OnlineRouteFinder Virus - How to remove

Maps & Directions by OnlineRouteFinder (aka OnlineRouteFinder) is a web browser add-on that replaces your new tab page and takes over other browser settings – often without your consent. OnlineRouteFinder could be called a browser virus for its malicious behavior.

Maps & Directions by OnlineRouteFinder memo:

Classification	Browser hijacker, adware
How to remove OnlineRouteFinder virus	Remove unwanted browser extensions Delete malware manually or by using automatic tools (SpyHunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for MacOS)
Problems with OnlineRouteFinder	Tracks your search terms and browsing history Changes browser settings for no good reason Gets installed without permission
How to avoid search viruses	Block malicious websites Use anti-malware programs Know how to remove hijackers

How to remove OnlineRouteFinder virus

If your browser has been taken over by the OnlineRouteFinder virus, you can fix that by removing all the problematic browser extensions. This includes not just Maps & Directions, but also Search extension by Ask, OnlineMapFinder, SmartEasyMaps, and others. Sometimes, a group of browser viruses get installed together and, after you remove one, another appears from underneath.

If your browser settings, you can see all the installed browser extensions. Look over them and decide which ones you need to keep, and which ones can go. Any unnecessary browser add-ons are a privacy problem. Instructions in the last section.

It is also advisable to scan your computer with an anti-malware scanner and get rid of malicious and potentially unwanted programs. Any competent security program would work, for example, SpyHunter for Windows and Combo Cleaner for Mac OS.

OnlineRouteFinder is bad for privacy

The OnlineRouteFinder search virus is not a very malicious program, but it is bad for your privacy. If you care about advertisers spying on you to learn about what products they should try to sell you, if you want your search queries to remain private, then you should uninstall OnlineRouteFinder as soon as you can. This search virus program was made to spy and advertise, it is how it makes money.

This wouldn’t be so bad if you had chosen it. Really, all the information about OnlineRouteFinder’s spying is in its privacy policy. But the problem with OnlineRouteFinder is that a lot of people did not choose to install it. For a lot of people, OnlineRouteFinder was pushed on them dishonestly, with manipulative language and design. It might be hidden in the custom settings of a freeware installed or “required” to install when trying to look up the best route for a trip. This means that many users install OnlineRouteFinder without really agreeing to its privacy policy. Yet, they’re still advertised to and they’re still spied on.

OnlineRouteFinder virus is considered to be a potentially unwanted program by many security vendors. This search virus is made by Mindspark, a company known for making browser hijackers, so that’s not surprising. While the OnlineRouteFinder virus is not so bad as to be considered malware, it is undeniably distributed in an unethical way and its features put the money-making interests of its owners over the convenience of users. Even if you do find OnlineRouteFinder useful, there are much better and more ethical ways to do an extension like this.

How to avoid search viruses

Search viruses like OnlineRouteFinder are plentiful and some of them have hundreds of thousands of users, many of them – unaware of the problem. But you don’t have to deal with viruses hijacking your browser.

• First, remember how web browsers and browser add-ons work, and that you can easily disable and remove most browser extensions. So if a program that you download forces a new extension in your browser, you know how to fix that.
• Also, never listen to websites that tell you that you must install an extension or a program. Pages like Recommended Extension and Flash SD App Required trick people into installing add-ons that they do not need or want, and these pages are advertised on conversion, streaming, filesharing, and similar websites.
• The OnlineRouteFinder virus also gets distributed using bundling. This scheme is often used to install potentially unwanted programs and adware on many computers. To avoid this, scan every installer with an anti-malware program.
• Finally, you might want to block malicious websites with the help of an antivirus program or maybe an ad-blocker. Sites that promote OnlineRouteFinder and other search viruses are sometimes marked as malicious by antivirus vendors, so their web protection should help you.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove OnlineRouteFinder Virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus from macOS

Delete OnlineRouteFinder Virus from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus, 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus. Click on the trash bin icon next to OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus, 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus, 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus. Click on the "Remove" icon next to OnlineRouteFinder Virus 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the OnlineRouteFinder Virus. 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 OnlineRouteFinder Virus, 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.