SearchYA: what it is and how to remove it
SearchYA is a suspicious web browser extension that belongs to the browser hijacker family. Spreading around since 2017 or even earlier, it was one of the Mindspark's Inc.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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SearchYA: summary
| Distribution | The hijacker spreads in the form of a browser's extension disguised under the freeware installation process as a pre-selected component. So-called bundling distribution is applied |
|---|---|
| Name | SearchYA |
| Related | search-ya.com or portal.search-ya.com |
| Classification | Potentially unwanted program (PUP), browser hijacker |
| Symptoms | Once this extension is installed, it settles SearchYA as a default search provider, and searc-ya.com as a start page. Moreover, it injects various toolbars within the web browser, displayed altered search results, causes redirects to suspicious web domains, and fill websites with third-party ads |
| Promises | Promise to provide an easy way to manage search sessions |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| Man dangers | The hijacker may expose you to suspicious and potentially dangerous websites. An attempts to download malware are possible as well. |
|---|---|
| Ways of removal | SearchYA removal can be initiated manually. For that, the user has to remove all PUPs from the Apps folder and reset the web browser's settings. However, using a professional anti-malware tool will guarantee the success of removal. |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | open-fast.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 24 April 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What SearchYA changes in your browser
We are not aware of the identity of the user from which the Non-Personal Information was collected. The Non-Personal Information which is being collected may include technical information automatically transmitted by the user's device (for example, type of browser, the type of the user's device and technical information pertaining to the user's device, language preferences, time stamps, clicks and visited pages, search logs, the operating system, utilized internet service provider and other similar information.
Is SearchYA dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
SearchYA is a misleading browser hijacker that may be set as a default start page and search engine on Chrome without properly requesting for permission
SearchYA is a suspicious web browser extension that belongs to the browser hijacker family.
Spreading around since 2017 or even earlier, it was one of the Mindspark's Inc. creations and shared the exact same features and design as HoroscopeBuddy Toolbar, Internet Speed Tracker, open-fast.com, and many other browsers extensions.
The current version of SearchYA virus available at search-ya.com has a new, more appealing, style, and offers its users a free PDF converter , currency converter, crypto converter, and other useful services straight on the start page. However, trusting this search site is not recommended due to its aggressive advertising campaigns and possible privacy-related issues.
Cybersecurity experts agree upon the fact that such programs as SearchYA hijackers should be recognized as potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) because of practicing the misleading distribution method, known as bundling.
Although this search tool has a community of thousands of users, most of them are looking for a way to remove SearchYA virus because it has been installed by default along with other freeware. Pre-selected as a default component, this extension manages to replace start page, search engine, and toolbars on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, or any other web browser.
The SearchYA add-on is not illicit or dangerous on its nature. It's one of those search engines that provide Yahoo-based search results and seek to gain profit from affiliate marketing. Despite the fact, it implements many suspicious activities that couldn't be ignored, for example:
People on Reddit and other forums are looking for solutions on how to remove SearchYA virus. Suchlike questions are not surprising having in mind that it infiltrates PCs as an additional component of various download managers, video streaming software, games, and other free programs.
The problem is that the extension is resistant to removal. SearchYA removal often requires a full system scan with a professional anti-malware tool and a full reset of the web browser's settings.
Users often believe that a severe cyber infection is installed on their PCs because SearchYA malware dramatically slows down the web browser's performance and prevents them from browsing efficiently. Once this PUP takes over the browser it enables traffic to the websites of its partners.
For this purpose, it injects pre-arranged search results with multiple links to suspicious websites not corresponding to the search queries that the user types in. Moreover, SearchYA hijacker generates intrusive ads, including intrusive popups, banners, or full-page ads.
LosVirus.es researchers recommend uninstalling PUPs like SearchYA to prevent exposure to dangerous websites. Any of the ads it generates or websites promote may be involved in activities like phishing, malware distribution, or scams. Thus, be careful with questionable ads and links delivered by this search provider, especially the ones including warnings about Windows insecurities, missing software updates, free online malware scanners, or surveys.
Privacy protection is yet another aspect that should accelerate SearchYA virus removal. The search has a bunch of pre-installed cookies that are programmed to track non-personally identifiable information about its users. Developers of this tool claim that they are not capable of collecting personal information and we, actually, believe that.
However, it can gather a considerable amount of people's browsing history, as well as IP address and email address, not to mention technical information that is later being used for providing personalized ads.
Even though you are not fond of using this search engine, it may not go away easily. Setting an alternative web browser will not save the day because the next time you re-open the web browser SearchYA hijacker will be there.
Note that this extension is closely related to the freeware that you have recently installed. Thus, as long as it won't be removed, SearchYA removal will not be possible either. Even more, this PUP roots deeply into the web browser, may corrupt some of the Windows Registry entries, modify browser's shortcuts, and other settings.
