GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar: what it is and how to remove it

GardeningEnthusiast is a browser plugin developed by Mindspark Interactive and can be downloaded from Google Chrome store or other official sources. Nevertheless, most users notice it right after installing free applications from the internet.

Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar: potentially unwanted program hijacker
GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar as our 2019 report showed it.

GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar: summary

NameGardeningEnthusiast Toolbar
TypePotentially unwanted program/Browser hijacker
DeveloperMindspark Interactive
Related toolsMaps Galaxy, CryptoPriceSearch, Your Template Finder, etc.
Affected browsersGoogle Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc.
InfiltrationSoftware bundles, official sources
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 11 more facts
SymptomsAltered web browser settings, increased amounts of ads, sponsored links, etc.
Risk factorsInstallation of other PUPs or even malware, money loss, sensitive data exposure to unknown parties
TerminationDelete the toolbar manually as per the instructions below or make use of automatic option by using reliable security software
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Search pagesearch.myway.com
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen30 May 2019
Facts checked6 October 2026

Is GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar dangerous? What it collects

From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since

GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar – a browser hijacker that tries to appeal to people with certain interests

GardeningEnthusiast is a browser plugin developed by Mindspark Interactive and can be downloaded from Google Chrome store or other official sources.

Nevertheless, most users notice it right after installing free applications from the internet. This is because this browser hijacker travels within software bundles and users fail to spot an optional program inside the installer.

As soon as the toolbar is installed, In changes the homepage, new tab address, as well as search engine and redirects all searches to search.myway.com. Myway is one of the biggest browser-hijacking engines that is associated with questionable marketing techniques, intrusive ads, and sponsored content that might not be entirely safe.

While GardeningEnthusiast is meant to help users find all the information about plant cultivation, all it is trying to do is gain revenue from miserable web users' experience, which is often forgotten by potentially unwanted program authors. For that reason, it is best to remove the PUP from your device, especially if it entered without your permission.

GardeningEnthusiast is not the only thematic tool created by the same developers. Each of them is targeted at a specific auditory, for instance, those who need translations of certain texts (TranslationBuddy Toolbar), who continuously shop online and need to keep track of their parcels (TrackAPackage Toolbar), who likes cooking and looks for new recipes (RecipeSearch Toolbar), and so on. Unfortunately, none of these toolbars should be trusted.

According to security experts, these toolbars can hardly be useful because their primary purpose is to promote third-party websites, their products, services, and software. The majority of the users report that it infiltrated computers without their consent.

This way, this dubious GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar virus gets the ability to display sponsored search results and make people visit predetermined websites.

However, unless you are a hundred percent sure that the plugin redirects will make you visit reliable websites only, you should better avoid doing searches until it's removed from the system. Otherwise, you may unconsciously access suspicious websites and end up with another PUP, or even malware, on your machine.

By the way, these browser hijackers are commonly blamed for spying on their users. It seems that may use tracking cookies and collect personally non-identifiable information, including:

Unfortunately, some pieces of personally identifiable information may be accumulated as well. Therefore, the best that you can do is to proceed with GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar removal right away. You can easily accomplish that by running a full system scan with the or software.

If you're willing to get your hands dirty, feel free to use our detailed and illustrated instructions at the bottom of the page. When the browser hijacker is eliminated, we highly recommend performing system diagnostics with the software to repair all corrupted system files and settings.

  • search terms;
  • websites visited;
  • data entered in them;
  • clicks, IP address;
  • PC location;
  • cookies;
  • email address, and so on.
GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar: potentially unwanted program hijacker
GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar in our 2019 report.
GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar: browser hijacker ads popups changed browser settings
GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar in our 2019 report.

From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since

Potentially unwanted programs often get installed without users noticing

The wanted program has an official website and can be downloaded by the users if they have a will to use it.

However, more commonly, it gets into the system without being noticed, which may happen if you install freeware filled with 'optional downloads' and failed to decline the installation of 'additional components.

In order to prevent such happenings in the future, you should opt for Advanced/Custom mode when installing freeware and decline the installation of all programs except the one that you have chosen. To do that successfully, you have to be very careful and read all terms provided during installation attentively.

GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar: gardeningenthusiast privacy policy information tracking
GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar in our 2019 report.

From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar

  • Repair virus damage by employing the system tune-up tool

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: search.myway.com

How to remove GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar

How to remove GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar and get your search engine back

Remove the extension first.

The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.

  1. Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add

    In Chrome open chrome://extensions, in Edge edge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.

    Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.

    If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete search.myway.com

    In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete search.myway.com from the list.

    In Edge type search engine into the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.

    If search.myway.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome Settings with the Search engine and On startup sections
    Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  3. Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install

    GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.

    Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.

    Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix

  4. Step 4: Reset the browser

    A reset removes what the steps above could miss:

    • changed start pages
    • site permissions
    • hidden settings

    In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.

    Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  5. Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan

    A scan finds the parts of GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.

    Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.

    It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Uninstall from Windows

To remove the article's culprit from Windows machines, please follow these steps:

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
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
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)

Refresh Mozilla Firefox to make sure the browser hijacker does not return:

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
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
Delete from macOS

If your macOS is displaying some infection symptoms, proceed with the following guide:

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.

Do not let government spy on you

The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.

Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.

You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.

Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.

Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack

Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.

Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.

When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.

From our report of May 2019 · not reviewed since

Ways to delete GardeningEnthusiast for good

There are two ways you can remove GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar: either manually or automatically.

While both options can be as effective as the other, opting for the latter would give you the desired results quicker and more reliably.

Therefore, you want to op for automatic removal, you need to download and install reliable security software and perform a full system scan. Be aware that, because the plugin is a potentially unwanted program, not all AV engines might be able to detect it. Thus, using tools that specialize in PUPs is the optional solution.

In case you are not a novice computer user, you can terminate GardeningEnthusiast virus with the help of our guide below. After that, you should also reset each of the installed browsers to make sure that no traces of the PUP remain.

Questions about GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar

Is it safe to keep search.myway.com as my search engine?

It is not recommended. Searches through search.myway.com usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.

You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set search.myway.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.

Can search.myway.com see my searches?

Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to search.myway.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.

The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.

What is search.myway.com?

It is the search page used by the browser hijacker GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.

People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.

Is search.myway.com dangerous?

It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.

Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.

Do I have to fix every browser?

Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.

Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:

  • remove the extension
  • check the policies
  • restore the search engine
  • start page

If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.

Did search.myway.com record my searches?

Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.

The operators of search.myway.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:

  • remove GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar
  • clear cookies and site data for search.myway.com
  • treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party

Is only one browser affected?

Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.

If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.

What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?

Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.

Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.

Can I just block search.myway.com?

You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.

Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.

Will Fortect remove GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For GardeningEnthusiast Toolbar, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

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