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Search.yahoo.com redirect virus (also known as Yahoo redirect virus) is a deceptive browser hijacker that forces the computer user to see Yahoo search results when using web search. These search-redirecting hijackers modify browser’s new tab and default search settings in attempt to force the user to use a certain search engine and possibly hit some ad networks during the redirect chain. Often times, even when user attempts to change browser settings, search engine keeps changing to Yahoo no matter what. So-called Yahoo redirect virus typically affects Google Chrome and Mac Safari browsers. In this article, we’ll explain how to remove such persistent threat from your computer.
Some examples of programs causing Yahoo search redirect problems are Conduit, Transit Maps Directions Pro and similar extensions developed by Polarity Technologies, Ltd. or Spigot Inc. However, there are many other vendors causing Yahoo to hijack web browser.
In most cases, users install such Yahoo or Bing redirect virus 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.
Name | Yahoo Redirect virus; search.yahoo.com redirect |
Type | Browser hijacker |
Caused problems | Search engine keep changing to yahoo on Safari, Chrome, Firefox or other browsers. The user can’t find a way to stop Yahoo from hijacking my browser. Opening a new tab page or using search box redirects to search.yahoo.com search results. |
Related domains | search.safefinder.com, search[string]-a.akamaihd.net, default[string]-a.akamaihd.net, lkysearchds[string]-a.akamaihd.net, search.anysearchmanager.com, search.chill-tab.com, search.searchpulse.net, searchmine.net, search.tapufind.com, go-movix.com, Search.fastformfindertab.com, TheConverterSearch.com and others |
Installation | Users install the browser hijacker along freeware, by using download agents or via online ads. Sometimes, it can also be downloaded from Google Web Store. |
Privacy concerns | Browser hijackers collect information about user’s browsing habits, IP address, ads clicked and similar data. Such data might be sold to third-parties or used for unknown purposes. |
Remove from Windows | To remove the threat itself, consider using robust Windows antivirus such as INTEGO Antivirus. To repair virus damage on Windows, we strongly recommend using RESTORO |
Remove from Mac | You can remove Yahoo redirect virus on Mac using INTEGO, an OS-specific antivirus that scores 100% in detection tests. |
When infected with a browser hijacker pushing Yahoo provided search, user often notices such changes in one’s computer:
If you noticed described changes in your browser and Yahoo hijacked Chrome, Firefox, Safari or other 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.
In the majority of infection cases, the user can manually find and remove associated browser extension from the browser in order to get rid of the hijacker program. However, some potentially unwanted programs are persistent and created to keep hijacking the browser again and again to force the victim use the suggested search. In such case, we strongly recommend you to remove Search.Yahoo.com redirect virus automatically, in other words, using a trustworthy spyware/malware removal tool.
Potentially unwanted programs like Yahoo redirect virus often promote themselves 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 seeks to collect user data and share it with ad providers. Later on, such 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.
Do not delay Search.yahoo.com redirect virus removal as it is an annoying program that needs to be deleted 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, we strongly recommend using automatic spyware/malware removal programs based on the operating system you use – Windows or Mac.
Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 10/8.1/8/7
Remove Yahoo search redirect virus damage on Windows OS using RESTORO software. It uses Avira engine to detect dangerous spyware/malware components. This program can also replace corrupt or faulty Windows OS files, fix Windows errors, cure damaged DLLs and much more.
To identify infectious programs possibly causing redirects on Windows, you can use RESTORO, which includes Avira virus scanning engine. Besides, the software can also repair damaged Windows registry and fix various PC errors possibly caused by spyware/malware activity on the system. Therefore, if you’re suffering from Yahoo redirects on Windows, follow these steps:
Remove Yahoo redirect virus using INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Mac (includes scanning for iOS devices). The one-of-a-kind security suite provides VirusBarrier X9 real-time protection against Mac and Windows-based malware, removes existing threats and scans for malware in popular e-mail clients. Includes NetBarrier X9, an intelligent firewall for home, work and public connections.
INTEGO antivirus is known as a robust security software for Macs to cleanse the system from stubborn and hard-to-remove browser hijackers and severe malware. We recommend using it for Yahoo redirect virus removal and also for real-time Mac protection. The software detects potential threats in real-time, which is why we recommend using it.
INTEGO is a Yahoo redirect problem solver. Here’s how you can use it to cleanse your OS X.
If your Chromebook is infected with Yahoo search hijacker, log out of your account and try browsing in guest mode. If the hijacker disappeared, it means that you have added an extension that’s causing problems. To get rid of it, follow these steps:
In case you didn’t succeed to eliminate the browser hijacker, then it means that you are dealing with a stubborn and most likely recently updated or modified version of a browser hijacker. In such case, we recommend you to follow the self-help guide provided below and identify components of the hijacker manually.
