How to remove TheMapsFinderSearch browser hijacker

Easy tips to delete TheMapsFinderSearch virus

TheMapsFinderSearch is designed to hijack installed web browsers by changing their settings. As a rule, apps of this kind promote fake web searchers. This particular app is designed to promote themapsfinder.com. Another detail about the hijacker virus is that it is distributed through questionable methods, means people install them inadvertently.

Once after the installation, the browser hijackers alter the browsers’ homepage, new tab pages and search engine options and set promoted URLs in place of them. The TheMapsFinderSearch app operates in the same manner. Thus, the victims of the virus visit themapsfinder.com website all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search bar.

Fake web searchers typically cannot generate their own search results. They display results generated by some legit web searchers. Themapsfinder.com is not an exception, it redirects to Yahoo, nearbyme.io, searchlee.com and possibly other search engines. It is noteworthy that nearbyme.io and searchlee.com are fake web searchers that can generate search results, though these are often inaccurate.

Also, they push various third party sponsored sites as ads and links appear on the top of the search results. The users can’t restore the changes made to the browsers’ settings unless the hijacker virus is removed from the system. This app and any other apps of this kind bear the potential to reassign any changes that the users attempt to make to restore the changes to the default.

What’s more, most PUAs include data tracking feature. It is likely that TheMapsFinderSearch also poses this function. This allows the authors behind the app are to track the web session and collect the data related to their web browsing activities.

The list of these data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations and etc. These data could be shared with and/or sold to third parties/ potentially cyber-criminals.

Thus, the presence of the data tracking app can cause serious system infections, privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and even more severe consequences. To prevent any such issues from happening in future, you are strongly recommended to remove the suspicious app immediately upon detection.

How did TheMapsFinderSearch enter my system?

Browser hijacking apps are distributed through downloaders/ installers for other programs, untrustworthy ads and fake installers. They can be found in those downloaders/ installers as optional offers.

When users download/ install them without changing to Custom/Advanced and similar settings, they agree to the download/ install unwanted apps too. Ads cause download/ installation of PUAs only when they are designed to run certain scripts and users click on them.

How to avoid PUAs installation?

Downloaders/ installers with Custom/Advanced and similar settings/ options can have PUAs in them. Thus, programs should not be downloaded/ installed until those settings are checked and changed. Files and apps should have to be downloaded from official website and direct links.

Ads that questionable sites have on them should never be clicked. it is paramount to have a reputable antivirus tool installed and used it for regular system scan and to remove detected threats. If the infection is already caused, run a full system scan using some reputable antivirus tool to remove TheMapsFinderSearch automatically.

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 TheMapsFinderSearch :

Remove the related items of TheMapsFinderSearch 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 TheMapsFinderSearch 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 (TheMapsFinderSearch ) 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 TheMapsFinderSearch 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 TheMapsFinderSearch 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 TheMapsFinderSearch 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 TheMapsFinderSearch 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 TheMapsFinderSearch (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.