HowToSimplified is a browser hijacker. It is a type of potentially unwanted software. Unlike viruses, it will not delete or infect your files, but its actions will cause some problems with your internet browser. This is because, it will get full access to your web-browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, IE and MS Edge and be able to alter their settings. For this reason, we recommend that you delete it and thereby restore your favorite homepage and search engine.
The HowToSimplified browser hijacker can modify settings of the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Edge, but often that unwanted software like this can also infect all types of internet browsers by changing their desktop shortcuts. Thus forcing the user to see HowToSimplified annoying page every time running the browser.
As mentioned above, the HowToSimplified hijacker can change the browser’s search engine. So, your browser, when searching something, will display a hodgepodge of advertisements, links to ads sites and search results from big search engines like Google or Bing. As a result, actual use of a internet browser’s search becomes inconvenient. Moreover, it may also lead to slowing or even freeze your browser.
Often, the personal computer that have installed HowToSimplified toolbar, will be also infected with ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware) which shows a large number of various advertisements. It may be pop-ups, text links in the web-pages, banners where they never had. What is more, the ad supported software may replace the legitimate advertisements with malicious ads that will offer to download and install malware and unwanted programs or visit the various dangerous and misleading web sites.
How can you protect your PC system from HowToSimplified hijacker
Just as the beginning of this post, if you have ever seen the HowToSimplified web-page appear in your browser, it means your PC system has been infected with browser hijacker. Most often HowToSimplified is bundled with free programs. So, think back, have you ever download and run any free applications? Because most users, in the Setup Wizard, simply press the Next button and do not read any information such as ‘Terms of use’ and ‘Software license’. This leads to the fact that the personal computer is infected, the web-browser’s settings are changed and your’s homepage, new tab page and search engine by default set to the HowToSimplified by MyWay. Even removing the free applications that contains this internet browser hijacker, your browser’s settings will not be restored. Therefore, you must follow the instructions below to restore the Chrome, Firefox, IE and MS Edge’s startpage, new tab page and default search engine.
How to manually remove HowToSimplified
The simple answer is right here on this page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will allow you easily to clean your computer of hijacker infection. Moreover, you can choose manual or automatic removal method. If you are familiar with the PC then use manual removal, otherwise use the free anti-malware tool designed specifically to remove hijacker infection such as HowToSimplified. Of course, you can combine both methods. Read this manual carefully, bookmark or print it, because you may need to close your browser or reboot your PC system.
- Remove HowToSimplified associated software by using Windows Control Panel
- Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to remove HowToSimplified homepage
- Remove HowToSimplified from Firefox
- Remove HowToSimplified homepage from Google Chrome
- Remove HowToSimplified redirect from IE
Remove HowToSimplified associated software by using Windows Control Panel
The best way to begin the computer cleanup is to remove unknown and suspicious programs. Using the Windows Control Panel you can do this quickly and easily. This step, in spite of its simplicity, should not be ignored, because the removing of unneeded software can clean up the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Edge from advertisements hijackers and so on.
- If you are using Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 then click Windows button, next click Search. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
- If you are using Windows XP, Vista, 7, then click “Start” button and press “Control Panel”.
- It will show the Windows Control Panel.
- Further, press “Uninstall a program” under Programs category.
- It will open a list of all software installed on the system.
- Scroll through the all list, and remove suspicious and unknown programs. To quickly find the latest installed applications, we recommend sort applications by date.
See more details in the video guide below.
Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to remove HowToSimplified homepage
Now you need to clean up the browser shortcuts. Check that the shortcut referring to the right exe-file of the internet browser, and not on any unknown file. Right click to a desktop shortcut for your web-browser. Choose the “Properties” option.
It will open the Properties window. Select the “Shortcut” tab here, after that, look at the “Target” field. The hijacker infection can rewrite it. If you are seeing something such as “…exe http://{URL}” then you need to remove “http…” and leave only, depending on the internet browser you are using:
- Google Chrome: chrome.exe
- Opera: opera.exe
- Firefox: firefox.exe
- Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe
Look at the example as shown on the image below.