There is a way to remove this PUP manually. For this purpose, you can use a step-by-step tutorial provided down below this article. However, if manual removal failed, try to remove SearchYA from Windows or Mac with a security tool like or . After that, disable unwanted extensions on your web browser and delete related websites, including search-ya.com.
- Settles down on people's web browsers without direct permission;
- Replaces existent search engine, start page, and toolbars;
- Generates pre-determined Yahoo search results;
- Initiates browser's redirects to Yahoo and questionable third-party websites;
- Installs cookies for tracking browser-based information;
- May display misleading ads and popups on any website;
- Can be difficult to remove and restore itself with the help of supporting apps;
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SearchYA
- Since various changes might have been initiated by this browser hijacker, it is advisable to restore your PC's stability with the tool
How SearchYA got into your browser
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
The extension that we have been discussing does not have the official website, though the search provider website can be accessed by typing its name to the URL bar.
However, there is no direct download of an extension. That's a shred of evidence that it is being distributed by other means.
The so-called bundling distribution is the main method used to disseminate unwanted advertisement-based web browser's extension, plug-ins, and add-ons. The scheme is quite simple; in order to get commissions for the downloads of PUPs, freeware developers disguise several unwanted programs under Quick or Basic installation options. This way, people are not directly informed about a bundle and unconsciously agree upon downloading additional tools.
Although it's not possible to disclose a bundle from the surface, people can decompose the bundle by selecting Advanced or Custom installation techniques. They unravel more installation setup windows, some of which will contain the pre-selected extensions. Unmarking the checkboxes stating that you agree with the installation of these additions will be sufficient to keep your PC safe.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
open-fast.com
How to remove SearchYA
How to remove SearchYA and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
SearchYA often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete open-fast.com
Searches that pass through
open-fast.commean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on open-fast.com.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of SearchYA. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
The guide below explains how to removeSearchYA virus from Windows OS. Follow the instructions step-by-step:
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
IT-related forums are filled with questions on how to remove SearchYA virus from Chrome. Thus, we come up with a presumption that this search engine targets Chrome in particular. In case your Chrome's settings were compromised, follow these steps to get back to the previous state:
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.
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.
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)
In case Mozilla firefox started redirects to suspicious websites and you see SearchYA search engine set as a default, then remove PUPs from your machine and perform these steps to disable unwanted extension:
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.
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.
Delete from macOS
Even though Macs are less prone to malware, these days more and more unwanted programs are developed to target Mac users. In case SearchYA virus appears to be one of them, follow this guide to restore your machine:
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
Get rid of SearchYA from Internet Explorer with these instructions:
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.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Delete SearchYA PUP from Chrome to prevent potentially dangerous redirects
If you've been suffering from SearchYA virus redirects for a while, it's very important to initiate a thorough system scan with a professional anti-virus program to delete all PUPs, malware, or even virus that might have been installed while visiting search-ya.com related websites.
This PUP is not a virus and that means that it must have a direct installer/uninstaller. Therefore, you should carefully check the list of programs installed on your Windows or Mac system and get rid of those you are not familiar with. Finally, reset your web browser's default settings to disable unwanted extensions and toolbars.
Questions about SearchYA
Why does my search engine keep changing to open-fast.com?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time open-fast.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Is open-fast.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. open-fast.com is a search page that an extension or program set as your default without a clear choice from you.
It does not destroy files or spread to other PCs, but it takes control of your searches, collects them and shows ads, and the software behind it is often bundled with other unwanted programs.
Many antivirus products flag such software as potentially unwanted. Removing the extension or program and resetting the search engine is enough in most cases. A full scan afterwards checks for anything else that came with it.
Why do my searches go to open-fast.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. SearchYA did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to open-fast.com.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with open-fast.com?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove SearchYA and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does SearchYA affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does open-fast.com know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing SearchYA, delete the cookies and site data for open-fast.com so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
Should I just switch to another browser?
It may not help. Installers that add hijackers usually target every browser on the PC, and system-level changes such as the hosts file, DNS or proxy affect all browsers at once. A new browser also leaves the hijacker's program and extension in place, collecting data in the old one.
Remove SearchYA properly first. After that, use whichever browser you prefer; Chrome, Edge and Firefox all let you set and protect your own search engine. Import your bookmarks only after the old browser is clean.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows open-fast.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove SearchYA and search directly.
Will resetting the browser remove SearchYA?
A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.
It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so SearchYA can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
Will Fortect remove SearchYA?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For SearchYA, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- LosVirus: NOTICIAS SOBRE SEGURIDAD Y VIRUS (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)