Remove Vacation Explorer toolbar hijacker
"VacationXplorer toolbar” is an extension installed on common internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Chrome or Firefox) and -as the publisher claims – helps users to find cheap vacation offers, book a hotel or find the best deals for cruises or trips while online.
The Vacation Explorer toolbar is marked as a browser adware and hijacker program, because it modifies your internet search settings, changes your internet home page to MyWebSearch search engine (home.mywebsearch.com) which performs browsing redirects and displays advertisements from unknown vendors.
The "Vacation Explorer toolbar” installer program is bundled inside other free software installation programs and for that reason you must always pay attention when you install free software on your computer.
To remove VacationXplorer toolbar & MyWebSearch Settings from your computer, follow the steps below:
How to remove "Vacation Explorer toolbar” software from your computer:
Step 1. Uninstall applications installed from "Vacation Explorer toolbar” software from your Control panel.
1. To do this, go to Start > Control Panel.
{Start > Settings > Control Panel. (Windows XP)}
2. Double click to open “Add or Remove Programs” if you have Windows XP or
“Programs and Features” if you have Windows 8, 7 or Vista.
3. In the program list, find and Remove/Uninstall these applications:
a. VacationXplorer Toolbar
b. Bundled software uninstaller. *
* Press “Uninstall” when asked to also uninstall:
c. FireFrog Update Checker.
Step 2. Manually remove “Vacation Explorer toolbar” settings from your internet browser.
Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
Internet Explorer
How to remove VacationXplorer Toolbar from Internet Explorer and restore IE search settings.
1. Open Internet Explorer and then open “Internet Options”.
To do this from IE’s file menu, choose “Tools” > “Internet Options”.
Notice*: In the latest versions of IE press the “Gear” icon on the top right.
2. At “General” tab, Delete the “home.mywebsearch.com” from “Home page” box and type your preferred Home Page (e.g. www.google.com)
3. Then press “Settings” in Search section. *
Notice*: If you want to modify search settings in Internet explorer while in main Internet Explorer window, just press the “Gear” icon (on the top right corner) and choose “Manage Add-ons” .
4. On “Search Providers” options, choose and “Set as default” a search provider other than “My Web Search”.
5. Then choose the “My Web Search” and click Remove.
6. Choose “Toolbars and Extensions” on the left pane and then disable all unwanted Toolbars and extensions:
a. VacationXplorer
b. Search Assistant BHO
c. Toolbar BHO
7. Close all Internet Explorer windows and proceed to Step 3.
How to remove VacationXplorer Toolbar from Google Chrome and restore Chrome search settings.
1. Open Google Chrome and go to chrome menu and choose "Settings".
2. Find the "On startup" section and choose "Set Pages".
3. Delete the "search.mywebsearch.com" page from startup pages by pressing the "X" symbol on the right.
4. Set your preferred startup page (e.g. http://www.google.com) and press "OK".
5. Under “Appearance” section, check to enable the “Show Home button” option and choose “Change”.
6. Delete the “home.mywebsearch..com” entry from “Open this page” box.
7. Type (if you like) you preferred webpage to open when you press your “Home page” button (e.g. www.google.com) or leave this field blank and press “OK”.
8. Go to "Search" section and choose "Manage search engines".
9. Choose your preferred default search engine (e.g. Google search) and press "Make default".
10. Then choose the "MyWebSearch" search engine and remove it by pressing the "X" symbol at the right. Choose "Done" to close "Search engines" window.
11. Choose "Extensions" on the left.
12. In “Extensions” options remove the “VacationXplorer” extension by clicking the recycle icon at the right.
13. Close all Google Chrome windows and proceed to Step 3.
Mozilla Firefox
How to remove VacationXplorer toolbar from Mozilla Firefox and restore Firefox search settings..
1. Click on “Firefox” menu button on the top left of Firefox window and go to “Options”.
2. In “General” tab delete the “http://home.mywebsearch.com” page from “Home Page” box and type your preferred HomePage (e.g. http://www.google.com).
Press “OK” when finished.
3. From Firefox menu, go to “Tools” > “Manage Add-ons”.
4. Choose “Extensions” on the left and then make sure that “VacationXplorer” extension doesn't exist.*
* If “VacationXplorer” extension exists, then press the “Remove” button in that line.
5. Choose “Plugins” on the left and “Disable” the “MindSpark Toolbar Platform Plugin Stub” found here.
6. Close all Firefox windows and proceed to the next Step.
Step 3: Clean remaining registry entries using “AdwCleaner”.
1. Download and save “AdwCleaner” utility to your desktop.
2. Close all open programs and Double Click to open ”AdwCleaner” from your desktop.
3. Press “Delete”.
4. Press “OK” at “AdwCleaner – Information” window and press “OK” again to restart your computer.
5. When your computer restarts, close "AdwCleaner" information (readme) window and continue to the next step.
Step 4. Clean unwanted files and entries.
Use “CCleaner” program and proceed to clean your system from temporary internet files and invalid registry entries.*
*If you don’t know how to install and use “CCleaner”, read these instructions.
Step 5. Clean your computer from remaining malicious threats.
Download and install one of the most reliable FREE anti malware programs today to clean your computer from remaining malicious threats. If you want to stay constantly protected from malware threats, existing and future ones, we recommend that you install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO:
Malwarebytes™ Protection
Removes Spyware, Adware & Malware.
Start Your Free Download Now!
*If you don’t know how to install and use “MalwareBytes Anti-Malware“, read these instructions.
Advice: To ensure your computer is clean and safe, perform a Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware full scan in windows “Safe mode“.*
*To get into Windows Safe mode, press the “F8” key as your computer is booting up, before the appearance of the Windows logo. When the “Windows Advanced Options Menu” appears on your screen, use your keyboard arrows keys to move to the Safe Mode option and then press “ENTER“.
Step 6. Restart your computer for changes to take effect and perform a full scan with your antivirus program.
We're hiring
We're looking for part-time or full-time technical writers to join our team! It's about a remote position that qualified tech writers from anywhere in the world can apply. Click here for more details.
- How to Disable or Remove BitLocker from Windows RE. - April 24, 2024
- FIX: Error 0x8007025d in Windows 10 Update. - April 22, 2024
- How to Disable Device Encryption in Windows 11/10. - April 17, 2024