OnlineMapFinder Hijacker - How to remove

The OnlineMapFinder hijacker is a browser plugin that can be added to any of the most popular browsers, including Chrome, Safari, and IE – sometimes without the user’s authorization. It was developed by Mindspark Inc. This application claims to offer quick access to online maps and directions but its main purpose is to take control of the browser and promote specific search engines and the ads they display.

OnlineMapFinder hijacks browser settings that have nothing to do with its functionality. Rightfully, most professional antivirus programs are tuned to warn users about this hijacker.

There are good reasons for OnlineMapFinder being considered unsafe:

• Instead of providing useful functions, the plugin has links to other map-related websites on the new tab page that it forces you to use.
• OnlineMapFinder asks for access to your browsing history despite not needing this data to fulfill its functions.
• The add-on uses malvertising and deceptive installation tactics which leads many users to complain about OnlineMapFinder appearing in their browser without their consent.

OnlineMapFinder should be removed as soon as it’s discovered:

Type of threat	Adware Browser hijacker
Consequences	OnlineMapFinder can see your browsing history, search queries, and other information Search is conducted through search.myway.com or ask.com
Installation	Malvertising (adware or shady websites) Bundling with freeware
Removal	Scan your computer for malware Remove OnlineMapFinder and related extensions

 

OnlineMapFinder was released by Mindspark, a company that has already made tons of browser hijackers. They all wok the same way, too – get installed under false pretenses, take over the browser, and force the user to use Ask or MyWay to search the web. The ads displayed by these search providers make money for the company that owns them, the same company that made the plugins.

OnlineMapFinder is no different than DownSpeedTest, ProPDFConverter, or CinematicFanatic. These add-ons are clearly based on the same template and have little to offer the user. You could add your favorite map websites to your bookmarks and retain control over your browser and OnlineMapFinder wouldn’t be missed.

How OnlineMapFinder works

Some people find OnlineMapFinder while searching for a way to access online maps, to plan a route, or to access satellite images. Others find it in their browser and don’t know where it came from.

The OnlineMapFinder main website, which is advertised, has only a vague description that says “Fast Access To Maps And Directions” and some people install this add-on without exactly knowing how it works. Others see this hijacker download and install itself after they visit a malicious website. Then some people install OnlineMapFinder unknowingly when this add-on is bundled with another program. Make sure you pay close attention to what you are installing. Even if you are downloading well-known applications, carefully go through every step of the setup. If you notice any suggestions to change your homepage or default search provider to other websites, you should always uncheck the checkboxes next to such options. The same goes for options indicating additional downloads. Never download any unknown or suspicious tools, especially if they come bundled to other applications.

Once inside your browser, OnlineMapFinder makes changes in your browser settings. It replaces your default search provider and homepage with the one promoted by this browser hijacker, therefore all your searches will be made through search.myway.com or ask.com. Moreover, the program injects lots of sponsored websites in your search results in order to advertise these pages and improve their traffic. Considering that OnlineMapFinder’s creators seem to be okay with working with adware, you may end up visiting malicious websites.

It is strongly recommended to remove the OnlineMapFinder hijacker from your browser as soon as you detect it there. If you use Windows, go to Control Panel, Add/Remove programs list, and uninstall anything related to this domain from there. If you use a Mac, go to the Applications folder and drag such items to trash. Some versions of this hijacker install software that blocks browser settings from changing. To identify them, scanning with Spyhunter (Windows) or Combo Cleaner (Mac OS), or another reputable antispyware tool might be useful. Then you can uninstall the extensions and reset the settings in your browsers.

How to remove OnlineMapFinder Toolbar using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like OnlineMapFinder Hijacker install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to OnlineMapFinder Toolbar . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make OnlineMapFinder Hijacker easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove OnlineMapFinder Toolbar from macOS

Delete OnlineMapFinder Hijacker from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the OnlineMapFinder Toolbar app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to OnlineMapFinder Hijacker and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to OnlineMapFinder Toolbar, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving OnlineMapFinder Hijacker 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 OnlineMapFinder Toolbar. Click on the trash bin icon next to OnlineMapFinder Hijacker 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 OnlineMapFinder Toolbar, 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.

TopRemoving OnlineMapFinder Hijacker from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything OnlineMapFinder Toolbar related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to OnlineMapFinder Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove OnlineMapFinder Hijacker 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 OnlineMapFinder Toolbar. Click on the "Remove" icon next to OnlineMapFinder Hijacker 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.

TopRemoving OnlineMapFinder Toolbar from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the OnlineMapFinder Hijacker. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
  
• Restart Safari.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to OnlineMapFinder Toolbar, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

On behalf of developers of OnlineMapFinder Toolbar we were asked to remove this article due to false information on it. However, we feel like this post is correct and helpful to our readers. OnlineMapFinder Hijacker and other software developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. can be detected and recognised as viruses or potentially unwanted software by various anti-malware tools. Toolbars developed by Mindspark share same EULA (End User License Agreement) that is mislieding. It claims that this software is not an adware or malware, while there are statements that toolbars might display advertisements from 3rd parties or monetise toolbars in other ways. By definition such software is considered as an adware. All articles posted on www.2-viruses.com regarding products of Mindspark are correct.

Please notice that we are affiliated with several trustworthy anti-malware tools and information about our affiliates can be found in disclosure (see the link at the bottom of this page). Some of those tools are paid while other ones can be used for free. We provide free manual removal guides as well.