myGames Start Extension

Allowing the myGames Start extension to run on your browser might lead you to some negative effect on your online privacy. So, if you are still not sure whether to keep this browser extension or not, we invite you to continue reading to learn more about this potentially unwanted program (PUP). The category of PUPs includes programs that are installed as legitimate programs but are programmed to collect user information and present the end user with unsolicited content, including advertisements and questionable search results. PUPs are usually added to the blacklists of powerful anti-malware programs, and our recommended security tool is no exception.

The myGames Start extension is promoted on its official website myappline.com and the Chrome Web Store. The same websites are the sources of another very similar program named myTV Search Plus, which is also categorized as a PUP. Overall, the Chrome Web Store has many programs that might make unwanted changes within the system, so you should not trust every program offered where. Before installing a program, check its reviews and ratings.

The PUP myGames Start is compatible with the Chrome browser and is presented as a tool that allows you to access free online games, including action, sports, dress-up, and shooting games. The extension changes the home page to its startup page containing links to popular websites and purposely selected links to online games. Additionally, to convince you that the startup page is worth your attention, the myGames Start page displays a clock and current date.

You should not get surprised if the myGames Start extension makes you use another search engine. Browser extensions can replace the home page of a browser to a famous search engine, such as Yahoo, but use an additional service to record your search terms. More specifically, every search query is redirected to some server, and only when the search engine is requested to provide relevant search results to your browser. This was the case with the myTV Search Plus extension, and you may encounter very similar programs.

An encounter with similar programs is likely to take place if you ignore a few general online security-related recommendations. Undesirable programs, including PUPs, browser hijackers, adware, and many others, are spread in different ways. One of them is drive-by downloads which refer to malware installation when the victim is not aware of the download. Such incidents occur when browsing websites that promote questionable products and services. Moreover, such websites are very often polluted with various third-party ads, so, if you access some dating website full of flashing pop-ups inviting you to play online games or scan the computer, treat such offers skeptically and better leave the page not to fall victim to some gang of cyber crooks. Browser extensions such as myGames Start are also bundled with freeware, and software developers tend to hide the information about the additional program somewhere in the text so that the unsuspecting user does not cancel the whole installation process.

Reading the terms provided is essential, but it is also important to keep operating system protected. A lot of ill-purposed changes can be made on the computer without your knowledge and permission, causing considerable damage that may be hard to repair. For example, if you carelessly download an ill-purposed email attachment, which is obfuscated as an invoice or some other document, you might not suspect that some malicious alternations are made within the system. Needless to say, it is important to disregard emails that arouse the slightest suspicion, but it is equally important to keep the operating system shielded against malware.

The myGames Start extension does not pose as much danger as data-stealing trojans, but you should not let anyone from the dark web input their malware to your PC.

If you are determined to remove the myGames Start extension manually, the removal guide given below might come into handy, especially if you have never dealt with a PUP. Having removed the unsolicited application, consider installing anti-malware to make sure that the OS and your valuable data do not require more attention. In case you have some questions concerning the removal of myGames Start or the installation of our recommended security tool, feel free to contact our team.

How to remove the myGames Start extension

1. Remove the folders in bold:
   • %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\bhkkmmnbelbkgjbdieomdangdbajmkjl
   • %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\bhkkmmnbelbkgjbdieomdangdbajmkjl
2. Access the directory %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default and find the files Preferences and Secure Preferences.
3. Delete the two files or the string bhkkmmnbelbkgjbdieomdangdbajmkjl within each file.