How to remove Driver Maps

Tips for Driver Maps removal

Driver Maps endorses as a tool that helps users’ access to various maps and driving routes. However, it is a browser hijacker application that is designed especially to promote a fake search engine. Additionally, such apps have the data tracking capability that they use in tracking the data related to users’ browsing activities/habits. Usually mostly install such apps unintentionally -the reason why these are also called potentially unwanted applications.

Driver Maps promotes the fake search engine named search.hdrivemaps.com. It operates this by assigning the URL address of the domain to the homepage, new tab page and default search engine options. It prevents users to access to the settings and thus the users are not able to return to the previous browser settings option. In other word, they are forced to visit search.hdrivemaps.com all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter queries on the search URL bar.

The frequent redirection will diminish the web browsing session significantly. Additionally, as said, the Driver Maps promotes a fake search engine. Such searching tools do not provide their own search results. They take the help of some legit web searching tools such as Google.com (Google), Bing.com (Bing) and Search.yahoo.com (Yahoo) to generate search results. The search.hdrivemaps.com simply redirects the session to search.yahoo.com. Furthermore, the Driver Maps (and the fake search engine) can track the users’ browsing session and collect the data related to their browsing activities. The collected data include:

• IP addresses,
• Search queries,
• Viewed pages,
• URLs visited,
• ISP,
• Geo-locations,
• Type of OS and browser used and so on

These data could be shared to potent cybercriminals who misuse them to generate illicit revenue. Thus, the data tracking can result into huge risk of privacy and can cause identity exposure. To prevent such things from happening in future, immediately remove Driver Maps from the browser and the system.

Threat Summary

Type: Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab

Browser Extension: Driver Maps

Supposed function: it can supposedly provide easy access to various maps

Promoted URL: search.hdrivemaps.com

Affected browser settings: Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine

Symptoms: Manipulated Internet browser settings, the users are forced to visit the hijackers’ website and search the Internet using their search engines

Distribution methods: Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers, fake flash player installers

Danger: Internet browser tracking – privacy issues, displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites

Removal: Use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove Driver Maps from the system

PUPs come bundled with other software

Some potentially unwanted programs have their official websites. However, most often users install such apps unintentionally -the reason is that these are being distributed via various deceptive methods. The most common of them is software bundling. It allows pre-packaging of PUPs with some regular software under the download/install setups and offer the bundled as single for the download on various third party sites. Users who rush the download and skip most of the installation steps often lead the inadvertent installation of unwanted apps. In order to stay away from getting tricked by bundling, you should:

• Always use official websites for any software download
• Check software reviews before the download
• During installation, choose Custom/Advanced option
• Opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers
• Employ some antivirus tool that provides adequate protection to the device

Remove Driver Maps

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble during removal process. You can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove Driver Maps from the system.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Driver Maps:

Remove the related items of Driver Maps using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Driver Maps issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Driver Maps) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Driver Maps removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Driver Maps still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Driver Maps plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Driver Maps removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Driver Maps (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.