Is Maps Assist & Custom Web Search safe?
Maps Assist sets Yahoo as the default search engine with embedded affiliate codes that route revenue to the publisher on every search.
When installed, the extension replaces the browser's default search engine with a Yahoo Search URL containing affiliate tracking parameters (hspart=mnet, hsimp=yhs-001, type, param1, param2). A second affiliate code set is used for searches performed from the extension's own homepage. Users are presented with 'Yahoo search' as the provider but the affiliate monetization relationship is not disclosed in the extension's description.
Part of this rating comes from analysis signals we haven't published as detailed findings yet.
AI-generated. Findings may contain errors. Those marked Verified have been manually reviewed.
Publishers can request a review.
What it can do
Permissions this extension asks for, as declared in version 1.0.0.6. Asking for a permission is not a finding on its own - it is what the extension can do if it chooses to.
Read and change your data on mapsassist.com
*://mapsassist.com/
See the address and title of every tab you have open
tabs
Store data in your browser
storage
Where it sends data
Destinations our analysis observed Maps Assist & Custom Web Search contacting. Sending data somewhere is not a finding on its own - an extension that syncs your settings has to talk to its own server - but it is where your data can go, and who else it goes to.
- search.yahoo.comwidely used
Maps Assist & Custom Web Search sends data to search.yahoo.com. A widely used service: 39 other extensions we have analyzed send data here.