Once is complete, click the “OK” button to save the changes. Please repeat this step for internet browser shortcuts which redirects to an annoying web pages. When you have completed, go to next step.
Remove HowToSimplified from Firefox
First, run the FF. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will open the drop-down menu. Next, press the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Remove HowToSimplified homepage from Google Chrome
Like other modern internet browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby restore the homepage, new tab page and search engine by default that have been modified by the HowToSimplified browser hijacker.
First launch the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will open the main menu. Further, click the option named “Settings”. Another way to open the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the browser adress bar and press Enter.
The browser will open the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as shown on the screen below and press the “Reset settings” button.
The Google Chrome will open the confirmation dialog box. You need to confirm your action, press the “Reset” button. The browser will start the process of cleaning. When it’s finished, the internet browser’s settings including startpage, new tab page and default search engine back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your personal computer.
Remove HowToSimplified redirect from IE
First, launch the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (
). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” as on the image below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown on the screen below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then press “Reset” button.
You will now need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
How to uninstall HowToSimplified with Malwarebytes
Uninstall HowToSimplified hijacker manually is difficult and often the browser hijacker is not completely removed. Therefore, we recommend you to use the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your computer. Moreover, the free program will help you to get rid of malware, toolbars and adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software) that your PC system may be infected too.
- Download Malwarebytes (MBAM) from the link below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326384 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- Close all applications and windows on your personal computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup.
- Further, click Next button and follow the prompts.
- Once install is finished, click the “Scan Now” button to start scanning your PC system for HowToSimplified hijacker infection. This task can take some time, so please be patient.
- When the scan is finished, make sure all entries have “checkmark” and press “Quarantine Selected”. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot your PC.
The following video offers a step-by-step guide on how to uninstall browser hijacker with Malwarebytes.
Block HowToSimplified homepage and other annoying web pages
To increase your security and protect your system against new unwanted advertisements and malicious web pages, you need to use an program that blocks access to malicious ads and web sites. Moreover, the application can block the open of intrusive advertising, which also leads to faster loading of web sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.
Download AdGuard application by clicking on the following link.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After the download is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the screen below.
Follow the prompts. When the install is done, you will see a window as on the image below.
You can click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC system, AdGuard will run automatically and block advertisements, as well as other dangerous or misleading sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.
If the problem with HowToSimplified is still remained
If MalwareBytes Anti-malware cannot delete this hijacker, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for browser hijackers, adware, PUPs, toolbars.
- Download AdwCleaner from the link below.
AdwCleaner download
225260 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once this tool is started, press “Scan” button for checking your computer for the HowToSimplified browser hijacker.
- Once the scan is complete, the AdwCleaner will display a scan report. Review the report and then click “Clean” button. It will open a prompt, click “OK”.
These few simple steps are shown in detail in the following video guide.
Finish words
After completing the guide outlined above, your system should be clean from malware and browser hijackers. The Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Edge will no longer open HowToSimplified annoying home page on startup. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new browser hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help.
- Download HijackThis by clicking on the link below and save it to your Desktop.
HijackThis download
4692 downloads
Version: 2.0.5
Author: OpenSource
Category: Security tools
Update: November 7, 2015
- Double-click on the HijackThis icon. Next click “Do a system scan only” button.
- When the system scan is finished, the scan button will read “Save log”, click it. Save this log to your desktop.
- Create a Myantispyware account here. Once you’ve registered, check your e-mail for a confirmation link, and confirm your account. After that, login.
- Copy and paste the contents of the HijackThis log into your post. If you are posting for the first time, please start a new thread by using the “New Topic” button in the Spyware Removal forum. When posting your HJT log, try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately.
- Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the unwanted HowToSimplified toolbar.
