Remove Search.mapsnt.com Hijacker

Can’t Remove Search.mapsnt.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Search.mapsnt.com Removal instructions!

You have a hijacker on your computer. The Search.mapsnt.com page if proof of the invasion. Consider it a big, bright neon sign that screams “Infection!” It’s a warning. And, one, you best heed. Browser hijackers are dangerous, meddling and malicious. They use trickery to gain access to your system. Then, once inside, they wreak havoc. They make a mess of everything, and force you to endure countless issues. But the one that towers over the rest is, undoubtedly, the privacy risk. The infection, using Search.mapsnt.com as a front, threatens your security. As soon as it slithers its way in, it begins to spy on you. The tool keeps track of your online activities. And, not only that, but also records everything you do. That means, it has access to your personal and financial details. And, what do you imagine the hijacker does, after it gathers enough data? Well, it exposes it to strangers, of course. The unknown third parties that published it, to be precise. The question is, will you allow that exposure? Will you let that scenario unfold? Or, would you do yourself a favor, and prevent it? Do what’s best for you, and your computer, and act against the threat ASAP! The sooner you do, the better. Acknowledge the Search.mapsnt.com page as the warning it is. Once you spot it, accept that your PC harbors a hijacker. Find its exact hiding place. Then, delete it on discovery. You’ll avoid a heap of troubles, as well as earn the gratitude of your future self.

How did I get infected with?

The tool, using Search.mapsnt.com as a face, is sneaky. So sneaky it managed to slither in undetected. Despite having to ask for your approval on its installment. Oh, yes. No hijacker can enter a system without going through such an exchange. It has to ask you, the user, if you consent to its admission. No permission, no admission. So, how do you imagine you gave it yours? Odds are, you have no memory of the exchange ever taking place. Well, don’t be too hard on yourself. There are a few redeeming qualities to your lackluster memory. For what it’s worth, the hijacker didn’t outright pop up to seek your consent. It did so via cunning and finesse. The most common means of infiltration it uses include the following. Freeware is, of course, at the top of the list as it offers, likely, the easiest way into your PC. There’s also lurking behind corrupted links or sites, as well as spam emails. And, posing as a bogus system or program update. Like, Adobe Flash Player or Java. The hijacker is masterful in its deception. But you still take the blame for not being thorough enough to spot the deceit. It’s up to you to catch it in the act, and prevent its success. Remember that caution is crucial to keeping an infection-free PC. Always take the time to do your due diligence. Read the terms and conditions, know what you agree to. Even a little extra attention goes a long way, and can save you an avalanche of grievances.

Why is this dangerous?

Harboring a hijacker is an immense annoyance. These programs are quite meddlesome. And, their meddling begins as soon as they invade. The one, lurking behind Search.mapsnt.com, is no exception. After it settles, it starts to intrude. You first notice its influences with your browsing. It turns the entire experience into a nightmare. The infection makes it so you cannot make a single move without facing interference. You get redirected to Search.mapsnt.com, and Query.mapsnt.com, all the time. Open a new tab, surf the web, do anything at all, and face redirects. The hijacker floods you with advertisements, as well. Your screen gets bombarded. And, it doesn’t take long before that takes a toll on your PC. It slows down to a crawl. Not to mention, the frequent system crashes, you have to endure, too. Browsing the web becomes a pretty infuriating experience altogether. Add to the immense annoyance, the severe security threat, and it’s a given. The hijacker has NO place on your computer. Do your best to delete it ASAP! Don’t allow it to remain, and wreak havoc. Protect yourself, and your PC. Delete it the first chance you get. The display of Search.mapsnt.com is the sign to urge you into action.

How to Remove Search.mapsnt.com virus

The Search.mapsnt.com infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Search.mapsnt.com infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down Search.mapsnt.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.mapsnt.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.mapsnt.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.mapsnt.com related processes in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Search.mapsnt.com startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Search.mapsnt.com virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean Search.mapsnt.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search.mapsnt.com by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Search.mapsnt.com

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Search.mapsnt.com, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove Search.mapsnt.com argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Search.mapsnt.com Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.