Search.searchyrs2.com is a browser hijacker that pretends to be a legit search tool

Search.searchyrs2.com is a bogus search engine created by Polarity Technologies. It mostly spreads in software bundles and is presented as a “Your Radio” extension which provides quick access to music streaming websites. However, it usually infiltrates silently and hijacks browsers installed on the affected computer.
Search.searchyrs2.com virus can affect Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and other popular web browsers. The main sings of the hijack are:
- homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL address changed to hxxp://search.searchyrs2.com/;
- search queries redirected to Yahoo;
- inability to revert hijacker’s changes;
- an increased amount of ads;[1]
- browser redirects to questionable websites.
Among all of the listed problems, Search.searchyrs2.com redirect issues are the most concerning. Ads and random browser redirects might lead to potentially dangerous websites,[2] including phishing, tech support scam or malware-related sites. Hence, it might take only one click to suffer from cyber attacks.
Additionally, the potentially unwanted program (PUP) which is responsible for setting Search.searchyrs2.com as browser startup page can also collect various information about users. The Privacy Policy states that its mostly non-personally identifiable information. However, it might be shared or sold to third-parties.
Therefore, Search.searchyrs2.com removal is needed to protect your privacy and computer’s security. However, the hijacker is designed to make elimination quite complicated. It might alter Windows Registry and browser’s settings. Additionally, it might install various toolbars, helper objects and browser add-ons that protect it.
Due to its operation, you should remove Search.searchyrs2.com using anti-malware software like FortectIntego that can detect and easily eliminate browser hijacker together with all suspicious components. However, if you prefer doing it by yourself, you can find manual removal guide at the end of the article.

Careless freeware installation might lead to the hijacked web browser
PUPs usually spread bundled with freeware or shareware. Whenever you download and install a free program from file-sharing networks or websites, you risk installing additional unwanted components. Unwanted applications might enter the system without asking your direct permission when you use Standard/Quick/Recommended settings.
The latter settings are not designed to openly disclose about third-party tools that are offered to download too. However, a security team from bedynet.ru[3] tell that majority of users are not aware of this fact and rely on these settings. For this reason, they agree to make Search.searchyrs2.com their default search provider without knowing it.
To avoid that, you have to use Advanced/Custom settings. Follow the installation wizard attentively and unmark all the ticks next to pre-selected third-party apps or statements to change your current search provider.
Removal of the Search.searchyrs2.com virus
To remove Search.searchyrs2.com from the machine, you have to locate the hijacker and all associated components. It might be browser extensions, programs, files, etc. You can try to delete them all manually, or you can let anti-malware tool do the job for you.
Below you can find manual removal guide. However, if it seems complicated or you have failed to delete all necessary components, you should opt for automatic Search.searchyrs2.com removal. Install or update your current security software, run a full system scan and reset the affected browser. That’s all you need to get rid of the hijacker.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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