How to remove Yahoo search from Chrome

Asya Karapetyan
Content marketer, who specializes in Mac how-to guides
March 11, 2024

If your Mac search engine keeps changing to Yahoo even after you removed it, you may have a browser hijacker installed on your system, which is called Yahoo Powered. Browser hijackers are malicious programs that redirect to the Yahoo search engine and cause various issues, such as displaying intrusive ads, collecting your browsing data, and exposing you to potentially harmful websites. This article will explain why Yahoo is your search engine and how to remove Yahoo search from Chrome.

remove yahoo redirect virus

Contents:

  1. What is the Yahoo search engine virus?
  2. How to get rid of Yahoo search redirect virus

Before we start

Before we dive into this guide about Yahoo viruses, we’d like to introduce you a special program. It is called App Cleaner & Uninstaller, and it can help you easily uninstall any programs on your Mac and remove unneeded launch agents, launch daemons, and other extensions like Yahoo. This uninstaller removes programs completely so that no leftover files are left behind.
“App

App Cleaner & Uninstaller

Free Download

What is the Yahoo search engine virus?

Yahoo search engine is a web search service that allows users to find information on the internet. It is powered by Microsoft Bing and provides features such as image, video, news, and local search. However, you should be careful of the Yahoo search engine virus, which first appeared in 2012 and is still active today. It is a type of malware that hijacks the browser settings and redirects users to unwanted websites, often containing ads, pop-ups, or malicious content.

Yahoo search redirect virus can also collect the user’s browsing data and personal information and expose the user to identity theft, fraud, or other cyberattacks. It is usually distributed through spam emails, fake software updates, or bundled with other free downloads. If, for example, Google redirects to Yahoo constantly, this means that you caught that virus.

To remove the Yahoo search redirect virus, you need to scan your computer with a reputable anti-malware program and delete any suspicious files or programs. You also need to reset your browser settings and remove any unwanted extensions or toolbars. You can follow the guide below to uninstall the Yahoo! Powered virus from your Mac.


How to get rid of Yahoo search redirect virus

Why does Yahoo keep opening in Chrome? From this question, you may start your search to understand how to get rid of the Yahoo redirect virus.

Generally, the Yahoo search redirect virus may affect any web browser, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. However, the removal steps are almost the same. Here’s a general guideline that you can follow to get rid of the Yahoo search redirect virus from any browser:

Step 1

Uninstall any suspicious or unwanted programs from your device that may be related to the Yahoo search redirect virus. For this, you can use App Cleaner & Uninstaller, which is specially designed to delete apps completely with all of their support files. Here’s how to use it:

  1. Download and run App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
  2. In the list of applications, look for any programs you are not familiar with and select them.
  3. Click the Remove button and confirm deletion.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller window

Step 2

Reset your web browser settings to default and clear your browsing history, cache, and cookies.
You can do this step manually and with the help of App Cleaner & Uninstaller. We’ll show you both methods.

How to reset Chrome to default settings manually

  1. Open Chrome and go to its settings.
  2. Scroll down the left panel and select Reset Settings.
  3. Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  4. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click on Reset settings to proceed.
Chrome settings showing the button to Reset

How to reset Chrome with App Cleaner & Uninstaller

  1. Open App Cleaner 7 Uninstaller.
  2. Locate Chrome in the list of apps in the left panel.
  3. Right-click on it and select Reset Application.
  4. The app will select all support files, like caches or preferences and show you the list of them.
  5. Click Remove to confirm resetting.
Resetting Chrome in App Cleaner & Uninstaller

Step 3

Remove any unwanted or malicious extensions or add-ons from your web browser that may be causing the redirects. Here’s how to do it with App Cleaner & Uninstaller:

  1. Run App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
  2. Switch to the Extensions section from the sidebar.
  3. Select Web Browser Extensions.
  4. Skim the list of extensions in the right panel and select all items that you didn’t install.
  5. Check also Internet plugins, Preference Panel, and Startup Programs for malicious programs.
  6. Once you select all unneeded items, click the Remove button and confirm the action.
App Cleaner & Uninstaller showing web browser extensions

Step 4

Change your default search engine and homepage to your preferred ones. Here’s how to do it in Google Chrome:

  1. Open the Chrome browser on your Mac.
  2. Click Chrome in the menu bar and select Settings.
  3. Click Search Engine in the sidebar of the window that appeared.
  4. Open the drop-down menu and select the preferred search engine.
Changing the default search engine

Step 5

Avoid clicking on unknown or suspicious links in the future. Also, remember always to keep your device and software updated. Stay safe online!


Conclusion

If you follow these steps, you should be able to block Yahoo! search engine and remove its redirect virus from your computer. However, you can contact us for further assistance if you still have any issues or questions.



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