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Developers present search.hquickmapsanddirections.com as a legitimate search engine that enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results and providing quick access to various popular websites.
Its appearance suggests that search.hquickmapsanddirections.com is legitimate and useful, however, developers promote it via a potentially unwanted application (PUA) called Quick Maps And Directions, which usually infiltrates systems without users’ permission.
Furthermore, search.hquickmapsanddirections.com and Quick Maps And Directions gather information relating to browsing activity.
Quick Maps And Directions hijacks the most popular browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) to modify settings without users' consent. This browser hijacker assigns the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL settings to search.hquickmapsanddirections.com.
These changes may not seem significant, however, users are unable to revert them until Quick Maps And Directions is uninstalled. Research shows that Quick Maps And Directions continues to reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are automatically redirected to search.hquickmapsanddirections.com when they search via the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab/window. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience.
Note that search.hquickmapsanddirections.com is useless as a search engine, since once a query entered, users are redirected to search.yahoo.com. Therefore, search.hquickmapsanddirections.com does not generate any unique results and thus provides no real value. Another significant downside is data tracking.
Be aware that search.hquickmapsanddirections.com and Quick Maps And Directions record user-system information relating to browsing habits. These fake search engines and browser hijackers usually gather search queries, website URLs visited, pages viewed, IP addresses, and geo-locations, however, the list of collected data types might also include personal details.
The information is later shared with third parties who misuse it to generate revenue. Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to search.hquickmapsanddirections.com, immediately remove the Quick Maps And Directions browser hijacker and never return to this site.
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There are hundreds of fake search engines virtually identical to search.hquickmapsanddirections.com including searchsecureprime.co, search.momentumlite.com, and feed.moviegoat.com (these are just some examples from many).
As with search.hquickmapsanddirections.com, these sites also offer 'useful' functions and an enhanced browsing experience, however, such claims are merely attempts (that are often successful) to give the impression of legitimacy. Fake search engines commonly have just one purpose: to help developers generate revenue. Most cause unwanted redirects and gather information.
Some even generate misleading results and intrusive advertisements, typically leading to dubious (potentially malicious) websites. Therefore, using fake search engines can lead to various system infections.
Although Quick Maps And Directions has an official download website, it often infiltrates systems without users’ permission. These browser hijackers are often proliferated using "bundling" and intrusive advertising methods. "Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software.
Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes. Intrusive advertisements redirect to malicious websites or execute scripts designed to download/install PUAs.
Furthermore, many users often skip download/installation steps and click advertisements without understanding the possible consequences. This behavior often leads to inadvertent installations of rogue apps.
The main reasons for computer infections are careless behavior and lack of knowledge of these threats. Therefore, be cautious when browsing the web and downloading/installing software. Intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate, however, most redirect to surveys, adult dating, gambling, and other dubious sites. These ads are often displayed by adware-type apps.
If you encounter them, immediately remove all suspicious programs and browser plug-ins. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings, carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs, and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.
Download apps from official sources only (via direct download links) and avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since they are often monetized using the "bundling" method.
The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with Quick Maps And Directions, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Quick Maps And Directions browser hijacker:
IMPORTANT NOTE! This deceptive site asks to enable web browser notifications.
Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:
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Quick menu:
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, "Quick Maps And Directions"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hquickmapsanddirections.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
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Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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://search.hquickmapsanddirections.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 "Quick Maps And Directions".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the quick maps and directions 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.
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Quick Maps And Directions" 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 "Quick Maps And Directions", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hquickmapsanddirections.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 "search.hquickmapsanddirections.com", and 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 quick maps and directions 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.
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Quick Maps And Directions" (or simply "Maps"), 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 "Quick Maps And Directions" (or simply "Maps"), remove hxxp://search.hquickmapsanddirections.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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with quick maps and directions 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.
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.
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 quick maps and directions 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.
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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Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.
I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.
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Browser reset instructions