What Is MyMapsExpress Toolbar?
MyMapsExpress which can be discovered on https://free.mymapsexpress.com/ is a browser toolbar that may be classified as potentially unwanted. One of the reasons of this classification is the way this toolbar has been added to your browser. If you don’t recall downloading it from its official website, then MyMapsExpress was included in installation wizard of another program. As a result, your default search engine may have been changed to Ask.com as part of the additional offer by MyMapsExpress.
It is noteworthy that the developer of this toolbar is the well-known MyWay company.
Did you know that MyWay is owned by the Mindspark Interactive Network? It is the developer of many tools classified as browser hijackers and potentially unwanted apps. If you have any application associated with it on your system, then your browsers’ search engine, start page, and new tab page may be affected by MyMapsExpress.
Please note that MyMapExpress is not a virus. However, since most such toolbars are ad-supported, you may be flooded with intrusive ads, and your browsing data may be collected as well. Despite not being malicious in any way, security experts recommend the removal of such toolbars and browser extensions.
Other potentially unwanted apps developed by MyWay / MindSpark include MapMyWayFree, Wallpapers.myway.com.
MyMapsExpress Summary
| Name | MyMapsExpress |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP, Redirect, Toolbar |
| Short Description | A suspicious browser toolbar that may have sneaked into your system in a bundled download. |
| Symptoms | Your default search engine is changed and set to Ask.com. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Corrupted Websites |
| Detection Tool |
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Why Is MyMapsExpress Installed on My PC?
To answer this question, we should first pay attention to the nature of the so-called potentially unwanted app (PUA).
At best, apps such as MyMapsExpress provide little to no benefit, and at worst, they can expose your system to various online risks. In addition to taking up space on your hard drive, they also slow down your computer, often change settings without your approval, etc. However, the most troublesome part of installing a PUA is the adware, spyware and keystroke loggers that may be hidden inside.
Getting a potentially unwanted toolbar such as MyMapsExpress into your PC can be very easy if you’re not vigilant with your browsing. Did you know that sometimes a useful program can be bundled with unwanted apps? While you’re installing the useful program, the wizard will include options to install various programs, some of which may be categorized as PUAs, adware, and browser hijackers. They appear under the “Advanced” or “Custom” options of the installation wizard. When you click them, the list of bundled programs should be visible. Be sure to opt out of installing any programs you don’t want running on your system.
Note. Not all bundled programs are classified as potentially unwanted. Some of them might be desirable for the user, and even big companies such as Microsoft and Adobe often bundle their products. However, if you start experiencing intrusive redirects and plenty of aggressive ads, the bundled download is most certainly unwanted.
MyMapsExpress – More Details
You should also be aware that once MyMapsExpress is installed on your system, it may change the settings of your web browsers. As a result, your default search, home, and new tab pages may be changed to Ask.com or another third-party search engine. In most cases, this change is done solely to display specific ads. These ads, as well as the MyMapsExpress site, may use cookies, pixels, tags and, other trackers to collect the following browsing details:
- Your bookmarks;
- Your browsing history;
- Where you click online.
In conclusion, we would advise you to consider removing MyMapsExpress from your browser. In case you were a “victim” of a bundled download, we would also suggest scanning your system for other unwanted apps.
How to Remove MyMapsExpress
To remove the MyMapsExpress browser toolbar, along with all its associated files, we advise you to complete the removal steps prepared below. If you want to make sure that no undesired and potentially harmful files are running on your system, we recommend that you follow the guide thoroughly. Keep in mind that some of the installed files may be named in a way not related to SecuredBrowserSearch, so that they can be hard to find, and therefore, hard to remove.
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- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove MyMapsExpress from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for MyMapsExpress with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall MyMapsExpress and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by MyMapsExpress on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by MyMapsExpress there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for MyMapsExpress (Windows).
Get rid of MyMapsExpress from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall MyMapsExpress and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to MyMapsExpress. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove MyMapsExpress via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove MyMapsExpress files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as MyMapsExpress, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for MyMapsExpress (Mac)
Remove MyMapsExpress from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase MyMapsExpress from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall MyMapsExpress from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove MyMapsExpress from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the MyMapsExpress will be removed.
Eliminate MyMapsExpress from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
MyMapsExpress-FAQ
What Is MyMapsExpress?
The MyMapsExpress threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of MyMapsExpress?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like MyMapsExpress?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does MyMapsExpress Work?
Once installed, MyMapsExpress can collect data about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. This data is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
MyMapsExpress can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is MyMapsExpress Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the MyMapsExpress Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this MyMapsExpress how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on MyMapsExpress?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the MyMapsExpress threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.