New Tab DirectionsBuilder - How to remove

DirectionsBuilder is a browser new tab that, on the front, is there to help you find routes and directions, but at its core, it’s an adware program. Once it’s installed, it replaces your new tab page, starts showing pop-up ads, and tries to make MyWay your main internet search engine. Using DirectionsBuilder wastes your time and robs you of the ability to customize your browser’s new tab page. Plus, the driving directions functionality is super basic and no better than using any online map site.

DirectionsBuilder’s features and removal:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker.
How DirectionsBuilder is harmful	Hijacks your new tab page, shows pop-up ads, reads your browsing history, gets installed without your consent.
How the new tab gets installed	Advertised by adware programs and alternative search engines, promoted by fake online map sites, installed together with some free programs without a clear warning.
Remove DirectionsBuilder	Uninstall unwanted extensions from your browser, scan your device with an antivirus program, like SpyHunter for PC, Combo Cleaner for Mac, etc.

What is DirectionsBuilder

First, let’s get basic definitions out of the way. DirectionsBuilder is a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Chrome-based extensions, like Microsoft Edge. A web browser is a computer program for accessing the internet. It’s the program you’re reading this article on. A browser extension is a little application for changing or adding to a browser’s functions. Examples include ad-blockers, online video downloaders, and spellcheckers.

DirectionsBuilder is an adware new tab extension that masquerades as a map directions finder. It gets installed on fake online map sites promising you to show your driving directions. Instead, it hijacks your browser’s new tab page and homepage with a site that looks like the one on hp.myway.com/DirectionsBuilder/ttab02/index.html.

DirectionsBuilder adds a few links to your new homepage, including one for gas prices, road conditions, and Facebook. The bottom left link opens a dialog to input your start point and destination. This dialog opens a new page with MyWay’s map, a significant chunk of which is taken up by an ad.  In the middle of the page, there’s a search bar that also opens Myway.com. DirectionsBuilder’s developer company owns MyWay and makes money off of the ads shown there, so te more you use MyWay, the more money DirectionsBuilder’s developers make.

If you care about your online privacy, you should definitely avoid DirectionsBuilder. It reads your browsing history (what sites you visit), as well as your search queries. This info is valuable to advertisers who want to show you ads that will be most effective. You know, because DirectionsBuilder is adware.

How DirectionsBuilder gets installed

It’s likely that you didn’t exactly install DirectionsBuilder manually.

DirectionsBuilder is made by Mindspark and Mindspark has a reputation for bundling their new tab extensions (MapMyWayFree, DirectionsOnline, etc.) with free programs. You could be installing a random free program, like a new photo editor, and then open your browser to find its homepage and search engine changed to DirectionsBuilder and MyWay – that’s bundling at work.

But I think you may have come across DirectionsBuilder while looking for online map sites. You may have looked online for maps directions, a route planner, a map of a location, or the address of a famous place. But then you found fake maps sites, like Direction-maps-online.com, Directionsmapsroute.com, etc. These sites let you type in your destination but ask that you install DirectionsBuilder before they show you the results.

Real online map sites don’t do that – they just show you the results right away. For example, if you use Chrome and use the default new tab page, you can open Google Maps by clicking on the nine-dot menu in the top right corner and clicking on Maps. There, you can search for directions and they’re displayed right away.

I suspect that those who found the fake map sites that shoved DirectionsBuilder – they already had an adware infection on their computer. Web analytics tools show that some of the fake sites advertise on Cse.google.com – Google-based custom search engines, such as Info.com, Becovi.com, Searchgg/QxSearch.com, Ibrowsersearch.com, and others. These look like normal search engines, but are used by online fraudsters to make ad revenue by injecting more ads into people’s search results. They’re often caused by malicious browser extensions.

How to remove DirectionsBuilder

Using a browser extension like DirectionsBuilder that redirects you to another online map site anyway is pretty pointless. To find driving directions, it’s easy to just go to Google Maps, Apple Maps, Mapquest, or another website. You can even press the Ctrl and D buttons (Windows) or Cmd and D (macOS) while on your favorite online map site to save it for quick access in your browser.

To remove DirectionsBuilder, go to your browser settings, the Extensions page, and look for and remove all the third-party browser extensions that are no-good: DirectionsBuilder, Search Extension by Ask, Search Encrypt, and others. More detailed instructions below. If you can’t remove it because of Enterprise policy, check this article.

If you want to check if there’s malware on your computer, I recommend scanning it with a reliable anti-malware scanner, such as SpyHunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for macOS, or some other program that you trust. If any malware is found, you can remove it manually or with the same antivirus program.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually uninstall the extension

TopRemoving New Tab DirectionsBuilder from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to DirectionsBuilder New Tab. Click on the trash bin icon next to New Tab DirectionsBuilder or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to DirectionsBuilder New Tab, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset 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.

How to remove New Tab DirectionsBuilder from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to New Tab DirectionsBuilder. Click on the "Remove" icon next to DirectionsBuilder New Tab or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.