How to remove Go Maps browser plugin? [Search.hgomaps.co]

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The Go Maps search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such applications are spread enormously these days. On this page you will see the comprehensive instructions of “Go Maps” hijacker removal in several ways: making use of anti-malware tools and also hand-operated removal process.
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Go Maps – What is it?

“Go Maps” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some particular details, for instance, about sport events, make your browser a lot more safe, allow downloading of any video clip, and so on.

However, the “Go Maps” plugin is pretty pointless since all such functions are currently built-in to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even expert users are getting caught on such an appeal. In certain instances, this hijacker is distributed along with free apps.

Go Maps hijacker - Search.hgomaps.co

Go Maps Search Hijacker

Here is a short summary for the Go Maps hijacker
Site Search.hgomaps.co
Hosting AS14618 Amazon.com, Inc.
United States, Virginia Beach
Infection Type Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address 34.236.221.30
Hosting AS14618 Amazon.com, Inc.
Virginia Beach, United States
Symptoms Changed search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behavior Searchlock, Securybrowse, Nation
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is Go Maps hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Go Maps hijacker is additionally quite unsafe for browser usage. It alters your search engine to its specific – Search.hgomaps.co, and also transforms your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the specified sign).

Aside from aesthetic modifications done by Go Maps hijacker, you might observe that many of your search inquiries are redirecting to the suspicious sites, filled with web links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting boosts if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are far more bothersome than really dangerous. The main risk, primarily for people who have a huge amount of confidential information in their internet browsers, is installed in information collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, as well as other activities are simply gathered by Go Maps hijacker.

How to remove Go Maps search hijacker?

  • Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
  • Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
  • “Move to quarantine” all items.
  • Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
  • Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
  • Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are generally pretty simple to delete. In most cases, they have a separate app that can be found in the list of installed software. Because of the certain marketing method of Go Maps hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and erased by hand. Nevertheless, if you got Go Maps in the package with a free program, your PC may be contaminated with a lot more serious malwaretrojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you use anti-malware tools to remove the Go Maps PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and clearing away a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. But serious malware, that can exist on your personal computer in the specified case, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such scenarios, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all unwanted programs on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can observe the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To choose the action for every detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reset browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be counteracted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing Go Maps hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

To reset Edge, do the following steps :
  1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
  2. Reseting the Edge browser

  3. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
  1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
  2. The first step to revert Mozilla Firefox

  3. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
  4. The second step of Firefox restoration
    After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
    The last step for Firefox

If you use Google Chrome
  1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
  2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
  3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
  1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
  2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

I need your help to share this guide.

Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur Woodham
How to Remove Go Maps?

Name: Go Maps

Description: Go Maps - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove Go Maps?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Go Maps (Search.hgomaps.co), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Browser Hijacker

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References

  1. More information about PUAs
  2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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