How to uninstall the Quick Maps and Directions Chromium browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Quick Maps and Directions?
Chromium is an open-source project from Google. Many browsers are based on Chromium code, but few are legitimate. This project is often misused to develop browsers that operate as adware (display ads), browser hijackers (promote fake search engines and gather browsing-data), or as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
Quick Maps and Directions is one of these rogue browsers and is therefore classified as a PUA. Research shows that Quick Maps and Directions is designed to promote hquickmapsanddirections.com, the address of a fake search engine.
Quick Maps and Directions is advertised as a browser with improved privacy, security, and browsing speed, however, people are forced to use hquickmapsanddirections.com, a fake search engine that does not generate any unique results - users who search with Quick Maps and Directions are provided with results generated by Yahoo.
When they enter search queries, they are simply redirected to search.yahoo.com. Therefore, hquickmapsanddirections.com is a useless search engine. Furthermore, Quick Maps and Directions is likely to gather browsing data. For example, addresses of visited websites, IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries and other browsing-related information.
These PUAs also tend to collect other, personal details. Developers behind these information tracking tools sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue in other ways. Furthermore, Quick Maps and Directions's users might be forced to see various intrusive advertisements.
Typically, PUAs feed users with ads that are displayed in the form of coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and others. When clicked, these ads open various rogue web pages. In some cases, they execute scripts designed to download or install unwanted software.
In summary, Quick Maps and Directions users risk becoming victims of identity theft, experiencing problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and other issues. For these reasons, do not download or install Quick Maps and Directions. If it is already installed, remove it from the operating system immediately.
| Name | Quick Maps and Directions potentially unwanted application |
| Threat Type | PUP (potentially unwanted program), PUA (potentially unwanted application). |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience (browsing security, privacy, speed). |
| Detection Names | Webroot (W32.Adware.Gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | A program that you do not recall installing suddenly appeared on your computer. A new application is performing computer scans and displays warning messages about 'found issues'. Asks for payment to eliminate the supposedly found errors. |
| Distribution Methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers. |
| Damage | Monetary loss (unnecessary purchase of fake software), unwanted warning pop-ups, slow computer performance. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Other examples of Chromium-based PUAs are Olcinium, eFast and Qword. Typically, developers advertise these browsers as useful and legitimate, however, most are useless and are the reason behind many problems.
They are designed only to help the developers to generate revenue by gathering data, serving ads and forcing users to visit/use fake search engines that generate misleading results.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
Quick Maps and Directions can be downloaded from its website, however, people often download and install PUAs unintentionally by clicking deceptive ads that run certain scripts, or by downloading/installing programs that unwanted software included into the set-ups as additional offers.
This latter distribution method is known as "bundling". Generally, additionally-included apps are mentioned in settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced", however, many people download and install programs without checking them, thereby allowing PUAs to be downloaded and installed with regular software.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Software should be downloaded and installed properly, especially if it is free. Downloaded from official websites and via direct links. Other download/installation tools, channels such as third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), and unofficial pages should be avoided.
Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings and dismiss offers to download/install additional, potentially unwanted apps. Intrusive ads that are displayed on untrusted websites (e.g. relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating) often lead to other dubious pages or cause unwanted downloads/installations.
Therefore, do not trust or click these advertisements. Remove any suspicious, unknown, unwanted apps (plug-ins, add-ons, extensions) installed on the browser. Also remove software of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them .
Quick Maps and Directions redirects provides results generated by Yahoo (redirects users to search.yahoo.com) (GIF):
Website promoting Quick Maps and Directions application:
Quick Maps and Directions installation setup:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Quick Maps and Directions?
- STEP 1. Uninstall deceptive applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove malicious plug-ins from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue extensions from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Removal of potentially unwanted applications:
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 "Quick Maps and Directions" and other suspicious/recently-installed applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove rogue extensions from Internet browsers:
At time of research, Quick Maps and Directions did not install any unwanted browser extensions, however, some unwanted applications can be installed together with adware and browser hijackers. If you experience unwanted ads or redirects when browsing the internet, continue with the removal guide below.
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
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 browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the quick maps and directions potentially 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the quick maps and directions potentially 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", in the opened window remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with quick maps and directions potentially 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the quick maps and directions potentially 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:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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