Redirects to Yahoo search are mostly caused by browser hijackers
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Search.yahoo.com redirect virus is a term used to describe browser hijackers which change browser’s homepage and default search settings. These questionable programs attempt to force the user to use a certain search engine while collecting both personal and non-personal data about the user.
Some examples of such programs are Conduit, Transit Maps Directions Pro and similar extensions developed by Polarity Technologies, Ltd. or Spigot Inc.
In most cases, users install such redirect programs unwillingly as they come bundled with freeware. They can also be downloaded from untrustworthy download sites or be suggested after installation of other browser extensions or apps. Frequently such PUPs hop into the system when inexperienced computer users click on whatever to remove pop-ups from the screen; however, even experts can end up with these unwanted extras unknowingly.
It must be pointed out that Yahoo and search.yahoo.com search engine are entirely legitimate. It is the developers of PUPs who are dishonest and push doubtfully useful programs and browser add-ons to inexperienced computer users in questionable ways.
Common symptoms of Yahoo redirect virus infection
When infected with Yahoo Redirect virus, user often notices such changes in one’s computer:
- Browsers automatically open a different start page;
- Searching via browser’s URL bar redirects to Yahoo Search results;
- Browsers are loaded with unknown extensions and toolbars;
- Browser’s homepage is set to open an unknown search engine which always delivers search.yahoo.com results;
- Browser shortcuts are compromised and there is a suspicious link in “Target” field;
- Suspicious ads or push notifications start to appear on the screen during browsing sessions.
If you noticed such changes in your browser but you are not sure that you agreed to them, we highly recommend checking if your system is infected with additional spyware-type programs like adware and browser hijackers.
Prevent installation of PUPs
Potentially unwanted programs like these are often promoted via free software download sources online. These sources typically make money by promoting free download managers that once in a while suggest installing or “trying” various applications.
Such software typically advertises itself as beneficial, while in reality it is meant to collect user data and share it with ad providers. Later on, collected data is used to deliver intrusive ads or alter search results for the victim. Clearly, it isn’t something computer users desire to experience on a daily basis.
Keeping questionable browser-hijacking and/or ad-producing software on computer increases chances of clicking on “the wrong thing” and landing on even more dangerous places available in world wide web.
FAQ about Yahoo Redirects
The quickest way to remove Yahoo search from Chrome is by resetting the browser. However, if you don’t want to do that, we suggest removing suspicious extensions and changing the default homepage and search engine from Chrome. You can do that by following instructions provided for Google Chrome users. Don’t forget to uninstall related suspicious programs from Windows or Mac first!
However, if Chrome simply contains an unwanted extension that controls your search settings, you can remove it by right-clicking it in Chrome menu and choosing Remove from Chrome.
Yahoo redirect virus tends to sneak into Applications folder in Macs, so we suggest removing suspicious programs from here first. Simply identify unwanted Apps, and Move them to Trash. You can use the tutorial provided below. Don’t forget to check your browser’s settings afterwards.
To remove Yahoo search redirect, you need to 1) Uninstall suspicious programs from Windows and move unwanted apps to Trash in Mac. The fastest way to remove the unwanted search and homepage settings from browsers is to reset them.
Guce.Yahoo.com is Yahoo’s server for handling the new GDPR. You might also run into yahoo.com/?guccounter=1. These are not dangerous links in any way.
Remove Search.Yahoo.com Redirect software from your computer
Search.yahoo.com redirect virus is an annoying program that needs to be removed without any regrets. However, if you installed it unwillingly, most likely you won’t know where to start or how its components are called.
Therefore, you’ll need to be careful and attentive because you will need to notice programs that look suspicious. We suggest using the self-help guide provided below and check the shown computer locations for suspicious components causing redirects to Yahoo search engine.
Search.yahoo.com redirect virus Removal Tutorial
To remove the unwanted program from your computer, use these instructions below to uninstall associated programs or apps from your Windows or Mac computer. Then scroll down for instructions how to clean each affected web browser individually.
Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus from Windows
Windows 10/8.1/8 users
Click on the Windows logo to open Windows menu. In search, type control panel and select the matching result. Then go to Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users
First, open Windows menu by clicking on the icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Then go to Control Panel and find section called Programs. Click on the Uninstall a program option under it.
Windows XP users
In Windows XP, click Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.
Uninstall unwanted programs
Once in Programs and Features, look through the list of installed programs. You can click on Installed on tab to sort the programs by their installation date.
Right-click on suspicious programs you can't remember installing and choose Uninstall. Follow instructions provided by the Uninstall Wizard, click Next and finally Finish to uninstall the unwanted program from your PC.
Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus from Mac
- Click on Finder.
- Go to Applications folder.
- Look for suspicious applications you can't remember installing. Right-click them and select Move to Trash.
- After moving all suspicious apps to Trash, right-click the Trash bin in Mac's Dock and select Empty Trash.
Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus from Google Chrome
Remove suspicious Chrome extensions
- Open Chrome and type chrome://extensions into address bar and press Enter.
- Here, look for suspicious extensions, and Remove them.
- Don't forget to confirm by pressing Remove in the confirmation pop-up.
