause download/installation of unwanted apps.
Check for any unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed on the browser, or programs of this kind installed on a computer. Uninstall any unwanted entries. If your computer is already infected with Maps & Driving Directions, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Maps & Driving Directions browser hijacker:
Maps & Driving Directions asks permission to read and change certain data:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Maps & Driving Directions?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Maps & Driving Directions application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Maps & Driving Directions browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Maps & Driving Directions 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, "Maps & Driving Directions"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Maps & Driving Directions 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://search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.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 "Maps & Driving Directions".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.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 "Maps & Driving Directions" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), 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 "Maps & Driving Directions" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.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 "hxxp://search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.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 search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.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 "Maps & Driving Directions", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
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 "Maps & Driving Directions" or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.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.mapsanddrivingdirectionstab.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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