MapMyWayFree Hijacker - How to remove

MapMyWayFree, or Map My Way Free, is a browser add-on offered to those looking for bus and train timetables and routes. But instead of helping people find their way on public transport, MapMyWayFree hijacks their browser, changes their new tab page to hp.myway.com/MapMyWayFree/ttab02/index.html, and starts spying on their browsing history. It is little more than an adware scheme by the infamous Mindspark company.

MapMyWayFree is a hijacker, it’s adware-first, any other functions are secondary.

Type of threat	Browser hijacker, adware.
Similar threats	MapsGalaxy, SmartEasyMaps, FindYourMaps, MyTransitMapper.
The problems with MapMyWayFree	Replaces your new tab page, reads your browsing history and search queries, gets installed somewhat dishonestly.
How to get rid of the hijacker	Remove using anti-malware tools (SpyHunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for Mac OS), manually uninstall MapMyWayFree.

How did MapMyWayFree get installed?

Usually, browser hijackers get installed by some free program in a pay-per-install scheme. But in this case, a lot of people find MapMyWayFree when they search online for train, metro, and bus schedules. Sites like LocalTransit.net and CityMetro.net appear in results. People try to search for available bus routes and schedules on them, but a MapMyWayFree installation page pops up instead.

These sites are operated by Midwest Venture Group, which seems to operate a ton of webpages that serve as fronts for browser hijackers – Watch Sports Now, TrackaPackage, Your Stream TV Now, and others. LocalTransit.net and CityMetro.net work by asking you to type in your origin and destination addresses and pressing the “Search” button shows a pop-up window.

At the top of the pop-up, in absolutely tiny font, it says “No transit directions found for this search” and offers driving directions, but below that, in much bigger and brighter print, it says “Directions Found” and offers you a big “Continue” button. Talk about deceptive installation tactics!

The pop-up will also appear if you type in no addresses at all.

After clicking “Continue”, MapMyWayFree’s installation page is loaded. If you install it, you just get a bunch of links to third-party sites that you have probably already found in your search online. MapMyWayFree just changes your new tab page to show you those links.

Is MapMyWayFree useful?

The MapMyWayFree hijacker is mostly useless at helping you find bus and train information. This is shown by disgruntled reviews of MapMyWayFree, where people say things like:

I just want a bus route from home to work. Hate the extensions, downloads, access of my private information…and after 10 minutes of following your “just click…” instructions, I still do not know how to get to work via bus. VERY unhappy with having to use this app.

and:

I’m not to computer savy but this is so confusing. i thought this would be a couple if clicks and then i would get my info. not for me.

MapMyWayFree starts out by promising to give you a timetable or a route, always giving you the impression that it’s just a click away. But it doesn’t deliver because it can’t. At best, it gives you a list of recommended websites to check out.

In truth, MapMyWayFree is a Newtab virus and a browser hijacker – it takes over your new tab and tries to get you to use the MyWay.com and Ask.com search engines and reads your browsing history. These behaviors have nothing to do with helping you find us and train routes and timetables, of course. They have to do with filling your web search results with ads and with showing you interest-based ads.

If you use the search engines that MapMyWayFree promotes, your search queries will be read for the benefit of advertisers. From MapMyWayFree’s privacy policy:

Information about how you use the Search Applications such as the keyword query, search query text, search results clicked, pages viewed and search history.

In the end, MapMyWayFree is all about advertising to you. Your time is being wasted by filling your search results with ads. Your web browsing is monetized via MapMyWayFree.

How to remove the MapMyWayFree hijacker

After a browser hijacker has been found on your computer, it’ a good idea to scan it with an anti-malware program (like SpyHunter for PC, Combo Cleaner for Mac, or any competent software). It’s not necessary, of course. It’s just that various adware infections often travel together.

MapMyWayFree can be removed automatically by an anti-malware scanner, but it can also be uninstalled manually. Just open your browser and access its settings. Detailed instructions are below.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove MapMyWayFree Hijacker using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like MapMyWayFree Hijacker 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).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to MapMyWayFree Hijacker . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make MapMyWayFree Hijacker easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, 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.

How to remove MapMyWayFree Hijacker from macOS

Delete MapMyWayFree Hijacker from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the MapMyWayFree Hijacker 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.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to MapMyWayFree Hijacker and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to MapMyWayFree Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

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

TopRemoving MapMyWayFree Hijacker from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to MapMyWayFree Hijacker. Click on the trash bin icon next to MapMyWayFree Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to MapMyWayFree Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

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

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

TopRemoving MapMyWayFree Hijacker from Firefox

• 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).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything MapMyWayFree 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.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to MapMyWayFree Hijacker, 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.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

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

How to remove MapMyWayFree Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to MapMyWayFree Hijacker. Click on the "Remove" icon next to MapMyWayFree Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving MapMyWayFree Hijacker from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the MapMyWayFree Hijacker. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
  
• Restart Safari.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to MapMyWayFree Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

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