Change Start Page settings
- In Chrome address bar, type chrome://settings and press Enter.
- Scroll down to the On startup section. Check for suspicious extensions controlling these settings, and Disable them.
- Additionally, you can set browser to Open a specific page or set of pages via these settings. Simply choose this option, click Add a new page, enter your preferred URL (f.e. www.google.com) and press Add.
Change default search settings
- In Chrome URL bar, type chrome://settings/searchEngines and press Enter. Make sure you type searchEngines, not searchengines. Additionally, you can go to chrome://settings and find Manage search engines option.
- First, look at the list of search engines and find the one you want to set as default. Click the three dots next to it and select Make Default.
- Finally, look through the list and eliminate suspicious entries. Right-click the three dots and select Remove from the list.
Reset Google Chrome browser
- The final option is to reset Google Chrome. Type chrome://settings in the URL bar, press Enter and then scroll down until you see Advanced option. Click it and scroll to the bottom of the settings.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click Restore settings to confirm.
Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus from Mozilla Firefox
Remove unwanted add-ons from Firefox
- Open Firefox and type about:addons in the URL bar. Press Enter.
- Now, click on Extensions (in the left section).
- Click Remove next to every suspicious browser add-on that you can't remember installing.
Change Firefox Homepage
- In Firefox address bar, type about:preferences and hit Enter.
- Look at the left and click the Home tab.
- Here, delete the suspicious URL and type or paste in the URL of a website you'd like to set as your homepage.
Alter preferences in Firefox
- Type about:config in Firefox address bar and hit Enter.
- Click I accept the risk! to continue.
- Here, type in the URL which has taken over your browser without your knowledge. Right-click each value that includes it and choose Reset.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
- In Firefox, type about:support in the address bar and press Enter.
- Click on Refresh Firefox...
- Click Refresh Firefox again to confirm.
Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus from Microsoft Edge
Remove suspicious extensions:
- Open MS Edge browser and click on the three dots button in the top right corner, then click on Extensions.
- Look through the list of installed extensions and find the ones you can't remember installing or simply suspicious-looking ones. Right-click on them and choose Uninstall. Then confirm by pressing Uninstall again.
Change MS Edge Start Page and default search engine:
- Click on the three dots again and go to Settings. First, make sure that you choose to Open Microsoft Edge with A specific page or pages option. Then click the X next to suspicious URLs and type in the one you want to set as your homepage. Click the Save icon to confirm.
- Click on the three dots > Settings. Scroll down and click on Show Advanced Settings. Then scroll down until you find Change search engine button. Click it. Here, select the search engine you prefer using and click Set as default.
Additionally, we recommend selecting and Removing suspicious search engines.
Clear browsing data:
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner again and click on Settings. Find Clear browsing data section and click Choose what to clear button.
- In the next window, select all options and click Clear.
Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus from Safari
Uninstall suspicious Safari extensions
- Open Safari and click on Safari button in the top left corner. Select Preferences in the menu that appears on the screen.
- Now, go to Extensions tab. Look at the left to see all installed extensions, click on suspicious ones and hit that Uninstall button as shown in the picture. Confirm your choice by clicking Uninstall again. Repeat until you get rid of all unwanted extensions.
Change Safari Homepage and default search engine
- In Preferences, open the General tab. Here, check what URL is set as your homepage. Delete it and type in whatever URL you want to set as your Safari Start Page.
- Next, go to the Search tab. Here, choose what Search engine you want to set as default.
- Next, click on Manage websites... then Remove all... and then Done.
Reset Safari
- Click on Safari > Clear History...
- Then choose to clear All history and hit Clear History button to confirm.
- Go to Safari > Preferences and then open Privacy tab.
- Click Manage Website Data... then Remove All. To finish, click Done.
- Finally, clear Safari cache. In Safari Menu, click Develop > Clear Cache.
Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus from Internet Explorer
TIP: If you are still using IE, we strongly advise using Microsoft Edge or a different browser because Microsoft is no longer providing technical or security support for IE browser.
Remove suspicious extensions from IE
- Now, go back to Toolbars and Extensions.
- Below Show:, select All add-ons.
- Right-click suspicious extensions and choose Disable, or, if available - Remove.
- If any pop-up appears, confirm your choice.
Tip: If you can't find any suspicious extensions, most likely you have uninstalled them via Programs and Features already. This mostly applies to IE browser.
Change default search provider and remove suspicious ones
- Open Internet Explorer and click on the gear icon in the top right of the window.
- Then select Manage Add-ons.
- Here, click on Search Providers tab.
- Here, we recommend setting Bing, Google or another trusted and well-known search provider as default. To do it, right-click the provider and choose Set as default.
- Now you can right-click suspicious search providers and choose Remove.
Change IE Home Page
- In Internet Explorer, click the gear icon in the top left corner.
- Choose Internet Options.
- Change Home Page URL to whatever page you want to use as your homepage.
- Click Apply.
- Click OK.
Reset Internet Explorer
- Click the gear icon in IE menu > Internet Options. Now click on Advanced tab.
- Under Reset Internet Explorer settings, click Reset...
- Click on the checkbox next to Delete personal settings.
- Click Reset.
- To finish, click Close.
Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.
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