Eliminate the Maps Directions Home browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Maps Directions Home?
Maps Directions Home is advertised as a 'free tool' which allows users to search for maps. In fact, it changes browser settings and promotes a dubious search engine.
Apps of this type are called browser hijackers. People often download and install browser hijackers unintentionally, and for this reason, they are also known as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Most PUAs change browser settings and gather details relating to browsing habits.
Browser hijackers can usually be installed on browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. After installation, they change browser settings such as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL. Maps Directions Home assigns them to search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com or search.hmapdirectionshome.com.
Users who have this app installed on their browsers are thus forced to visit search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com (or search.hmapdirectionshome.com) when they open a new browser window, new tab, or enter a search query into the URL bar. These settings cannot be changed unless the browser hijacker (in this case, Maps Directions Home) is uninstalled.
Furthermore, fake search engines and browser hijackers usually operate as information tracking tools. They collect details such as IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of opened pages, entered search queries, etc. They sometimes also collect personal, sensitive data.
The developers share all recorded information with other parties who misuse it to generate revenue. Note, some of these third parties might be cyber criminals.
In summary, browser hijackers and fake search engines should never be used - people who use them risk experiencing problems with browsing safety and online privacy, or they might even become victims of identity theft. We recommend that you uninstall Maps Directions Home immediately.
| Name | Maps Directions Home |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Maps Directions Home, Maps |
| Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly provides access to various maps. |
| Promoted URL | search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com and search.hmapdirectionshome.com |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Other apps (or web addresses) associated with browser hijackers or fake search engines include Epsilon and searchmine.net. More examples are MatchKnowledge and Top Results.
Many people download and install PUAs expecting them to be legitimate and useful, however, browser hijackers simply change settings (promoting fake search engines) and gather data, thereby causing various problems.
How did Maps Directions Home install on my computer?
PUAs are usually promoted through a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers use this to trick people into downloading/installing unwanted apps with other software. They include PUAs in the download or installation set-ups of other programs.
These additional installations are hidden in setup settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on. Developers are aware that people often leave these settings unchanged and use it to their advantage. In some cases, unintentional downloads or even installations are made when people click deceptive ads that run scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Study each step of each download or installation setup and opt-out of additionally-included applications. Do not download programs through third party downloaders, unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), or other similar sources. Do not trust third party installers.
The safest way to download files and programs it is via official web pages and direct download links. Ads displayed on untrustworthy websites (relating to pornography, adult dating, gambling, etc.) usually lead to deceptive websites and should not be clicked.
If a browser often opens dubious sites or displays ads, remove all suspicious or unknown extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins installed. Also remove programs of this type installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with Maps Directions Home, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Maps Directions Home browser hijacker:
This website asks for various permissions:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is Maps Directions Home?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Maps Directions Home application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Maps Directions Home browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Maps Directions Home browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "Map Directions Home"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Maps Directions Home browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com (or search.hmapdirectionshome.com) and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Map Directions Home".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the maps directions home unwanted application, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Maps Directions Home" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Maps Directions Home" and look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com or search.hmapdirectionshome.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com" (or "search.hmapdirectionshome.com"), and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the maps directions home unwanted application, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Maps Directions Home" (or simply "Maps"), as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, disable "Maps Directions Home" (or simply "Maps") remove hxxp://search.hmapsdirectionshomes.com (or search.hmapdirectionshome.com) and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with maps directions home unwanted application removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the maps directions home unwanted application, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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