Myway hijacker - How to remove

Myway hijacker is a semi-malicious browser plugin family developed by Mindspark that presents itself as a genuine search tool and new tab tool. The program is advertisement-supported and will show ads in the New Tab page.

Mindspark Interactive Network is a legitimate company, but it chose unacceptable marketing tactics. Even public information on Wikipedia confirms that this company is responsible for the distribution of browser hijackers and PUPs (potentially unwanted programs). Their products are not entirely malware, but it is crucial to constitute that digital apps, belonging to Myway collection, can invade Internet surfers’ privacy and violate their personal affairs. This application first appeared back in 2016 and a lot of users are complaining that they can’t get rid of www.hp.myway.com website constantly appearing on their web browsers.

This happens when a Mindspark product hijacks a user’s browser, often without their knowledge. The browser’s home page changes and search queries go to different pages than before. The redirections give Myway more traffic and allow it to be more profitable, but they don’t provide any benefit to users or enhance their experience in any way. In fact, most people are annoyed with Myway’s pages showing up in their browser.

Myway comes in many forms, but the symptoms are similar in each case:

Symptoms of a Myway hijacker
  • New home page of the browser.
  • Different search results page.
  • Lower quality of search results.
  • Unusually high number of ads.
  • Pages redirected unexpectedly.
Examples of Myway hijacker plugins FreeLocalWeather, OnlineWorkSuite, VideoConverterHD, ShoppingDealsLive, PDFConverterHQ, PDFConvertTools, GiffySocial, FreePDFCombiner, CryptoPriceSearch, HomeWorkSimplified, GetPoliticalNews
Sources of the infections
  • Free programs that bundle offers.
  • Misleading ads.
  • Adware virus redirects and pop-ups.
  • Organic search.
  • Email spam and ads.
  • Social network spam and ads.
Removal
  • Scan your computer with an anti-malware program (Spyhunter).
  • Remove the offending plugins.
  • Reset browser settings.
  • Improve computer and browser security.

 

Myway extensions

Myway.com uses several pages. For USA customers, it is hp.myway.com. For people from other countries, it might be something like intl.myway.com or similar. The homepage is remodeled according to a specific product from Mindspark. FileShareFanatic, RecipeKart, and MyTransitMapper all have original Myway.com versions that visualize icons of these browser extensions. Mostly all add-ons function as toolbars, but provide an additional service of a search engine and assign it as browsers’ preferences.

This is occasionally done without users’ approval. The bigger percentage of deceitful search tools demonstrate results in an Int.search.myway.com page. We have found some evidence to suggest that these search results, even though enhanced by Google, by also be altered by other browser hijackers like Discretesearch.com and Iwebs.site.

Myway engines

However, the latter searching service has many other subdomains: it is quite difficult to count them all. One of the most popular are as follows: Search.myway.com, Hp.myway.com, Dl.myway.com, Wallpaper.myway.com, Results.myway.com, Webmail.myway.com. The last utility will be closed down on the 2nd of October, 2017. In fact, with new and improved extensions coming out regularly, Mindspark does not see the advantage of continuing to support its older products, like Inspiring Backgrounds, and they might get shut down or abandoned.

Myway.com did not obtain the 160th position in the global ranking system on its own: it had some help to reach the top. Products of Mindspark are blooming in the United States of America, India, and Brazil, but we have our suspicion that the competitive apps are cheating and exploiting misleading techniques to grab more consumers. These techniques include bundling the toolbars with free software, promoting them in spam e-mails and social networks, and using extremely aggresive ads online.

Myway.com virus

Much like its partners, hp.myway.com collects detailed data about the behavior of its users — such as their search query text, search history, location, gender, and age — for marketing purposes, to make it easier for Myway’s partners to implement targeted advertising.

Speaking of the ad-networks that have become loyal partners of Mindspark, we have found out that majority of the ad-serving platforms have been criticized for distributing objectionable promotional content. Propeller Ads Media is one of the networks that have been on the radar of security researchers, together with Adcash service. These networks have been used to advertise not just Mindspark, but other PUP products, and even tech support scams.

There are ways to reduce the number of PUPs that you are exposed to, such as only downloading programs from reputable and first-party sources, updating your browser, and being suspicious of ads and unsolicited offers. But it’s almost impossible to completely avoid Myway when it’s marketed so aggressively.

Landing page of Myway hijacker – hp.myway.com

Once inside, Myway hijacker takes over your web browser and sets your new tab page to hp.myway.com. This website is not safe and displays tons of ads in the first page of your search results. In fact, you have to scroll way down to see the real (and not sponsored) results there. Later versions of the searches might be redirected to other search engines too, depending on how much they choose to pay to Mindspark.

Once you get infected by Myway hijacker, you will notice that your homepage was replaced to Search.myway.com. Although it says that its search engine is enhanced by Google, if you try using it, you will see that there is no way you can trust it because Myway modifies the results according to its needs. The program changes the color scheme of sponsored results to match close the organic results so it is harder to distinguish between the two.

On top of that, you will notice plenty of ads while you browse the web that also contain links to sponsored pages. Most of the ads displayed by Myway hijacker are insecure and they contain links to compromised websites. For this reason, if you have noticed that any of your browsers have been affected by this hijacker, you should immediately remove it from your computer and reset your Internet browser settings.

Additionally, during the install procedure, you are asked to set your search engine settings to an engine their promote. Typically, it is Ask.com, which is legitimate but has had some problems — for a while, it was unwittingly distributing malware. We do not recommend switching to any search engine promoted by Mindspark.

