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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • System tools
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jun 2021

How to remove DirectionsWhiz Toolbar

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Alice Woods · Likes to teach users about virus prevention

DirectionsWhiz Toolbar is a browser-based application with a questionable purpose

DirectionsWhiz Toolbar virus is the application identified as questionable and potentially dangerous. In various cybersecurity websites and IT news sites people discussing the program’s suspicious features and hoping to find the article providing removal solutions. You can repair the system after the PUP since this is not dangerous malware. The truth is – this program is no virus. It is yet another creation of a legitimate software developer IAC Applications (previously known as Mindspark) which has already released various applications for the browser, desktop, and mobile devices including FromDocToPDF creator, WeatherBlink app, Slim Cleaner optimization software, and a bunch of applications for iOS.

Name DirectionsWhiz Toolbar
Type Browser plugin, potentially unwanted program
Developer MindSpark
Distribution Freeware installations, deceptive sites, misleading content, and promotions, torrent pages
Affects Various types of browsers and operating systems can get affected, but it mainly targets macOS and iOS devices
Elimination You can find the helpful guide below and use anti-malware tools for the elimination of the threat. In addition to the termination, run FortectIntego to repair affected parts of the machine

The reason it is so poorly evaluated by the users and even some security experts mainly stems from the programs’ tendency to appear on the computer without permission. Well, it is only partially true. The program does not hijack the systems by brute force as some malicious viruses do. In fact, the users play a significant part in letting this program on their computer themselves, but more about this later.

Let us first discuss what this application actually is, how it acts on the computers, and disclose the factors that make it a potentially unwanted guest on the computer. Though this program is not malicious, you may always check your computer with antivirus tools, say SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to make sure your system is not in danger.

So what this particular app is all about? Well, in the most general terms, it is a browser extension that may be added to the Web engine to improve the quality of daily browsing or general computer use. The benefit of this specific browser add-on is that it provides quick and convenient access to the driving directions and maps, this way allowing the user to navigate and browse the web simultaneously.

Unfortunately, the users who install DirectionsWhiz on their computers willingly, or the ones who find this extension already set up on their browsers, unanimously claim that it brings nothing but trouble. They report a considerable increase in online advertising, unexpected redirects, and even changes in the browser’s homepage and default search engine.

In fact, the software developers inform about potential data collection and affiliations in the site's Terms of Service:

Pursuant to the MS Services' Privacy Policy, we may disclose to third parties certain information we collect about you and your use of the MS Services. We may also disclose such information if we have a good faith belief that such action is reasonably necessary to comply with the law, legal process, to enforce these Terms of Service, to protect the rights, property or person of any entity or individual (including us), or in connection with a substantial corporate transaction.

They also experience difficulties when attempting to remove DirectionsWhiz Toolbar from the computer. Having this in mind, it is not difficult to see why this product receives such negative feedback.

Users can be responsible for the PUP installation

Most users claim not to have anything to do with a random PUP occurrence on their computers. However, as we have already mentioned before, the users are largely responsible for installing this program’s installation and most of the time do it themselves.

The browser Toolbar is usually traveled in software bundles as a suggested install and the users unknowingly let it in. Potentially unwanted programs such as browser hijackers and adware also use similar distribution strategies, which raises even more suspicions about this program. We leave you to draw the conclusion for yourself.

DirectionsWhiz Toolbar removal solution

Although there is no such thing as the DirectionsWhiz Toolbar virus, it is surely unpleasant and confusing to see an unfamiliar new app suddenly appear on your browser. More importantly, if you can’t make any use of this program, it will not be long until you will be looking for ways to remove the infection from the computer. You can find the thorough guide below.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

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

Remove the unwanted program:

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

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

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

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

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

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

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

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

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

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

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

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