How to uninstall the InboxNow browser hijacker?

What is hp.myway.com?

Developed by the Mindspark Interactive Network, InboxNow is a deceptive application. It is endorsed as a tool for easy access to email accounts. Although this piece of software may seem legitimate and useful, it is classified as a browser hijacker and PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application).

InboxNow operates by making modifications to browser settings in order to promote hp.myway.com - a fake search engine; due to this, it is considered to be a browser hijacker. Apps are classified as PUAs when they are distributed using questionable methods.

Additionally, presence of InboxNow on systems is a serious privacy concern, as it collects information relating to Internet browsing activity.

Browser hijackers primary target Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and other popular browsers. These rogue applications assign the addresses of fake web searchers as browsers' default search engine, homepage and new tab/window URLs. InboxNow also makes these modifications to browsers - to promote hp.myway.com.

Therefore, with InboxNow installed: every new browser tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar - redirect to hp.myway.com. Fake search engines are seldom capable of providing search results, so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Bing, Google and other legitimate ones.

Furthermore, browser hijackers can install a number of additions that are designed to undo any changes users attempt to make to their browsers and/or deny access to the browser's settings. Hence, recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without eliminating the software affecting it.

As mentioned in the introduction, InboxNow has data tracking abilities. It monitors users' Internet browsing activity and collects a variety of system/user information. Data of interest includes: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, IP addresses, geolocations and other personally identifiable information.

The gathered data is typically shared with and/or sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). In summary, data-tracking software installed onto systems can lead to various privacy issues and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user safety, it is strongly advised to remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	InboxNow browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:UnwantedSig [PUP]), Emsisoft (Application.WebToolbar (A)), ESET-NOD32 (Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch.BA Potentiall), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:WebToolbar.Win32.Agent.), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Browser Extension(s)	InboxNow
Supposed Functionality	Easy access to email accounts
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Promoted Domain	hp.myway.com
Serving IP Address (hp.myway.com)	184.28.216.149
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.

The Mindspark Interactive Network has developed hundreds of applications practically identical to InboxNow; RecipeSearch, Test iNet Speed, DailyBibleGuide, SimpleDIYOnline - to name a few. Despite offering different features - they all operate in the same manner.

Following successful infiltration, these apps modify browser settings, promote fake search engines and track Internet browsing activity. Therefore, instead of providing real value to users, this software generates revenue for its developers through dubious and possibly harmful behavior.

In fact, this applies to practically all PUAs. Functionality and user safety are irrelevant, since the only goal of unwanted applications is to create profit at user expense. PUAs are designed to hijack browsers, force-open untrustworthy or malicious sites, run intrusive advertisement campaigns and/or collect private data.

How did InboxNow install on my computer?

Some PUAs (e.g. InboxNow) have "official" promotional webpages, from which they can be downloaded (often for free). These applications are also distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of third party software alongside regular products.

By rushing though download/installation processes (e.g. by ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, etc.) - users risk inadvertently allowing bundled content into their devices, thereby exposing them to potential system infections.

Intrusive adverts proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the advertisements can execute scripts to download/install software without user consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to research products before download/installation and/or purchase. All downloads must be done from official and verified sources. Since untrustworthy download channels, e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders - commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content.

When downloading/installing, it is important to read terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out from supplementary apps, tools, functions and other additions. Intrusive adverts appear legitimate and harmless, however they redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).

In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, users must inspect their devices and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with InboxNow, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Installation setup of InboxNow browser hijacker:

InboxNow browser hijacker asking for various permissions:

Website promoting InboxNow browser hijacker:

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▼ 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 InboxNow application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove InboxNow 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.

InboxNow 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, "InboxNow 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.

InboxNow 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 inboxnow 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 "InboxNow" 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 InboxNow, 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" 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 inboxnow 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 "InboxNow", 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 InboxNow, 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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with inboxnow 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 inboxnow 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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