How to uninstall Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections

What is Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections?

Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections is a browser hijacker designed to promote srchbar.com (a fake search engine) by modifying browser settings. It is very likely that this app also operates as an information tracking tool.

Few users download and install browser hijackers intentionally and, therefore, apps of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

After installation, Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections assigns browser settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab to srchbar.com, which is is the address of a fake search engine that does not generate any unique results.

If used, it simply provides results generated by Bing or Yahoo (it redirects people to search.yahoo.com or bing.com). Like most browser hijackers, Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections forces users to visit fake search engines when they open a browser, new tab or enter queries into the URL bar.

In most cases, the only way to remove the address of the fake search engine from browser settings is to uninstall the browser hijacker (in this case, Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections).

This is not the only reason to uninstall these apps. Browser hijackers often gather information including, for example, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, IP addresses, geolocations, and other browsing data. Some can record personal, sensitive details.

Furthermore, the developers sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.

In summary, these apps can cause problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy and even identity theft. Therefore, browser hijackers should never be downloaded or installed. If Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections or other PUAs are installed on the browser or computer, remove them immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections
Supposed Functionality	This browser hijacker supposedly provides quick access to maps and directions.
Promoted URL	srchbar.com
Detection Names (srchbar.com)	DNS8 (Suspicious), Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (srchbar.com)	99.84.160.29
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.
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.

Some examples of apps that are also categorized as browser hijackers include Protect My Search App, Search Power+ and Unit Conversion Tab.

Generally, these apps are advertised as useful and legitimate. They supposedly deliver various features, improve the browsing experience, and are useful in other ways, however, many of these apps are useless and cause serious problems. Never trust or download/install any PUAs.

How did Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections install on my computer?

Commonly, browser hijackers and other PUAs are distributed by including them into the set-ups of other software. This distribution method is known as "bundling" and is used to trick people into downloading and installing PUAs together with regular (usually free) software.

In most cases, information about additionally-included apps is not properly disclosed and can be found in settings such as "Custom" or "Advanced". When people leave these unchecked and unchanged, they often agree by default with offers to download and install unwanted apps with their software.

PUAs also infiltrate when people click deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to download files and programs from official websites and through direct links. Channels such as third party downloaders, dubious (unofficial) websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule, etc.) can be used to distribute unwanted or even malicious programs.

Third party installers should also be avoided. Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings and dismiss offers to download or install potentially unwanted apps before completing the process.

Do not click intrusive advertisements that appear on web pages relating to gambling, adult dating, pornography and others - they can open potentially malicious websites or download/install unwanted apps. Remove any unwanted extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the computer.

If your computer is already infected with Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Notification stating that Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections can read and change various data:

Website promoting Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections 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 Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove srchbar.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove srchbar.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove srchbar.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections 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 & Directions by QuestForDirections"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the srchbar.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections 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://srchbar.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 & Directions by QuestForDirections".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the srchbar.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 & Directions by QuestForDirections" 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 "Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.srchbar.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 "srchbar.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 srchbar.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 & Directions by QuestForDirections", 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 "Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections", remove hxxp://srchbar.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 srchbar.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 srchbar.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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