Search.directionsandmap.com Removal Guide

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Category: Browser Hijackers

Search.directionsandmap.com might look like a regular search engine, but we can assure you that it is not. We have found that it is nothing more but a browser hijacker whose primary objective is to replace your browser’s homepage and show ad-supported search results that can jeopardize your computer’s security. Apart from that, it was also configured to gather information about you to tailor the ads according to your personal interests and browsing habits. We have concluded that this search engine is inherently malicious and recommend that you remove it from your browser as soon as possible. Note that it can enter the browser without your knowledge or consent which is what makes it a browser hijacker.

Browser hijackers are malicious search engines that can enter your PC by stealth and replace your browser’s homepage in an effort to force you to use it to search the web. Search.directionsandmap.com is a typical hijacker that is compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. This particular hijacker does not have an accompanying browser extension so it can infect your browser via the installation of bundled software. If the infection is successful, then this hijacker will become your browser’s homepage and subject you to promotional links, provided that you start to use it. We are concerned with the fact that Search.directionsandmap.com redirects all search queries to a modified Yahoo search engine that features search results that include promotional links of unverified legitimacy. Indeed, some of them can be rather sketchy and downright malicious, so you should not use it for searching the web.

Interestingly, Search.directionsandmap.com has the ability to collect information about you. Truth be told, all search engines can obtain it, but this search engine is a whole different story because of its tendency to misuse the collected info to present the user with ad-supported search results that can feature links to questionable and sometimes malicious websites. The privacy policy indicates that this search engine is able to obtain information such as your browsing history, search queries, Internet Protocol (IP) address, Internet Service Provider (ISP) name, browser type, and operating system type automatically. You should not allow this hijacker to obtain any of this information because its creators will use it to customize the ad campaign that generates them advertising revenue.

Search.directionsandmap.com is similar to Search.yourclassifiedscenter.com, Search.yourinterestscenter.com, and Search.searchdp.com, which are also browser hijackers. All of them come from a malware developer called Polarity Technologies. This developer is infamous for its browser hijackers that are disseminated in a highly deceptive manner. We have found that Search.directionsandmap.com is included in third-party software installers that inject it into the browser secretly. Furthermore, some of the installers might not allow you to deselect its installation. So to avoid your PC becoming infected with this malware, you should refrain from installing software from unknown, questionable sites.

In conclusion, Search.directionsandmap.com is one malicious search engine that can put your computer’s security at risk. It can replace your browser’s homepage by stealth and subject you to promotional links that can redirect to malicious websites. Therefore, we suggest that you remove this search engine from your browser as soon as you can. If you do not know how to do that, then you can use the guide we have included below.

How to replace your browser’s homepage

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. Hold down Win+R keys to open Run.
  2. Enter regedit in the window and click OK.
  3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
  4. Then, look for Start Page on the right side of the window and double-click it.
  5. Replace the Value data with your preferred address and click OK.
  6. Close the Registry Editor.

Google Chrome

  1. Hold down Win+E keys to open Windows Explorer.
  2. Enter C:\Users\{User name}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default in the address box.
  3. Press Enter.
  4. Delete Secure Preferences, Preferences, and Web Data files.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Hold down Win+E keys.
  2. Type C:\Users\{User name}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles in the address box and hit Enter.
  3. Enter the {Unique Mozilla user ID} folder
  4. Find prefs.js and open it with Notepad.
  5. Find and replace http://search.directionsandmap.com in the user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://search.directionsandmap.com"); string.
  6. Save and Close.
Download Remover for Search.directionsandmap.com *
*SpyHunter scanner, published on this site, is intended to be used only as a detection tool. To use the removal functionality, you will need to purchase the full version of SpyHunter.

Search.directionsandmap.com Screenshots:

Search.directionsandmap.com

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