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Original poster

Yahoo needs to fuck off and die

58 replies

Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 14:00

How the hell do you get Yahoo off your computer? Every google search is reverting to stupid useless Yahoo again. It isn't in my settings as a search engine, google is my default. It isn't downloaded as an extension. Clean up hasn't got rid of it

I didn't know it was possible to hate a search engine so much. Every time this happens my computer search becomes unusable until I manage to get rid of it, which takes hours, and I have never found the same trick works twice.

Any suggestions? I am desperate to get rid of this Yahoo malware for once and for all

OP posts:
Original poster
Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 16:35

StatisticallyChallenged · 10/03/2023 14:19

If you go to your browser settings does it say "managed by your organisation"

Show quote history

I don't think so - my default browser is google, unless browser settings is different to default browser

OP posts:
Original poster
Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 16:34

manictuesday · 10/03/2023 14:32

This happens with my lap top too and drives me mad! I have repeatedly set the default to chrome but suddenly discover myself back on yahoo. I've added google to my bookmarks bar 😂

I'll try that, if it can get me straight back to google!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 16:32

Anyonebut · 10/03/2023 14:27

Haven’t read all the replies, but sometimes it’s the actual antivirus who changes the setting. In my case, McAffee seemed to be at war with Google search

o, that's interesting - maybe its that

OP posts:
Original poster
Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 16:31

BertieBotts · 10/03/2023 14:27

Have you checked if it is showing up under Add & Remove Programs? If so you can remove it from there. Assuming this is a personal computer as said.

thanks for that suggestion - I have just checked there, it is not there

OP posts:
Original poster
Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 16:25

Agreeable · 10/03/2023 14:19

Click the 3 dots top right hand side.
Click Settings
On the left menu click Search Engine
"Search engine used in the address bar." - Select Google

Show quote history

that is always set to google

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 10/03/2023 16:21

I feel like I've gone back in time

MK19590 · 10/03/2023 15:21

I didn't think anybody had used Yahoo since 2009. I remember Yahoo Answers, I wonder what happened to that

ChilliBandit · 10/03/2023 15:14

StatisticallyChallenged · 10/03/2023 14:31

It's not that - there's a nasty wee bastard browser hijacker around. Installs itself as an extension, changes setting so your browser thinks it's managed by an organisation. First symptom wasbit changing my search engine, then started passing my clicks through other pages.

Nightmare to remove, eventual solution included registry edits

Show quote history

Ah I see! I knew there was a horrible browser hijacker around hence my answer above but I didn’t realise that was one of the symptoms.

Brefugee · 10/03/2023 14:58

i use Ecosia (which i think uses Bing, or maybe Google?) but anyway, they plant trees.

My laptop keeps setting me back to Bing and i write and tweet at MS about what fuckers they are, and set it back to Ecosia.

it is supremely annoying. I want Ask Jeeves back

BertaHoon · 10/03/2023 14:55

Agreeable · 10/03/2023 14:19

Click the 3 dots top right hand side.
Click Settings
On the left menu click Search Engine
"Search engine used in the address bar." - Select Google

Show quote history

This.

Something will have installed it in your settings. Many things do as you're installing something and it's easier to click yes.

So yeah, chrome settings - search engine. Also homepage.

It's an add on for lots of safe software. It's just bloody annoying.

StatisticallyChallenged · 10/03/2023 14:53

EarringsandLipstick · 10/03/2023 14:49

It's easy to do. Some posters have mentioned it & here's a link that explains further: www.howtogeek.com/769001/how-to-remove-yahoo-search-from-google-chrome/amp/

(Also re work / personal computer it shouldn't matter. It's not usually admin controlled so you can sort it out yourself).

Please read my subsequent reply. It matters because a home laptop displaying that in conjunction with this behaviour is a sign of a browser hijack virus

Haffiana · 10/03/2023 14:50

Get a Mac.

EarringsandLipstick · 10/03/2023 14:49

It's easy to do. Some posters have mentioned it & here's a link that explains further: www.howtogeek.com/769001/how-to-remove-yahoo-search-from-google-chrome/amp/

(Also re work / personal computer it shouldn't matter. It's not usually admin controlled so you can sort it out yourself).

manictuesday · 10/03/2023 14:32

This happens with my lap top too and drives me mad! I have repeatedly set the default to chrome but suddenly discover myself back on yahoo. I've added google to my bookmarks bar 😂

StatisticallyChallenged · 10/03/2023 14:31

ChilliBandit · 10/03/2023 14:25

Oh I had assumed it was a personal computer. If it’s a work one and they are doing this there isn’t much you can do except thank god it’s not Ecosia!

Show quote history

It's not that - there's a nasty wee bastard browser hijacker around. Installs itself as an extension, changes setting so your browser thinks it's managed by an organisation. First symptom wasbit changing my search engine, then started passing my clicks through other pages.

Nightmare to remove, eventual solution included registry edits

Anyonebut · 10/03/2023 14:27

Haven’t read all the replies, but sometimes it’s the actual antivirus who changes the setting. In my case, McAffee seemed to be at war with Google search

BertieBotts · 10/03/2023 14:27

Have you checked if it is showing up under Add & Remove Programs? If so you can remove it from there. Assuming this is a personal computer as said.

ChilliBandit · 10/03/2023 14:25

StatisticallyChallenged · 10/03/2023 14:19

If you go to your browser settings does it say "managed by your organisation"

Show quote history

Oh I had assumed it was a personal computer. If it’s a work one and they are doing this there isn’t much you can do except thank god it’s not Ecosia!

lmnabc · 10/03/2023 14:25

ScentOfAMemory · 10/03/2023 14:09

It'll only be replaced by Bing. Then you'll look back on Yahoo with nostalgic tears.
Go into settings and change your default search /homepage in the meantime.

You certainly DO NOT want bloody Bing

Rowthe · 10/03/2023 14:19

What browser do you use?

With Microsoft edge it automatically uses bing- if you type in the address bar, even though my home page is set as google. So would have to open up a new tab and then search into the webpage. But if I type the search term in the address bar it will use bing.

May be worth using chrome - then it should automatically use google?

Agreeable · 10/03/2023 14:19

Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 14:18

chrome

Show quote history

Click the 3 dots top right hand side.
Click Settings
On the left menu click Search Engine
"Search engine used in the address bar." - Select Google

StatisticallyChallenged · 10/03/2023 14:19

Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 14:00

How the hell do you get Yahoo off your computer? Every google search is reverting to stupid useless Yahoo again. It isn't in my settings as a search engine, google is my default. It isn't downloaded as an extension. Clean up hasn't got rid of it

I didn't know it was possible to hate a search engine so much. Every time this happens my computer search becomes unusable until I manage to get rid of it, which takes hours, and I have never found the same trick works twice.

Any suggestions? I am desperate to get rid of this Yahoo malware for once and for all

If you go to your browser settings does it say "managed by your organisation"

Original poster
Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 14:18

Agreeable · 10/03/2023 14:17

What browser are you using?

Chrome? Microsoft Edge? Mozilla?

chrome

OP posts:
Original poster
Nimbostratus100 · 10/03/2023 14:18

ChilliBandit · 10/03/2023 14:16

You need to install good antivirus software to stop it happening again. Reset your browser to factory settings and remove yahoo from the list, check for any programs/apps that you didn’t install and uninstall them. Run anti-virus/malware.

thanks for this, is Mcafee not enough then?

OP posts:
Agreeable · 10/03/2023 14:17

What browser are you using?

Chrome? Microsoft Edge? Mozilla?