Deceptive methods used to distribute Myway

The Myway hijacker can infiltrate into your system bundled with various freeware from the Internet. It can come alongside various music or video players, download managers, PDF creators, etc. We highly recommend paying more attention to your downloads from the Internet. It is the best way to avoid potentially unwanted programs. You should always opt for Custom installation mode, follow every installation step and never allow to make any changes in your system that can cause unknown consequences. Avoid adding any suspicious applications as you may end up creating a lot of problems in your system.

As it is stated by ZDNet,  unwanted bundled software might be even more dangerous than actual, typical malware: “59 percent of bundles are flagged by at least one antivirus engine as potentially unwanted, and that some packages are built not to install when the presence of antivirus has been detected.”

You should never trust this fake search engine and if it happened that it has taken over your browsers, you must remove Myway hijacker as soon as possible. We recommend running a full system scan with a reputable anti-malware program. Manual removal instructions are provided below this article.

To remove Myway hijacker, first of all, you will have to remove My Way Search Assistant or another Mindspark plugin from your system. Then we recommend scanning your computer with a reputable antispyware program, for example, Spyhunter (PC) or Combo-Cleaner (Mac) to ensure that your system is completely clean. Finally, reset your search settings on your browser. Below you will find an explanation of how to do it.

Automatic Malware removal tools

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Download Combo Cleaner for Malware detection
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Manual removal of Myway hijacker

How to remove Myway virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like Hp.myway.com install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.
  • Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10). Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
  • Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category). In Control Panel, select Uninstall a program.
  • Go through the list of programs and select entries related to Myway hijacker . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make Myway virus easier to find. Find the program that you need to uninstall.
  • Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes. Click the Uninstall button after selecting the program to uninstall. Then click Yes.
  • In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection. Spyhunter marking a program and its components as low-threat malware.

How to remove Myway hijacker from macOS

Delete Myway virus from your applications.
  1. Open Finder.
  2. In the menu bar, click Go.
  3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
  4. Find the Hp.myway.com app.
  5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
  6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.
Open Applications and delete unwanted apps.

TopHow To remove Myway hijacker from Google Chrome:

  • Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
    Extensions
  • Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
    Remove extensions
  • Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
    Open settings
  • Select Manage Search engines
    Manage search engines
  • Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
    Delete search engines
  • Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
  • If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
    Set pages
  • Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
    Delete start pages

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Hp.myway.com, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

  • Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  • Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
    Resset settings
  • Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
    Reset approve

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How To remove Myway hijacker from Firefox:Top

  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
    Select add-on
  • Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Myway hijacker related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
    Remove add-on
  • If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
    Restore default
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Hp.myway.com, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
    Help button
  • ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
    Troubleshooting
  • Click on theReset Firefox button.
    Refresh firefox
  • Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
    Refresh firefox approve
If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.

How to remove Myway hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.
Open the menu and choose Extensions.
  • Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
Press Remove for the extensions you want to remove
  • Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings
Edge new open the three-dot menu and choose settings.
  • Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.
Edge new Open Address bar settings.
  • Choose Manage search engines.
Edge new choose manage search engines.
  • Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.
Edge new choose remove for unwanted search engines.
  • Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
  • Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.
Edge new remove startup pages. (Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Hp.myway.com, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings
  • Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
  • Press the Restore settings to their default values option.
Edge new restore settings.
  • Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
Edge new restore settings comfirmation. If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Myway hijacker from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions
  • Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
    Open preferences
  • Select Extensions and uninstall Hp.myway.com and other suspicious extensions.
    Extensions
  • If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
    Reset homepage
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to Myway hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
  • Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
    Choose reset
  • Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
    Reset
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

Removal guides in other languages

22 responses to “Myway hijacker

  1. Thank you very much. It was the plug-in fromDocToPdf by mindspark that was the source of this problem.

  2. Thankyou, it was the download from open office that gave me this affliction.

  3. how do i remove from my apple computer? this myway toolbar is terrible. is there a free way to do this?

  4. Did you tried to follow our manual removal instructions (you can find it below this article)? It’s free and it should help to solve the problem

  5. Thank you, that was easy to remove from chrome. Don’t know how I got the virus. It showed up as the first extension. I also went to reset and it now seems fine

  6. I have searched on my pc for this my way search program so as to delete but it isn’t visible. Is it under another name

  7. It might be under plugins (it won’t be always visible under control panel).

  8. I just installed windows 10 and now suddenly acebox my way has appeared. I do not know how to delete or uninstall it. I want mozilla firefox . Can you help me? I am not really computer literate and don’t even know if this is a browser, program, toolbar or what.

  9. Run Adwclear or microsofts bloatware uninstall tool first. If it does not help, run spyhunter or malwarebytes.

  10. Dear God thank you. I have no clue how that crap got on my computer but thank you so much for helping me get it off chrome.

  11. windows 7 I search with explorer and Bing one day turned into my way…I’m not experienced in this stuff so how can I remove it ..step by step for dummies would be perfect…thank you

  12. Hey Judie,
    have you tried to perform manual removal by the step-by-step instruction below this article?

  13. How owns this hijacker? It amounts to fraud, and they belong in prison. New York Attorney General, pay attention!

  14. Thank you thank you so much!!! Am useless with computers and had searched for a way to get rid of that pesky ‘MyWay’ Bs all night. This was the best explination and didn’t ask for money; like so many others did 🙂

  15. Thank you for sharing this information. I have tried to follow your advice. What can I do when the malicious program is hidden in my PC and does not show up on any program or app list? Not even Malwarebytes or Revo Uninstaller can detect it.

  16. Try scanning your system with Reimage or SpyHunter – those programs feature free versions as well

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