You’ll need to be careful and attentive because you will need to notice programs and extensions that look suspicious and cause unwanted browser redirects. In case nothing helped you to get rid of the hijacker, send us a question via Ask Us page.
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Search Redirects to Yahoo 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.
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 Redirects to Yahoo virus from Mac
Remove using INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Mac (includes scanning for iOS devices). The one-of-a-kind security suite provides VirusBarrier X9 real-time protection against Mac and Windows-based malware, removes existing threats and scans for malware in popular e-mail clients. Includes NetBarrier X9, an intelligent firewall for home, work and public connections.
Remove Search Redirects to Yahoo virus from Google Chrome
Remove suspicious Chrome extensions
Change Start Page settings
Change default search settings
Remove push notifications from Chrome
If you want to get rid of the annoying ads and so-called push-notifications viruses, you must identify their components and clean your browser. You can easily remove ads from Chrome by following these steps:
Reset Google Chrome browser
Remove Search Redirects to Yahoo virus from Mozilla Firefox
Remove unwanted add-ons from Firefox
Change Firefox Homepage
Alter preferences in Firefox
Remove annoying push notifications from Firefox
Suspicious sites that ask to enable push notifications gain access to Mozilla's settings and can deliver intrusive advertisements when browsing the Internet. Therefore, you should remove access to your browser by following these simple steps:
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Remove Search Redirects to Yahoo virus from Microsoft Edge
Remove suspicious extensions:
Change MS Edge Start Page and default search engine:
Turn off push notifications in Edge
If you keep receiving pop-up ads or other promotional content while browsing on Microsoft Edge, your browser might be corrupted by a potentially unwanted program (PUP). You have to clean it — follow these easy instructions:
Clear browsing data
Remove Search Redirects to Yahoo virus from Safari
Uninstall suspicious Safari extensions
Change Safari Homepage and default search engine
Remove push notifications on Safari
Some suspicious websites can try to corrupt your Safari by asking to enable push notifications. If you have accidentally agreed, your browser will be flooded with various intrusive advertisements and pop-ups. You can get rid of them by following this quick guide:
Reset Safari
Remove Search Redirects to Yahoo 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
Change default search provider and remove suspicious ones
Change IE Home Page
Block pop-up notifications on Internet Explorer
Suspicious websites can gain access to your Internet Explorer browser through push notifications. If you enable them even by accident, you will start receiving numerous annoying ads and other advertising content while browsing. The easiest way to remove push-notification viruses is by performing the following steps:
Reset Internet Explorer
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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 on Google Chrome browser. You can do that by following instructions provided for 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.
Apps that cause Search.Yahoo.com redirects tend to sneak into Applications folder in Macs or add suspicious profiles to System Preferences. Therefore, we recommend to start by identifying suspicious apps and moving them to Trash. You can use the tutorials provided by our team. Do not forget to check your browser’s settings afterward. Our choice to remove such threats automatically is INTEGO, an outstanding Mac antivirus which also has Windows version – INTEGO Antivirus.
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 search and homepage settings hijackers is to use automatic malware removal software.
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.
Checking recently installed programs on your computer would be a great idea. We suggest uninstalling any suspicious programs you added recently, and then clean browsers according to instructions provided in this guide.
The reason your search engine keeps changing to Search.Yahoo.com is because you have recently installed a potentially unwanted Safari extension or even worse – spyware type program on your Mac. To remove it, we strongly recommend using robust antivirus for this operating system – INTEGO. Alternatively, you can try to detect hijacker’s components and delete it manually using the guide we provide.
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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View Comments
grateful for this useful information. Reetting my settings in advanced settings for chromebook worked emediately. sorry for those who are still struggling with this annoying virus. i hope you can get it figured out. wanted to thank this website, saved me money, was gonna end up going to a computer person
The steps shown for Chrome worked. It no longer redirects me to Yahoo. Thanks. However, the Safari steps were not able to fix the problem.
Thank you so much! This was so helpful for me.
I've followed through the detailed steps for Safari, but I'm still being re-directed, too.
Also using Safari on Mac.
The same thing is happening to me.
Appreciate the detailed steps for Mac Safari. Gone through it carefully in order - but re-direct still happens no matter what I do.
I installed MapsGalaxy extension, which kept causing search.yahoo.com redirects. This helped me a lot to remove it. I am not a comp-tech-savy at all. Thanks!
Hello sir, very useful tutorial. I was wondering why Chrome keeps redirecting to Yahoo, although Google is default on Chrome browser. Thank you sir, again.