ProductManualsFinder - How to remove

ProductManualsFinder is a browser extension that, besides linking to a useful manuals database, hijacks your browser. Mindspark, the company behind ProductManualsFinder, made a cool manuals database and put it in a browser hijacker. It replaces your homepage with one that looks like hp.myway.com/ProductManualsFinder/ttab02/index.html and it may install additional browser extensions. Its problems make ProductManualsFinder not worth using, even though it’s not all that dangerous.

Details on ProductManualsFinder:

Classification	Browser hijacker, adware, potentially unwanted program.
Similar threats	ProductManualsGuide, Manuals Aid, AtoZManuals.
Problems with ProductManualsFinder	Reads you browsing history and your search queries, changes your homepage and prevents you from customizing it, is associated with other browser hijackers.
How to remove ProductManualsFinder	Scan your computer with an anti-malware program (Combo Cleaner for Mac, Spyhunter for PC), uninstall unwanted browser extensions.

Problems with ProductManualsFinder

ProductManualsFinder can help you find product manuals, sure. But it’s not just that.

ProductManualsFinder is just another Mindspark browser extension, which makes it immediately suspicious. These browser extensions all tend to offer extremely minimal features embedded in a hijacker template. The hijacker is a browser extension that replaces your new tab page, slaps an ad on it, creates a search box that opens Myway.com, and reads your browsing history and search queries. Many of these extensions try to get you to install Search Extension by Ask.

Issues with ProductManualsFinder are already visible in its description. When ProductManualsFinder is installed, it asks to be granted these permissions:

• Read and modify your data on a number of websites (includes ProductManualsFinder, Myway, and Ask sites)
• Change the page you see when you open a new tab
• Read your browsing history
• Display notifications
• Manage your apps, extensions and themes

And in its description on the Google Chrome Web Store, explanations for these permissions are included. Notably, the description mentions that your browsing history is read so that you can be shown relevant content and offers. Similarly, the reason for ProductManualsFinder wanting to display notifications is to show you new product offers. This means that ProductManualsFinder will, in time, start showing you pop-up ads for other software.

On your new home page, ProductManualsFinder puts a search box that leads to Myway.com. This site is an ad-supported search engine that’s owned by the same company as ProductManualsFinder. People install the extensions, start using Myway.com, which profits the creators of the extensions. Ad revenue, pretty simple.

How ProductManualsFinder gets installed

I first saw ProductManualsFinder in search engine ads. These were ads by alternative search engines, like Zapmeta, Izito, and Metrolyrics. Such ads get injected into people’s search results by various adware viruses and browser hijackers. I don’t mean to say that your computer is necessarily infected, but it’s probably a good idea to scan it. Especially if you get a lot of ads in your web search results.

Another way that ProductManualsFinder may have been installed is by another browser hijacker. The symptoms would be very similar to ProductManualsFinder’s, such as a replaced homepage, links to unusual search engines, and pop-up notifications.

It’s possible that ProductManualsFinder is being distributed with freeware. Wanted programs get packaged with unwanted add-ons, junkware, and even malware. You’ve probably had to deal with software installers that offer additional programs and install them by default. Even respected and legitimate programs make use of this marketing tactic.

Finally, it’s possible that you installed ProductManualsFinder because you saw its installation page and it looked useful. This is doubtful, as, on the Chrome Web Store, ProductManualsFinder has no user reviews or ratings despite having over thirty thousand users – a red flag for browser extensions.

How to remove ProductManualsFinder

If you like ProductManualsFinder and understand how it works, there’s nothing wrong with continuing to use it. Just check your extensions regularly to make sure that nothing unfamiliar was installed while you weren’t looking.

If you suspect that your computer is infected with adware, like if you’re seeing alternative search engine ads in your results, you can scan your computer with an antivirus program, such as Combo Cleaner for Mac OS, SpyHunter for Windows, or another reputable program. If you do find some malware, it’s important to get rid of it.

As for ProductManualsFinder, you should be able to remove it just by right-clicking its icon in your web browser’s upper right and choosing the “Remove” option.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually uninstall ProductManualsFinder

TopRemoving ProductManualsFinder 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 ProductManualsFinder. Click on the trash bin icon next to ProductManualsFinder 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 ProductManualsFinder, 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 ProductManualsFinder 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 ProductManualsFinder. Click on the "Remove" icon next to ProductManualsFinder 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.