What is Maps Now?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Maps Now is a browser NewTab. These so-called "NewTabs" can manipulate your browser(s), for example to change your startpage or searchscopes, so that the affected browser visits their site or one of their choice.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Maps Now?
You may see this browser extension:
these warnings during install:
You may see this icon in your browsers menu-bar:
this new startpage:
and this new setting:
How did Maps Now get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:
after a redirect from their website:
How do I remove Maps Now?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
You can use their own uninstall instructions first, but I would advise to follow the steps below anyway.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Maps Now completely.
- If your browsers have been hijacked, you should read our Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in a FRST log:
CHR NewTab: Default -> Active:"chrome-extension://pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb/web_page_home.html" CHR Extension: (Maps Now) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb [2019-07-11]Significant changes made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0 Adds the file manifest.json"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 1363 bytes, A Adds the file web_page_home.html"="1/30/2019 1:47 PM, 173 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 520 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="1/30/2019 1:47 PM, 1892 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\core Adds the file content.js"="1/30/2019 1:47 PM, 1254 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\icons Adds the file icon128.png"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 5078 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\js Adds the file background.js"="1/30/2019 1:47 PM, 8134 bytes, A Adds the file web_page_home.js"="1/30/2019 1:47 PM, 670 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb Adds the file 000003.log"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 8422 bytes, A Adds the file CURRENT"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 16 bytes, A Adds the file LOCK"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file LOG"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 183 bytes, A Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="7/11/2019 9:38 AM, 41 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb"="REG_SZ", "76B78F4ED9C78825A4E3397B8BAE5250864A12533E0B36E78CA9AC9CA1E229C0"The Malwarebytes scan log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 7/11/19 Scan Time: 9:47 AM Log File: 23c30746-a3b0-11e9-91ac-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.7.1.2839 Components Version: 1.0.586 Update Package Version: 1.0.11498 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 236195 Threats Detected: 23 Threats Quarantined: 23 Time Elapsed: 5 min, 45 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 0 (No malicious items detected) Module: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Key: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Value: 1 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 7 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\icons, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\core, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\js, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\EXTENSIONS\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 File: 15 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\core\content.js, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\icons\icon128.png, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\js\background.js, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\js\web_page_home.js, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\manifest.json, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\2.8.20.34_0\web_page_home.html, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\000003.log, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\CURRENT, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\LOCK, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\LOG, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\pneinifpbnceaeokglnpppbdkjgccpcb\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 PUP.Optional.MapsNow, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [232], [700566],1.0.11498 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes can protect your computer against threats.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention