How to remove Yahoo Search from Chrome

Yahoo is one of the most popular search engines in the world. Its URL is search.yahoo.com, but it can change according to your region. For example, in the United Kingdom, the URL would be uk.search.yahoo.com. Even though Yahoo is a completely harmless site, redirects to another search engine can be alarming.

Search engine changes can signal that malware may have infected your browser. Such malware is better known as a browser hijacker. It modifies your browser settings without your permission.

This article will guide you through the process on how to remove Yahoo Search from Chrome. You will also learn what a browser hijacker is and how to remove such malware from your computer.

Why is my Google Chrome using Yahoo Search?

When you install Google Chrome, Google becomes your default search engine. So, if you haven’t changed your settings and get redirected to Yahoo, there’s an issue. Your internet browser is likely affected by malware, otherwise known as a browser hijacker.

What is the Yahoo Search redirect virus?

When your default search engine redirects to Yahoo, it means that malware, better known as a browser hijacker, has infected your browser. It modifies your browser settings without your knowledge or permission. That’s why it’s classified as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Such malware can change your default browser settings, homepage, and the URLs of your new tabs.

Remove Yahoo redirect virus with Norton

Accessing and using Yahoo is free, so browser hijackers are not beneficial to you in any way. Some of them only redirect you to sites with advertisements where clicks generate revenue for the hacker.

In some cases, browser hijackers can even be dangerous. They can redirect you to malicious websites, install malware to spy on your browsing history, or collect details about you. Hackers gather information about you to personalize ads for you.

Although on rare instances, identity theft is also a possible outcome of browser hijacking. The hacker can hijack your whole system and steal sensitive information from your device. Therefore, you should remove the malware as soon as possible.

How to remove the Yahoo search engine from Chrome

Removing the Yahoo search engine from Chrome is going to help get your default search engine back. However, you have to remove the core of the problem so that hackers don’t change it again. This step-by-step guide will help you remove the Yahoo search redirect issue.

Step 1: Remove Yahoo redirect virus using an antivirus

Malware takes quite a while to remove manually. Also, you cannot always be sure whether you’ve removed it completely. That’s why the best option is to choose a reliable antivirus program and run a scan.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Choose an antivirus provider and go to their official website. We recommend Norton antivirus.
2. Purchase the plan of your choice, download and install the app.
3. Open the antivirus and run a scan.
4. Remove the identified Yahoo redirect browser hijacker.

Remove browser hijackers with Norton

Step 2: change your default browser

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots (“⋮”) in the upper-right corner, then select Settings.
2. On the left side of the screen, press the Search engine button.
3. In the Search engine section, select Change.
4. You will see a list of major browsers, click on your preferred search engine to replace Yahoo and click Set as Default.
5. Below, press the Manage search engines and site search option.
6. Select the three dots (⋮) by the Yahoo search engine and click the Delete button.

Step 3: remove unwanted extensions

Some redirects can be caused by a browser extension that you accidentally installed. You can go through web extensions and either disable or remove any suspicious browser extensions. Yet, when it comes to malicious extensions, you should remove them completely.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on the three dots ( ⋮ ) in the top-right corner of Chrome. Go to Extensions, and then press the Manage Extensions button.
2. Press Remove when you see any unrecognized extensions.

Step 4: restore Chrome browser settings

If you see any changes made to your settings, you can also restore them to default in your advanced settings. All of the settings will go back to what they were when you first installed the browser – there won’t be any unwanted modifications.

This is a faster way to change the default search engine and disable extensions. However, it will disable all existing extensions in your Chrome browser. You can later enable them by clicking on three dots, then Extensions – Manage extensions.

1. Click on the three dots ( ⋮ ) on the upper-right corner of the browser. Press Settings
2. On the left side of the screen, click on the Reset settings option.
3. Click on the Restore settings to their original defaults section.
4. You’ll get a pop-up window asking to reset your settings. Click Reset settings.
5. Reopen Chrome to enjoy a smooth browsing experience.

Step 5: uninstall unrecognized programs

When restoring Chrome’s settings doesn’t help, an installed application could be at fault. You need to search your computer for unwanted programs and delete the ones that seem suspicious or the ones you don’t need.

The process is different depending on what operating system you use. Below, you’ll find steps on how to delete programs on Windows and MacOS.

Step 6: remove temporary files

Sometimes malware is placed in the "temp" folder. This is because users often overlook it and don’t bother to scan it with an antivirus. Here’s how to remove temporary files on Windows and MacOS:

How to prevent Windows from installing unwanted apps?

It can be very tiring to keep getting malware on your device. Luckily, you can take a few steps to ensure that your device doesn’t get infected anymore:

• Get a reliable antivirus that performs regular scans and offers real-time protection.This way, not only are you going to avoid downloading suspicious files, but your antivirus will also inform you about harmful websites.
• When you download something, research whether the application is trustworthy. Harmful software can be hidden in shady websites, so be cautious and try to download files only from official websites.
• Make sure you update your device and software. This is important because updates can include security patches that older versions lack.
• Use a safe web browser. Yes, a web browser also plays a part when it comes to protection. Some of them offer safety features, such as phishing and malware protection, or add-on installation warnings.

Video tutorial

If you're tired of reading, check out our comprehensive video tutorial on how to remove Yahoo Search from Chrome:

Conclusion

The Yahoo search engine appearing out of nowhere is super annoying. While Yahoo is a legitimate search engine, the unexpected change could be the result of a browser hijacker affecting your browser behavior. Luckily, you shouldn’t worry too much, as it’s not that hard to remove it.

I’d recommend following this tutorial to clean your device from malicious applications. Make sure you secure your device from future intrusions by avoiding unverified files and getting antivirus software.

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