Maps & Directions Online Promos ads: what it is and how to remove it
Maps & Directions Online Promos is a browser extension that promises to deliver users the most needed information about their location and instructions on how to get to places. However, the app is heavily dependent on advertisements that are delivered to users on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, or another web browser continually.
Facts checked October 7, 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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Maps & Directions Online Promos ads: summary
| Distribution | While the app can be obtained from official sources like Google web store, most users can encounter it after installing free apps from third-party sites (the so-called software bundling method) |
|---|---|
| Name | Maps & Directions Online Promos |
| Type | Adware, potentially unwanted program |
| Symptoms | Persistent ads on all visited websites, redirects to unknown sources, altered search results, slowdown of the web browser, etc. |
| Dangers | Information disclosure to unknown parties, installation of potentially unwanted programs, malware infections, monetary loss, and others |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 5 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Maps & Directions Online Promos |
| First seen | 19 March 2020 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Maps & Directions Online Promos ads dangerous?
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Maps & Directions Online Promos is an adware app that will disturb your web browsing sessions with intrusive ads
Maps & Directions Online Promos is a browser extension that promises to deliver users the most needed information about their location and instructions on how to get to places.
However, the app is heavily dependent on advertisements that are delivered to users on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, or another web browser continually.
Thus, the extension is classified as adware - a type of a potentially unwanted program, the main goal of which is to deliver users ads. Additionally, Maps & Directions Online Promos uses cookies and other tracking technologies to produce pop-ups, in-text links, deals, banners, offers, and other ads that are targeted.
While Maps & Directions Online Promos can be downloaded from Google Web Store, most users install the app unintentionally, as it is often bundled with freeware that is hosted on third-party sites.
As a result, users rarely notice the point of entry, although signs of infiltration can be seen immediately, as most of the visited sites are filled with ads, and redirects lead to unknown websites that may, in some cases, be dangerous.
Adware, such as Maps & Directions Online Promos, is not considered to be malicious - at least initially, since its primary goal is to display advertisements to as many users as possible and monetizing on this activity.
However, such app developers not always pick secure ad networks and sometimes even fail to provide decent functionality of the program that they are advertising. Finally, they distribute adware mostly through software bundles, which results in many unsolicited installations.
As a result, Maps & Directions Online Promos virus is a term that many may use, even though it is not technically correct. Nevertheless, users who keep the add-on installed are potentially at risk, as ads that are delivered through the app might not always be secure. In fact, Maps & Directions Online Promos developers claim that the app is there to provide you ads:
As you can see, they clearly state that targeted advertisements are the main goal of this app - hardly anyone would like this fucking (as a general rule, users despise ads that cover their screens during the web browsing sessions).
Additionally, Maps & Directions Online Promos adware collects a variety of information about users with the help of such technologies like cookies, web beacons, and scripts. The collected data includes:
If the fact that Maps & Directions Online Promos automatically collects information that could identify you personally does not bother you, you should know that personal information that is provided by you is also collected and shared with third-parties and other entities.
All in all, if you would like to have an app that helps you to get around without spamming your web browsers and collecting an excessive amount of data, you should pick something else, and hurry up with Maps & Directions Online Promos removal.
In case you have problems while doing so, you can try resetting your web browsers and scanning the device with anti-malware software. Finally, if you are experiencing issues with your system (lag, crashes, errors), you can employ repair tools like to fix these issues for you.
- Browser information (version, cookies, settings, etc.)
- Device data (model, IP address, unique ID, etc.)
- Approximate location (city, state, country, or zip code)
- Browsing data (links clicked, ads interacted with, sites visited)
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Avoid potentially unwanted programs and use reputable ones instead
There are thousands of apps that claim to provide users with the most necessary maps, directions, etc. For example, MapsFrontier, MapsGalaxy, Quick Maps And Directions, and many others.
In fact, many of the developers simply rebrand the same app in order to avoid being detected by anti-malware programs or trying to provide users with double the number of ads. The truth is, these applications do not have anything that Google Maps would not have, so there is no point in them - unless you like seeing ads on every step while browsing the web.
Thus, you should not install browser extensions or applications that have a poor reputation among users. To find out whether the app is reputable, you can simply read some reviews around the web or check out reviews before installing.
