Search.hgomapsandirections.com is a suspicious application that seeks to hijack Google Chrome and other browsers

Search.hgomapsandirections.com is a browser hijacker[1] that was developed by Polarity Technologies Ltd. and is presented as a legitimate and useful search engine. However, this statement could not be further from the truth, because developers of dubious apps try to monetize on innocent users by disturbing their browsing sessions on a daily basis.
| SUMMARY | |
| Name | Search.hgomapsandirections.com |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Extension | Go Maps and Directions |
| Developer | Polarity Technologies Ltd. |
| Symtoms | Hijacked homepage and search engine, intrusive advertisement, altered search results, etc. |
| Distribution | Software bundling |
| Main dangers | Personal data exposure, malware infections |
| Elimination | Use FortectIntego or check manual guide below |
The suspicious program comes in software bundle in the form of a browser extension called Go Maps and Directions. It attaches itself to Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, Mozilla Firefox or another browser and changes the homepage and search engine, as well as new tab address, to hxxp://search.hgomapsandirections.com.
Visually Search.hgomapsandirections.com hijack looks precisely like Search.hyourmapview.com, Search.hgomaps.co and many others. It tries to lure users by adding quick action buttons of useful websites, such as Bing maps, Google maps, Amazon, Geico, etc. It is evident that Polarity tries to attract users who travel and use online maps all the time.
However, this website should not be trusted. Even if the site might seem useful, do not fall for developers’ trick, as their only interest is monetary gain and they do not care about users (not enough to make sure users are protected from malware or identity theft,[2] at least) and their browsing experiences. Therefore, please do not postpone Search.hgomapsandirections.com removal, it might save you from severe consequences.
We agree that browser hijackers and adware are indeed not malicious programs. However, they do possess certain qualities that could be considered malicious. In fact, multiple security experts called these seemingly innocent applications “legal malware.” No wonder, as redirects might bring users to questionable domains, where malicious JavaScripts could download and install computer viruses.
What is more, users could also end up on phishing websites and enter their personally-identifiable information when prompted. It is true that user enters the data himself. However, if a browser hijacker like Go Maps and Directions would not be present, he would most likely not be redirected there in the first place.
Intrusive ads, malicious redirects, slow internet browsing, additionally installed extensions or toolbars are all the things you should avoid, and a browser hijacker delivers exactly these features. Therefore, you should remove Search.hgomapsandirections.com and not risk your computer safety anymore. If you want to eliminate the threat quickly, scan your system with FortectIntego.

PUP developers trick users to install unwanted programs using software bundling
Security experts[3] note that users are still very likely to fall a victim of software bundling. This deceptive marketing approach has been contaminating users’ machines with trash applications since the early 90s. It is an unfair tactic, yet is considered to be legal, and many developers earn a lot of money using it.
When installing freeware or shareware, follow these tips:
- Never rush the installation procedure by clicking “Next” several times without looking;
- Carefully read through EULA and Privacy Policy. These documents can disclose a lot of valuable information about the product you are about to install;
- Always opt for Advanced/Custom installation mode instead of Recommended/Quick one;
- If you notice any optional installs in Advanced settings, eliminate all the tick marks next to them, before finalizing the installation;
Search.hgomapsandirections.com elimination procedure
If you want to use Google or Bing maps, merely create shortcuts on your Bookmarks bar. Do not rely on a suspicious app for such functions – it is not worth it.
You can remove Search.hgomapsandirections.com virus by downloading and installing security software. We recommend picking from the list below – these tools are specifically designed to detect and exterminate all the PUPs from your computer. Besides, it will protect your machines from potential infections in the future.
You can also use our illustrated step-by-step guide for Search.hgomapsandirections.com removal. However, make sure you understand what you are doing, as an incorrect application of the manual might result in an uninstallation failure.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

Was this guide helpful?
Be the first to comment