Mapsnow.com or simply Maps Now is a website and Chrome’s extension that provides users with the most efficient routes, maps and search results. But this browser plugin has a darker side of it, which does not even raise the suspicion until the user begins using it. Modified browser settings, different homepage, changed search engine and tons of ads become the reality for those who fall for this at first innocent-looking app. Such major alterations might seem like an unusual occurrence for a simple add-on, but what users don’t know, is that Mapsnow.com is a browser hijacker.
Mapsnow Co Browser Hijacker quicklinks
- Is Mapsnow.co extension safe to use
- How does Mapsnow.co browser hijacker spread
- How to eliminate Mapsnow.co browser hijacker
- Automatic Malware removal tools
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Despite cybersecurity professionals and companies fighting for safer internet, Hackers always find a way around. The same situation happened with Mapsnow.com extension, which even at this moment officially can be downloaded from Chrome’s Web Store, although clearly being malicious. Developers simply mentioned all the dubious behavior parts of the plugin in their Privacy Policy and on the pop-up message right before adding Maps Now add-on, and also implemented all the necessary features of a legitimate browser app, therefore the responsibility and fault if something goes wrong automatically falls on the user. In this article, we’ll explain better why you should stay away from the Mapsnow.com browser hijacker, how it distributes and what ways you can eliminate it from your Chrome.
Is Mapsnow.co extension safe to use
The circumstances of Maps Now extension’s emergence, whether it’s your own decision or an unexpected result from irresponsible behavior online, often makes one wonder if it’s safe to use or not. Technically, Mapsnow.com website, which becomes the main homepage, is not detected as malicious, according to the Sitecheck.sucuri.net, yet, this threat is still fairly new, therefore recognized less, but there is no doubt that some of the demonstrated behavior is not what a reputable add-on would do. The new browsing engine, main page, modified search results, which are filled with irrelevant-to-the-user offers, redirects are the main characteristics of Mapsnow.com, which are achieved with the help of malicious script codes, and justify the placement of the treat to the browser hijackers, just like others, e.g. Search.byoml.com, Mystreamingtab.com, Search.hquickmapsanddirections.com.
Mapsnow.com browser hijacker was released around January 2019 as an extension for Chrome, and since then managed to gain more than 100,000 downloads, which is an impressive number for such a shady plugin. The company behind the Maps Now virus is called Webalytics Media, and it has another malware – MapsFox adware. It is very typical for such infamous corporations to release several threats because it allows infecting more computers, before being noticed by security programs and generate greater revenue from Online marketing techniques like clicks on ads, views, installs, traffic to sponsoring websites and commission from affiliate links. The more users end up installing this extension, the more profit hackers can make. On top of promotions that annoy you by trying to sell something or popping up at very inappropriate times and too often, can carry malware, which is just waiting for you to click on the camouflaged link.
Using Maps Now altered browser and virus version of Yahoo Search can really harm your computer, and online identity as well, since in the Privacy Policy developers claim that some information that will go through compromised Chrome will be tracked and even shared with certain Third-parties. All in all, avoiding Mapsnow.com browser hijacker is the only option if you want to safely use your device.
How does Mapsnow.co browser hijacker spread
Mapsnow.com browser hijacker can invade computers by tricking users into adding it voluntarily or sneaking in via other software installers. While the professional looking design and a spot on Chrome’s Web Store definitely make users feel falsely secure about this extension, Maps Now virus does not only rely on this single method and actively proliferates through Bundling. The latter technique is obviously much shadier since the program does not report about its installation properly, therefore users end up really surprised when they see that their homepage, search engine, and new tabs are now changed to Mapsnow.co, yet this still brings the majority of the traffic.
In order to catch Mapsnow.co hijacker when its compiled with other applications, you need to run the Setup Wizard in Advanced or Custom modes, where you’ll be able accessing additional programs page, that lists all the apps which will be added together with the main one by the default. Mind you, some Setup Assistants don’t allow you to make any changes. Then, when you locate all the unwanted programs, simply deselect them and prevent Mapsnow.co browser virus from compromising your system. Additionally, pay attention to where you get your software from and stick to official sources rather than Freeware/shareware distributors, torrents and etc.
How to eliminate Mapsnow.co browser hijacker
Removal of Mapsnow.co browser hijacker can be performed in two different ways (automatic or manual) or by a combination of both of them. We suggest the latter variant because, according to our readers, it’s the one that helps them the most. To start you simply have to follow our step-by-step instructions below and simply access Chrome’s ‘Extensions’ section and delete the Maps Now plugin yourself. Once that step is complete, you should have no problems getting a security program (which sometimes gets blocked by the virus) and scan the system to look for other possible vulnerabilities.
Anti-spyware programs are useful in this situation for a couple of reasons, the main one being the ability to discover viruses which user doesn’t even know about. Security programs like Spyhunter have large malware databases, which consist of information about all kinds of threats, their codes, behavior, technical names, infected folders and all other things that user simply would not know. Scans with such malware removal software is a crucial step because it allows discovering all the threats that could have entered after Mapsnow.co browser hijacker compromised your machine or even the ones that already were there. If our suggested products did not suit your preferences, please take a look at others from the list.
Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free.
limited trial available,
Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,
Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free.
limited trial available,
Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,
Automatic Malware removal tools
(Win)
(Mac)
TopHow To remove Mapsnow.co browser hijacker from Google Chrome:
- Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
- Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
- Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
- Select Manage Search engines
- Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
- Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
- If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
- Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings
If you are still experiencing any issues related to Mapsnow.co browser hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
- Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
- Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
- Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.
TopHow to remove Mapsnow.co browser hijacker from Google Chrome on Mac:
- Open Chrome browser.
- Enter in the url field “chrome://extensions” address and hit Enter.
- Find Mapsnow.co browser hijacker on the extensions list and click on the recycle bin icon next to it.
- Click on 'Chrome' button at the top left corner. Select 'Preferences' on a drop-down menu box.
- Find 'Search' options on Settings tab. If your search engine is changed, click 'Manage Search Engines' and set your preferred search engine.
- On the same page find 'Show home button' checkbox and change your homepage.
- On the 'Preferences' menu window, scroll down to the bottom and find 'Reset settings' button. Click it.
- Confirm your selection and click 'Reset' on the following window.
