Deleting Search.mapsglobalsearch.com (Browser Hijacker/PUP)

What is Search.mapsglobalsearch.com? And how does it work?

Search.mapsglobalsearch.com is a browser extension that allegedly works as a search engine and is promoted as a tool that provides users with maps along with directions. This program might look like it could benefit users who drive or travel quite a lot. However, you should know that this program actually belongs to the category of browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs that could cause potential issues rather than give users the functionality it promised.
If you install Search.mapsglobalsearch.com to your browser, it will quickly make changes to the default settings of your web browser such as the default homepage, search engine and new tab page. Take note that these changes are done without your permission which is why it is considered to be a browser hijacker in the first place. Following these changes, you will have no choice but to use Search.mapsglobalsearch.com every time you browse the web. Upon its installation, you will notice the sudden appearance of sponsored content as you surf the internet. These sponsored contents are from the affiliated sites of Search.mapsglobalsearch.com which means that it gains profit by delivering its users with tons of ads. What’s more is that it also monitors your web browsing in order to obtain several information such as:

Email address
IP address
Device-specific data (hardware model and operating system)
Data about crashes, system activity, hardware settings, and browser language
Search queries and all related search data
Date and time of query request and referral URL
Your Browser Type
Source of traffic acquisition
Your geographic location
Domain name of your Internet Search Provider (ISP)

The harvested data may be used to deliver more customized and personalized ads and might even be shared with its affiliated sites. Clearly, Search.mapsglobalsearch.com is a threat to your privacy. Thus, you have to get rid of it immediately.
How is Search.mapsglobalsearch.com distributed over the web?
Search.mapsglobalsearch.com is distributed over the web via software bundles. Most developers of unwanted program employ this kind of technique as it is the easiest way to spread their programs. In fact, it can get installed in your computer without your knowledge as it is included as one of the extra programs in freeware and shareware packages. To prevent unwanted programs like Search.mapsglobalsearch.com from entering your computer, you have to use the Advanced or Custom setup rather than the usual standard or quick setup.
Delete Search.mapsglobalsearch.com from your browser and computer using the removal instructions given below.
Step 1: You need to close the browser infected with the browser hijacker. And if you can’t close it manually, you can close it using the Task Manager instead. Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys and open the Task Manager.
Step 2: Next, look for the process of your browser, right-click on it and select End task or End process to close it.
Step 3: Afterwards, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and press Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Step 4: From the list of programs installed, look for any programs that could be related to Search.mapsglobalsearch.com or any suspicious program you don’t remember installing under the list of installed programs and once you’ve found it, uninstall it.

Step 5: Edit your Hosts File.

Tap the Win + R keys to open then type in %WinDir% and then click OK.
Go to System32/drivers/etc.
Open the hosts file using Notepad.
Delete all the entries that contain Search.mapsglobalsearch.com.
After that, save the changes you’ve made and close the file.

Step 6: Now you have to flush the DNS cache of your computer. To do so, right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator). From there, type the “ipconfig /flushdns” command and hit Enter to flush the DNS.
Step 7: After that, restart your computer and then open your browsers and reset them back to their default state.
Google Chrome

Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
After that, click on Settings.
Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
Now restart Google Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox

Open Mozilla Firefox and tap Ctrl + Shift + A to access the Add-ons Manager.
In the Extensions menu Remove the unwanted extension.
Restart the browser and tap keys Alt + T.
Select Options and then move to the General menu.
Overwrite the URL in the Home Page section and then restart the browser.

Internet Explorer

Launch Internet Explorer.
Next, click the wrench icon for Settings.
Then click Internet Options.
After that, go to the Advanced tab.
From there, click the Reset button. This will reset Internet Explorer’s settings to their default condition.
Now click OK to save the changes made.
Restart your computer.

Step 8: Hold down Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
Step 9: Navigate to the following directories and look for suspicious files associated to the browser hijacker such as the software bundle it came with and delete it/them.

%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
%TEMP%

Step 10: Close the File Explorer and empty the contents of Recycle Bin.
Refer to the advanced instructions given below to ensure the removal of this browser hijacker from your computer as well as all the file residues it left behind.
Perform a full system scan using [product-code]. To do so, follow these steps:

Turn on your computer. If it’s already on, you have to reboot it.
After that, the BIOS screen will be displayed, but if Windows pops up instead, reboot your computer and try again. Once you’re on the BIOS screen, repeat pressing F8, by doing so the Advanced Option shows up.

To navigate the Advanced Option use the arrow keys and select Safe Mode with Networking then hit
Windows will now load the Safe Mode with Networking.
Press and hold both R key and Windows key.

If done correctly, the Windows Run Box will show up.
Type in the URL address, [product-url] in the Run dialog box and then tap Enter or click OK.
After that, it will download the program. Wait for the download to finish and then open the launcher to install the program.
Once the installation process is completed, run [product-code] to perform a full system scan.