However, these tips will be in vain if you get tricked into installing a potentially unwanted program (PUP), as most of them are distributed with the help of a so-called software bundling.
App developers of third-party sites that host freeware often insert optional components into a single installer and, while offering additional apps is not a crime, doing so by deliberately trying to hide them is a deceptive and shady practice. Thus, when installing new programs from third-parties, watch out for pre-ticked boxes, fine print, misleading offers, misplaced buttons, and always opt for Advanced/Custom installation settings instead of Recommended/Quick ones.
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Maps & Directions Online Promos
- If you noticed that the quality of your computer operation diminished after you removed the infection from for it or you are constantly facing lag, crashes, and similar issues, you should fix the system with the help of
- Receive relevant advertisements as you browse the internet.
- By monitoring your web browsing activity, we can make sure offers and promotions are tailored to you.
- We use advertisements as a way to support our site so that you can continue taking advantage of Maps & Directions Online for free!
How to remove Maps & Directions Online Promos ads
How to remove the Maps & Directions Online Promos extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://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 on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall Maps & Directions Online Promos
Maps & Directions Online Promos is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select Maps & Directions Online Promos, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: 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 on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Maps & Directions Online Promos 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 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 Maps & Directions Online Promos virus from your Windows machine, follow this guide:
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
In case the unwanted ads show up after you eliminate unwanted apps, reset Google Chrome as follows:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Delete from macOS
If you encounter ads and redirects on macOS, proceed with the following guidelines to get rid of the PUP:
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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of Maps & Directions Online Promos with ease
Generally, it should not be difficult to remove Maps & Directions Online Promos from your machine.
Simply right-click on the extension and select uninstall. Nevertheless, you might have other PUPs that sneaked into your computer without you noticing, so Maps & Directions Online Promos ads might not stop after you get rid of the extension.
If you are unsure what is causing the unwanted activity after performing Maps & Directions Online Promos removal, you should also reset all the installed browsers. In some cases, adware's set settings will continue to deliver you intrusive content even after its elimination. Finally, you should also perform a full system scan with anti-malware software to ensure that no malware is present on your device.
Questions about Maps & Directions Online Promos ads
What is Maps & Directions Online Promos and why is it on my PC?
Maps & Directions Online Promos is a program that was installed on the PC, most likely together with something else you downloaded. Free software sites and many installers add extra programs on setup pages with pre-ticked boxes, so the extra install looks like your choice even though nobody read the page.
Check the install date in Settings, Apps, Installed apps: the program you installed that day is the probable carrier. If you do not need Maps & Directions Online Promos, uninstall it. If it belongs to your hardware or to a program you use, search its exact name and publisher first, because drivers and their tools can have unfamiliar names.
How do I stop programs like Maps & Directions Online Promos from being installed again?
Most unwanted programs arrive through installers, so the fix is in how you install software. Download programs from their official sites or the Microsoft Store, not from download portals or ads above search results. During setup, choose Custom or Advanced installation and untick every extra offer, including browsers, toolbars and optimizers.
Decline update prompts that appear inside other programs unless you know them. In Windows Security, turn on reputation-based protection and potentially unwanted app blocking. These steps would most likely have stopped Maps & Directions Online Promos before it reached the app list.
An ad showed a phone number and I called it. What now?
The number belongs to scammers, not to Microsoft or an antivirus company. If you only talked, hang up and do not call back. If you let them connect to the PC, disconnect it from the internet, uninstall the remote access program they used, such as AnyDesk, TeamViewer, ScreenConnect or UltraViewer, and run a full and offline scan.
If you paid or gave bank details, call your bank at once on the number printed on your card. Change any passwords you typed while they were connected, and report the call.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing adware extension and clearing cookies is usually enough.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Why didn't my antivirus catch Maps & Directions Online Promos?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
How did Maps & Directions Online Promos get on my computer?
Our report lists the distribution as while the app can be obtained from official sources like Google web store, most users can encounter it after installing free apps from third-party sites (the so-called software bundling method).
Software of this kind often comes bundled with free programs, fake updates or downloads from unofficial sites. It can also arrive through a browser extension or a notification you allowed on a spam page. Think back to what you installed or allowed just before the first ad or redirect appeared.
Will Fortect remove Maps & Directions Online Promos?
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 Maps & Directions Online Promos, 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
- Wikipedia: Adware (read October 7, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)