Ever tried making a query search on Google Chrome, but then the results come back from Yahoo Search? If your search queries on a different engine get redirected through Yahoo Search, then you must have what is called the Yahoo Search Redirect Virus.
About the Yahoo Redirect Virus
Yahoo Search is a legitimate search engine giant that is very commonly used all around the world. Developed by Yahoo! web services, Yahoo Search has been running since 1995. While widely used and legit, there are times when users can experience unwanted redirects to it. A user’s search will be redirected to Yahoo Search results, even though they used the Google search engine, for example. This is because a rogue software called a browser hijacker has infiltrated the browser and/or system.
Browser hijackers are unwanted software that modify a user’s web browser settings without their permission to induce unwanted ads and pop-up banners into the browser. These browser hijackers will replace the existing search engine with its own, which is what Yahoo Redirect virus does. Some hijackers will also replace the user’s default home page or error page.
What Exactly Does the Yahoo Redirect Virus Do?
Popular browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are easy targets of browser hijackers. After successfully infiltrating the browser, these hijackers will reassign the user’s browser home page, default search engine, and new tab or new window URLs into their own. So with every search query or with every newly opened tab or window, the user is redirected to a search engine different from the default.
These fake web searching tools cannot yield a legit search result, so they turn to legitimate search engines like Yahoo, Google, or Bing to bring the user the results they want. This is to create the impression that they are real and useful. These browser hijackers may also install helper objects, which bar the user from accessing their browser settings.
Browser hijackers can also dig into the user’s browsing activities and collect crucial information. They then share it with third parties who will use it on shady dealings. This is why browser hijackers should be removed.
How Does the Yahoo Redirect Virus Get Installed on Computers?
There are three ways in which the virus gets injected into a computer system:
Bundling—Through software bundling, Yahoo redirect virus can get introduced to your PC. Software bundling is when a program is distributed with another product, which could be a computer hardware or a group of software packages sold together. Browser hijackers are often bundled together with download managers, PDF creators, video streaming programs, video recorders, and the like.
Installation—Through traditional installation method, Yahoo search redirect virus can get injected into your computer. You can go to a program’s official website, download the desired program, and get the redirect virus with it. This is why you should be careful with everything you download from the internet. If possible, do not do a quick installation and choose Custom Setup when downloading a program so you can choose which applications can only enter your PC.
Malvertising—This is the type of online advertising that is aimed at spreading malware. They typically offer to download “updates” or promote a contest or surveys.
How to Remove the Yahoo Redirect Virus?
So, how do you remove the Yahoo Redirect virus? Below are some methods you can try.
Method 1: Remove the virus from your PC.
The first removal method involves removing the virus from your PC. Depending on the operating system your PC is running, the steps may vary. Here’s a quick guide:
Windows 7/XP
- Go to the Start menu.
- Go to Control Panel.
- Click on Programs and Features.
- Select Uninstall a program.
- Select the malicious program, then click on Uninstall.
Windows 8
- Click on the Start button.
- Go to Programs and Features.
- Find the malicious program you want to remove. Click on it, then click on Uninstall.
Windows 10/11.
- Go to the Start menu. Then click on the gear icon to go to Settings.
- Go to Apps, then to Apps and Features.
- Click on the program you want to remove, then tap on Uninstall.
Method 2: Remove the program from your Internet browser.
After, removing the virus from your PC, remove its remnants from the browser. Here’s how:
Internet Explorer
- Launch Internet Explorer.
- Click on the gear icon at the upper-right corner of IE.
- Click on Manage Add-ons.
- Select the extension you want to remove.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox.
- From the Firefox menu (or the three horizontal lines), choose Add-ons.
- Click on Extensions.
- Select and delete the unwanted extension.
Google Chrome
- Launch Chrome.
- Click on the three-dot vertical line at the top-left corner of the page.
- Select More tools, then Extensions.
- Select and remove the extension you want to get rid of.
After deleting the extensions and/or unnecessary plugins, you should also change the home page and your default search engine to Google or Bing, or anything other than search.yahoo.com.
Summary
The Yahoo redirect virus may not be that fatal, but it can extremely affect your productivity. Lucky for you, we have compiled this guide. If you ever feel the need to get rid of a stubborn redirect virus in the future, this will be of great help.
Do you want to know more about other malware entities that you may possibly come across while surfing the web? Feel free to scan through Software Tested.