Remove HomeHelpGuide Toolbar Hijacker

Easy Steps To Delete HomeHelpGuide Toolbar

HomeHelpGuide Toolbar is a perilous browser hijacker that usually shows up on your web browsers unexpectedly, as it is commonly downloaded along with other software from various third-party websites. This potentially unwanted program shows up as an extension on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or another web browser, although it can also be related to an outside tool installed on a Windows computer. Upon infiltration, it changes the homepage and new tab URL to hp.myway.com. It applies a customized search tool and delivers all the search results via Yahoo engine.

More About HomeHelpGuide Toolbar:

Due to altered web browser settings, HomeHelpGuide Toolbar can insert sponsored links into searches, increase the number of ads all around the web, and track users’ online activities for marketing purposes. Upon infiltration, the PUP will perform several changes to the web browser, for example:

• An extension installed on the web browser
• Search engine, homepage and new tab address is set to hp.myway.com.
• All search results are redirected from a customized search engine to search.yahoo.com
• Web browser might operate slower than usual.

Keep in mind that the extension is not the only reason for these browser alterations, HomeHelpGuide Toolbar removal would differ in such cases. Instead of simply removing the extension via your browser, you would have to access the list of the installed apps and eliminate all the suspicious ones. Another good way to terminate PUPs is by scanning the machine with powerful anti-malware software.

While unexpected browser changes can be noticed by users straight away, fundamental activities are rarely apparent to them. For the most part, browser hijackers are set to collect a variety of anonymous and personal information about users, which is sometimes shared with business partners and third-parties. In the case of HomeHelpGuide Toolbar, online activities (search terms, browsing history, links clicked), technical data (browser type, system details), as well as personal identifiers (IP address) are collected as long as the app is installed on the device.

Summarize Information

Name: HomeHelpGuide Toolbar

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect virus, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Redirects users to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Numerous annoying adverts, Changes in default browser’s settings, default Internet search engine, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool.

How Does This Hijacker Enter Your PC?

These potentially unwanted programs are mostly spread through software bundling technique. This method is used by most freeware and shareware distributers. It allows the cost-per-install monetization principle (which is not always employed for dubious motives though) to be practiced so third-parties are highly interested in people installing additional programs. However, they are generally going out of their ways in order to get the desired affect and do not adequately show the option components within the installer. And therefore, when you install program using ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended’ mode set, there is huge chance that you will end up installing PUP in the machine.

Tips To Prevent Malware Intrusion:

To avoid HomeHelpGuide Toolbar or other similar threats penetrations, you should always pay close attention to your downloads, here are a few tips that might help you:

• Avoid third-party sites and download apps from the official sources only;
• Do not get tricked by fake “Download” buttons (this is especially prevalent on torrent and other insecure sites);
• Once the installation wizard appears, do not click “Next” until you are done with the process;
• When asked, always pick Advanced/Custom instead of Recommended/Quick settings to stay in control of the installation process;
• Read through the instructions carefully and remove ticks from checkboxes, refuse all the offers and read the fine print text;
• Install powerful anti-malware software capable of detecting PUPs.

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 HomeHelpGuide Toolbar:

Remove the related items of HomeHelpGuide Toolbar 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 HomeHelpGuide Toolbar 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 (HomeHelpGuide Toolbar) 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 HomeHelpGuide Toolbar 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 HomeHelpGuide Toolbar 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 HomeHelpGuide Toolbar 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 HomeHelpGuide Toolbar 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 HomeHelpGuide Toolbar (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.