DirectionsOnline

Posted by Lisa Blanc on May 16, 2017

What is DirectionsOnline?

DirectionsOnline is promoted as an application that can help you get directions, avoid traffic, find the best gas prices, and so on. However, all of these gimmicky features are there to hide the fact that its true purpose is to replace your browser’s homepage with its promoted search engine that is capable of collecting information about you and displaying advertisements in its search results. Given that the ads can be of malicious nature, we suggest that you remove this program as soon as possible. Therefore, it would be best if you avoid getting this browser extension, so let us take a look at how its developers distribute it. test test test

Where does DirectionsOnline come from?

Malware researchers at Anti-spyware-101.com have found that this particular application was developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, a company dedicated to publishing shady, potentially unwanted programs that generate income from online ads. For example, Mindspark has released programs such as NoteHomepage Toolbar, DirectionsBuilder Toolbar, SimplePictureEdit Toolbar, and many others. All of these programs are nearly the same, but they differ in how they have been “dressed” as all of them offer different, supposedly legitimate functions.

Our malware analysts say that you can get this program from three distribution channels. This program is compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. You can get it on the Chrome Web Store for the Chrome browser, but it also has a dedicated distribution website that features a version for all of the mentioned browsers. Researchers say that this program can also come bundled with freeware and installed on your computer without your permission. This browser extension might come bundled with freeware installers’ that contain several applications and can install them on your PC automatically. Nevertheless, you might be able to uncheck its installation after selecting advanced or custom installation settings.

What does DirectionsOnline do?

DirectionsOnline has been cleverly disguised as the app to go to if you need to get some directions. However, this program is nothing more than a collection of links displayed on its web-based toolbar that appears at the top of its search engine. This program is set to feature links such as http://www.gasbuddy.com and https://wego.here.com/traffic?ct=hm_map. The links featured in the toolbar are entirely legitimate. However, we are concerned that the links presented by its featured on its search engine can pose a threat to your computer’s security.

When you install DirectionsOnline it automatically changes your browser’s homepage address to http://hp.myway.com/directionsonline/ttab02chr/index.html?p2=%5ECIV%5Eyyyyyy%5ETTAB02%5Eus&n=78397875&st=tab&ptb=&si=&rd=alreadyInstalled&ruid=61023955-DAEB-419D-9DD7-2E6FB212909A. It is a custom search engine set to show modified search results powered by Google. However, we think that it can feature promotional links in the search results that can redirect you to unreliable and even malicious websites that can steal your personal information or infect your PC with ransomware, spyware, and other kinds of malicious software.

Furthermore, the featured search engine can collect anonymous information about you to present you with customized search results. According to our researchers, this search engine can collect information such as your IP address, location, search queries, browsing history, browser type, operating system type, ISP, and so on. It uses browser cookies, web beacons and other information collection technologies to obtain all of this information. However, given how unreliable DirectionsOnline is, you should not allow its search engine know anything about you.

How do I remove DirectionsOnline?

If you got DirectionsOnline onto your browser accidentally and want to delete it, then please use the removal guide presented below. While you can keep it if you want to, we advise against doing so because this program comes from Mindspark — a highly unreliable software publisher that makes money of clandestine advertising tactics. As if that was not enough, this program can also jeopardize your PC’s security, so the sooner you get rid of it, the better.