DirectionsBuilder Toolbar Removal Guide

Do you know what DirectionsBuilder Toolbar is?

DirectionsBuilder Toolbar seems to belong to the so-called Mindspark family. It is an unreliable company, and to our researchers, it is better known as potentially unwanted programs developer. As you probably already guessed it this browser extension falls under the same category. Apparently, the software might have a slightly exaggerated description; thus some users may want to remove it simply because of disappointment. More careful users may not want to keep it any longer because of the application’s untrustworthy search tool and suspicious advertising it might show them. Naturally, if you downloaded this tool without realizing it could cause you trouble, it is most advisable to read the rest of our report and get to know this threat better. Because of what we learned about this potentially unwanted program we would advise you to erase it. Since the deletion part could be quite complicated, we recommend using our removal guide placed below the main text.

DirectionsBuilder Toolbar’s homepage says the application is a tool for users who want to quickly access various maps, plan routes for their trips, and get free directions. Unfortunately, the extension does not provide such services. The program only provides links to web pages where these tools are available. What we are trying to say is that you would get the same result by simply dragging the same links onto your bookmarks bar. The extension’s real goal is probably to hijack the user’s browser by replacing his start page, search engine, or new tab page with hp.myway.com/directionsbuilder/ttab02/index.html.

This search engine might be a modified version of google.com. Through the displayed results, the potentially unwanted application’s creators may show users suspicious advertisements from various third parties, so they could generate advertising revenue from your clicks. The worst part is that some of the ads might be malicious, for example, they may lead to web pages containing malware (viruses, Trojans, etc.). You could also come across pop-ups promoting similar threats to DirectionsBuilder Toolbar like other potentially unwanted programs, adware, browser hijackers, and so on.DirectionsBuilder Toolbar screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

What’s more, it is crucial to figure out how DirectionsBuilder Toolbar might be spread. By now we do know the software is promoted on directionsbuilder.com/index.jhtml. On this site, you can find its download button too. The only question is how users can come across this site without knowing its address or the application’s name? Our specialists believe the program could be advertised through suspicious pop-up ads that redirected to the software’s homepage. If you see annoying pop-ups from unknown sources often lately, it would be smart to do a full system scan with a reputable antimalware tool and check if there are no unreliable applications, which might display such advertising content.

There is a chance DirectionsBuilder Toolbar could be spread with bundled software installers too. In this case, it is even possible to receive the potentially unwanted program without even realizing it. Users who rush the installation process and do not read given terms on the setup wizard should find themselves in such situations quite often. It might seem like this way you are saving your time, but you might waste even more time while trying to figure out how to get rid of the unwanted programs installed by mistake. Therefore, we always recommend our users to be more patient during the installation process and not to miss their chance to deselect undesirable software. Plus, our researchers also suggest avoiding questionable file-sharing websites as they might bundle available installers with similar threats.

If you do not want to waste your time while erasing DirectionsBuilder Toolbar manually, you could install a trustworthy antimalware tool and leave the job to it. At the same time, the tool would allow users to clean the system from other questionable programs and later on it could help them protect the system. Nonetheless, if you reviewed the removal guide and thought you could manage to eliminate the application manually; we encourage you to wait no more and get rid of the threat at once. If there any other question related to the potentially unwanted program we could answer, users should contact us via social media or leave their message below.

Delete DirectionsBuilder Toolbar

Internet Explorer

1. Press Windows Key+R.
2. Insert Regedit, tap Enter.
3. Navigate to this particular location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
4. Select value name titled as Start Page, right-click it and pick Modify.
5. Instead of http://hp.myway.com/directionsbuilder/ttab02/index.html type an address of a reliable website and click OK.
6. Search for this particular directory: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
7. Right-click a key named as DirectionsBuilderTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer and press Delete.
8. Go to the selected location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage
9. Right-click keys titled as directionsbuilder.dl.myway.com and www.directionsbuilder.com, and then press Delete.
10. Exit the Registry Editor and press Windows Key+E.
11. Look for these two directories:
    %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data
    %LOCALAPPDATA%
12. Right-click folders named as DirectionsBuilderTooltab and press delete.
13. Exit the Explorer.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Windows Key+E.
2. Navigate to this unique path: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{user profile}\extensions
3. Right-click a file titled as _hoMembers_@free.directionsbuilder.com and click Delete.
4. Find this particular path: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{user profile}
5. Search for prefs.js and open the file with Notepad.
6. Find this particular line: user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://hp.myway.com/directionsbuilder/ttab02/index.html”).
7. Instead of http://hp.myway.com/directionsbuilder/ttab02/index.html type an address of a trustworthy website.
8. Save the document then close it.
9. Once more go to this location: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{user profile}
10. Right-click a folder called DirectionsBuilder_ho and press Delete.
11. Close the Explorer.

Google Chrome

1. Press Windows Key+E.
2. Navigate to these paths:
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
   %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
3. Right-click files named as dojjkecigfkngmeclcjoijjeemgippmi and click Delete.
4. Go to this unique directory: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
5. Locate files titled as Preferences and Secure Preferences.
6. Right-click these files and press Delete.
7. Close the Explorer.

Erase Search.searchwytsn.com from other Google Chrome profiles

1. Press Windows Key+E.
2. Go to the given paths:
   %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\{unique user profile}\Extensions
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\{unique user profile}\Extensions
3. Right-click folders named as dojjkecigfkngmeclcjoijjeemgippmi and select Delete.
4. Navigate to these locations:
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage
   %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage
5. Look for the given files and delete them:
   chrome-extension_dojjkecigfkngmeclcjoijjeemgippmi_0.localstorage-journal
   chrome-extension_dojjkecigfkngmeclcjoijjeemgippmi_0.localstorage
   http_directionsbuilder.dl.myway.com_0.localstorage
   http_directionsbuilder.dl.myway.com_0.localstorage-journal
   http_directionsbuilder.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage
   http_directionsbuilder.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage-journal
   http_www.directionsbuilder.com_0.localstorage
   http_www.directionsbuilder.com_0.localstorage-journal

In non-techie terms:

DirectionsBuilder Toolbar is a useless browser extension and to make matters worse; it comes with a questionable search engine. Our researchers are against its usage because the provided results could be modified. Meaning, they might show you annoying pop-ups, banners, and other advertisements that may originate from malicious web pages. Thus, leaving the extension on your browser and continuing to use the doubtful search engine could be risky. Under such circumstances, it is advisable to eliminate the threat before anything goes wrong. If you think this is the wisest solution, we encourage you to use our removal guide located above or erase the potentially unwanted program with a reputable security tool.