Maps-N-Directions

Maps-N-Directions claims to be a useful tool that offers users an easy way to access maps, generate routes between specific addresses, and even show the local time and weather, all in one place. While this may sound appealing to at least some people, the truth is that this application is little more than a browser hijacker that has the express purpose of promoting a fake search engine. Maps-N-Directions also can be classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program).

When installed, Maps-N-Directions will modify the default settings of the browser used by the victim immediately. The homepage, new page tab, and the default search engine will be modified to redirect to hmapsndirections.co, a fake search engine. Researchers deem hmapsndirections.co as fake, as well as a myriad of similar search engines, due to their inability to generate a list of search results. Instead, they redirect the user's search query through a legitimate search engine, in this case - search.yahoo.com.

Attempting to revert the changes made by Maps-N-Directions will not produce any meaningful results as the browser hijacker will simply revert everything. That is why affected users have first to remove this application from their computer completely before they are able to restore their preferred browser settings. Not to mention that keeping browser hijackers such as Maps-N-Directions carries the risk of the user's data, such as visited pages, search queries, IP addresses, and other details, being monitored and logged.