Why is Easy Directions Finder on My Computer
What is Directions Maps Finder?
Directions Maps Finder is a browser hijacker endorsed for quick access to map and route related content. It is supposedly capable of providing various maps, local traffic data, driving directions and similar, however, it operates by modifying browser settings to promote a fake search engine (search.directionsmapsfindertab.com).
Furthermore, this rogue application has data tracking abilities. Since most users install Directions Maps Finder inadvertently, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Typically, browser hijackers target Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and other popular browsers. Once installed, they assign their fake search engine addresses as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URL. Directions Maps Finder promotes search.directionsmapsfindertab.com in this manner.
Therefore, each new tab/window opened and each search query typed into the URL bar redirects to search.directionsmapsfindertab.com. Most fake search engines are unable to provide unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) a legitimate search engine.
Note that search.directionsmapsfindertab.com redirects to search.yahoo.com. While these changes may seem relatively minor and easy to undo, this is not the case. When users attempt to change browser settings, access can be denied, and all permissible changes made, simply reset.
The browser hijacker must be removed to recover the affected browser. Note that Directions Maps Finder is often distributed with another PUA called Hide My Searches.
Directions Maps Finder can also track data. By monitoring users' browsing habits (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.), it can gather personal information (IP addresses, geolocations, and other private details). This data is then shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for financial gain.
Therefore, the presence of data tracking content on devices can lead to severe privacy issues, financial loss, and even identity theft. To ensure browser/system integrity and user safety, remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins.
| Name | Directions Maps Finder. |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Detection Names | AVG (Win32:AdwareSig [Adw]), DrWeb (Adware.Spigot.145), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.WebSearch.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Maps, Directions Maps Finder. |
| Supposed Functionality | GPS-related functionality. |
| Promoted URL | search.directionsmapsfindertab.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.directionsmapsfindertab.com) | 3.224.86.188 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the internet using their search engines. |
| Additional Information | Directions Maps Finder is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are countless browser hijackers online, most of which share certain traits. Identical apps to Directions Maps Finder include Maps And Directions App, Maps Utility, Find My Route, amongst many others. PUAs often seem legitimate and advertise features to tempt users to install. In fact, these features rarely work as promised and are often nonoperational.
The only purpose of PUAs is to generate revenue for the developers. They are used to trick people and provide no useful content. PUAs cause redirects to untrustworthy/malicious web pages, hijack browsers, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns (banners, pop-ups, coupons, surveys, etc.), and collect sensitive information.
How did Directions Maps Finder install on my computer?
Some PUAs, including Directions Maps Finder, have "official" download pages on which they are promoted as "free" software. They can also be installed with regular programs. This deceptive marketing tactic of pre-packing regular software with unwanted/malicious content is called "bundling". Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, using pre-set options, etc.) increases the risk of system infiltration and infections. Furthermore, clicking intrusive advertisements can also lead to infiltration of PUAs slipping. The ads can execute scripts designed to download/install applications without users' consent.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Verify software carefully before downloading/installing. Only official and trusted download sources should be used, as opposed to Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, free file-hosting websites, and other third party downloaders. Unofficial channels are more likely to offer deceptive or bundled content.
When downloading/installing, read the terms, study possible options, use "Custom/Advanced" settings, and decline downloading/installing additional apps/tools. Intrusive advertisements usually seem normal and harmless, however, they often redirect to dubious websites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
If you encounter ads/redirects of this type, inspect the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Directions Maps Finder, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Directions Maps Finder browser hijacker installer set-up:
Directions Maps Finder browser hijacker asking for various permissions:
Website promoting Directions Maps Finder browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is Directions Maps Finder?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Directions Maps Finder application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.directionsmapsfindertab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Directions Maps Finder browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.directionsmapsfindertab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.directionsmapsfindertab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Directions Maps Finder browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features . In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall .
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel . In the opened window choose Programs and Features .
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel . Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program .
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder , in the opened screen select Applications . Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash .
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "Directions Maps Finder"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.directionsmapsfindertab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Directions Maps Finder browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://search.directionsmapsfindertab.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Directions Maps Finder".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.directionsmapsfindertab.com redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start , click Run , in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset .
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset .
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options .
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Directions Maps Finder" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Directions Maps Finder" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.directionsmapsfindertab.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.com) below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "hxxp://search.directionsmapsfindertab.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.com", and when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.directionsmapsfindertab.com redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings . Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Directions Maps Finder", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, disable "Directions Maps Finder" or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.directionsmapsfindertab.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.directionsmapsfindertab.com redirect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu , in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information .
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.directionsmapsfindertab.com redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings .
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings .
Select Restore settings to their default values . In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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About the author:
Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.
I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.
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Source: https://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/16031-directions-maps-finder-browser-hijacker
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