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Yahoo Search is one of the world’s most popular search engines, but if Chrome is automatically redirecting you to the site, you may have been infected with the Yahoo Search redirect virus.
If you’ve fallen victim to the Yahoo Redirecting virus, then no matter what browser you use, you’ll be redirected to the Yahoo search engine whenever you look something up online.
In this guide, I’ll explain how to remove Yahoo Search from Chrome in full and how to recognize and eliminate the Yahoo Search virus from your Chrome browser. Of course, the best way to get rid of the virus and make sure you’re protected from infections in the future is to install the best antivirus software on your device.
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What Is the Yahoo Search Redirect Virus?
When installed, Chrome sets its default search engine to Google. So, if you haven’t changed this and you’re being redirected to Yahoo Search, you may have been infected with the virus. It can take different forms, automatically opening new browser windows or opening malicious programs.
The Yahoo Search Redirect virus may slow down your device, make sites crash, fill your screen with ads, or install spyware on your machine to collect logins and other personal information. Because of this, it may be a warning sign of a much more serious problem, and if you don’t deal with it, fraudsters may be able to steal your identity or hack your accounts.
The virus can infect your computer in multiple ways, but the most common points of infection are:
- Suspicious links in emails or messages
- Adware and malware bundled with legitimate software
- Freeware software from untrustworthy sources
I recommend using reliable antivirus software to protect yourself from these online threats.
TotalAV – Outstanding Antivirus Software for Complete Protection, Including Password Manager and VPN
- Minimal system impact
- Unlimited VPN bandwidth
- Excellent phishing protection
How to Remove Yahoo Search from Chrome
The virus’ creators may have made it so that it operates through a browser extension or a file on your device, though, so simply changing back to default settings may not be enough – but it’s worth checking to make sure.
Change Your Default Browser Search Engine
First, you’ll want to change the default browser search engine from Yahoo Search to the search engine of your choice. Note that this will not remove the Yahoo Search redirect virus yet, but it will ensure your default search engine is what you want after the process is finished.
Follow these steps:
Open Chrome, locate the three dots in the top-right corner, and go to search engine Settings.
Click on Search Engines and change “Yahoo” to Google Search in the drop-down menu.
Press Manage search engines and site search below it. Find Yahoo, click the three dots next to it, and then Delete.
Remove Any Unwanted Extensions
Sometimes, browser hijackers can gain access to your browser through malicious extensions. To fix this, you must remove any unfamiliar or suspicious browser extensions from Chrome.
Here’s how to do that:
Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of your screen, locate Extensions in the drop-down menu, and then click Manage Extensions.
Click Remove on any extensions you don’t recognize or are using. Once done, you’ll want to remove temporary files and make sure you have an empty recycle bin.
Reset Chrome Settings
The final step in restoring the usual Chrome browser functionality is to completely reset Google Chrome’s default browser settings. This will ensure any suspicious Chrome extensions aren’t causing the issue and that any changes made by the browser hijacker to Chrome are undone.
Go to Settings again, like in the last step, and click Reset Settings.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
This will also turn off all other extensions, so if you’re unsure which one was causing the virus, start enabling them one by one.
Use Antivirus To Remove The Yahoo Virus
Finally, if the above steps haven’t worked or you’d prefer to get rid of the Yahoo Search Redirect virus in just a couple of clicks, you should try using an antivirus solution.
My top recommendation for removing browser viruses is TotalAV. The antivirus provider is compatible with all major operating systems, has real-time scanning features, and, during my testing, has demonstrated great malware detection rates.
Remove Yahoo Redirect Virus With TotalAV
Download TotalAV and pick your subscription plan. Once installed, run a scan by clicking on the TotalAV logo in the top-left corner and choosing Malware Scan. Choose either a quick or a full system scan. This should only take around 10 minutes, and any infected files will be removed or put into quarantine by TotalAV.
To ensure your device stays virus-free and the Google Chrome browser is working correctly, you’ll want to enable real-time malware protection. With this, TotalAV will scan every file as it tries to access your system and warn you about malicious websites or extensions.
Just click on the TotalAV logo in the upper left corner and click Real-time protection. Press Enable Protection, and you’re done.
Antiviruses for Yahoo Search Redirect Virus Removal
My recommended antivirus for removing browser viruses is TotalAV, but going beyond this, I’ve compiled a shortlist of reliable antivirus software for you to choose from. Take a look at the best antivirus programs for tackling Yahoo Search redirects.
| Antivirus Software | Starting Price | Antivirus Lab Testing Results | Max Devices Supported | Real-time protection | Virus scanning and removal | Compatibility | Free Version / Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TotalAV | $19/year | 17/18 (Protection: 5.5/6, Added: Performance: 5.5/6, Usability: 6/6) | 8 | ✅ | ✅ | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Free Scans |
| Norton Antivirus | $29.99/year | 18/18 (Protection: 6/6, Added: Performance: 6/6, Usability: 6/6) | Unlimited | ✅ | ✅ | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | 30-Day Trial |
| Intego | $37.50/year | 16.5/18 (Protection: 5.5/6, Added: Performance: 5/6, Usability: 6/6) | 5 | ✅ | ✅ | Mac, Windows | 30-Day Trial |
| Trend Micro | $19.95/year | 18/18 (Protection: 6/6, Added: Performance: 6/6, Usability: 6/6) | 10 | ✅ | ✅ | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | 30-Day Trial |
| ESET | $39.99/year | 18/18 (Protection: 6/6, Added: Performance: 6/6, Usability: 6/6) | 25 | ✅ | ✅ | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Chromebook | 30-Day Trial |
For further guidance on tackling malware infections, read our guides on how to check for viruses, how to remove malware from Chrome, and the most dangerous computer viruses of all time.
- Starting From $19.00/year
- Starting From $29.99/year
- Starting From $52.68/year (2-year plan)
Conclusion – How to Get Rid of the Yahoo Redirect Virus
The Yahoo Search redirect virus is a browser hijacker that redirects your browser to Yahoo to get you to click on ads or install unwanted programs infected with malware. The virus may also slow down your browsing activity or cause sites to crash.
To remove the Yahoo virus from Chrome, the process of manually adjusting your browser settings is relatively simple, but it’s a good idea to also check for and remove any suspicious or unwanted extensions and apps. The process is similar across other operating systems and browsers.
To ensure you don’t get infected with another virus like this, I recommend using the TotalAV antivirus. It offers robust real-time protection, thorough antivirus scans, and a password manager and VPN to provide multiple layers of protection for your system.
FAQs
Why does my search engine keep changing to Yahoo?
Is the Yahoo redirect virus dangerous?
How can you remove Yahoo Search from Safari on Mac?
References
- Intego Mac Internet Security X9 testing results (AV-Test)
- Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security testing results (AV-Test)
- ESET Smart Security testing results (AV-Test)
- Norton Internet Security testing results (AV-Test)
- TotalAV testing results (AV-Test)
