How to remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus

Easy tips to delete Search.yahoo.com redirect virus

Search.yahoo.com is a legit search engine developed by Yahoo web service provider. However, you can experience the unwanted redirect to this website when some potentially unwanted app installed on your device.

The dubious products do not require users’ permission to infiltrate systems. They promote the legit search engine by doing alterations to the web browser settings. Since their impact especially to the browsers to control the web search results, they are called browser hijackers.

Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and other web browsers could be the target of any browser hijackers. Following to successful installation, they alter the browsers’ homepage, new tab pages and search engine options and sets some fake search engines to these places.

Hence, with these rogue software products installed, each opened tab and every entered search query redirect to the addresses of fake search engines. Fake web search engines often display search results generated by legit search engines. Hence, people encounter the redirect to the search.yahoo.com in this case.

The Search.yahoo.com redirect virus restricts users to access to the browsers’ settings and thus the restoration to the browsers’ settings is not possible without its removal. Another reason to remove the redirect virus is that it can spy on users’ browsing session and collect browsing based data.

It can collect the data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations and etc. These data could be shared with and/or sold to third parties/ potent crooks, thereby create problems related to privacy, identity exposure, monetary loss and much more.

To ensure the device integrity and user safety, it is strongly recommended to remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus right away. Below the post, you will find complete guide how to remove it from the system. You can use some reputable antivirus tool for its automatic removal.

How did Search.yahoo.com redirect virus enter my system?

Browser hijackers and other PUAs are often distributed in several ways. They can get downloaded from official and promotional pages. However, they are found to be proliferated through download/ installation setups of regular software.

This deceptive marketing method of packing one app with unwanted and malicious addition is termed as software bundling. Rushing the download and skipping installation steps often lead to the inadvertent installation of unwanted apps.

Sometimes, the PUAs get downloaded when users click on any ads appear on any shady sites. These ads are designed to run certain malicious script to cause stealthy download/ installation, when they are clicked on.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is strongly recommended to research software well before their download/ install and/or purchase. Only official and verified sources should be used for any downloads. P2p networks, third party downloaders/ installers and free file hosting sites are often used to offer dubious and/or bundled content.

Also, the download / installation process should be treated with care. Never rush the download/ installation process. Use Custom/Advanced option to manually opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers.

Intrusive ads appear legit and harmless, but always open various unreliable pages when clicked on. In case you encounter any such ads/ redirects, check the system for unwanted apps, extensions/ plug-ins for their removal.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus:

Remove the related items of Search.yahoo.com redirect virus using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Search.yahoo.com redirect virus issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Search.yahoo.com redirect virus) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Search.yahoo.com redirect virus removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Search.yahoo.com redirect virus still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Search.yahoo.com redirect virus plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Search.yahoo.com redirect virus removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Search.yahoo.com redirect virus (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.