Utilitool: what it is and how to remove it
Utilitool is described as a browser-hijacking product that provides search requests from Yahoo.com. The PUP aims to modify web browser settings such as the default search provider, homepage, and new tab URL.
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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Utilitool: summary
| Name | Utilitool |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Search engine | The browser hijacker uses the feed.utilitooltech.com search engine for hijacking the web browser which drops the user directly to yahoo.com |
| Downloading | You can download and install the suspicious extension from the Google Chrome Web Store or you can get it unexpectedly bundled with freeware and shareware |
| Target(s) | This potentially unwanted program is mostly found on Google Chrome but can also target other browser apps such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari |
| 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 9 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | feed.utilitooltech.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 16 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Utilitool dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Utilitool - a browser hijacker that redirects to Yahoo while trying to enter its feed.utilitooltech.com fake search provider
Utilitool is described as a browser-hijacking product that provides search requests from Yahoo.com.
The PUP aims to modify web browser settings such as the default search provider, homepage, and new tab URL. Continuously, you can install Utilitool Chrome extension on the official Google Chrome Web Store. Even though this product can be downloaded legitimately and includes a nice description, it cannot be trusted as it might also come through a software bundle.
Even though the browser hijacker is advertised as a handy tool for entering news sources, typing search queries, and receiving other information, Utilitool virus is a useless product as it just takes you to a legitimate search engine while entering feed.utilitooltech.com. So, you can just use the Yahoo search engine instead of downloading this program and getting your web browser hijacked, experiencing intrusive advertising and redirecting sessions.
Multiple unwanted activities can be promoted by Utilitool. First of all, you will experience browser changes in its settings where you will receive the bogus extension that will be responsible for all the further tasks. Afterward, your browser might start struggling to deal with an excessive amount of advertisements.
Utilitool might provide you with irrelevant deals while you are browsing online and encourage you to purchase useless computer security products and services. As a result, you will spend your money on a useless product that you will regret later on. So, do not waste your money and deny all the offers that come from this third-party app.
Furthermore, advertising that comes from Utilitool might decrease your browsing quality as your sessions are likely to experience decreased speed and quality of browsing sessions. This happens because the browser hijacker starts eating up your computer's resources such as the power and energy of your CPU and GPU.
In addition, Utilitool might force redirects to affiliate domains where you might meet additional offers or be spammed with more advertising content. However, sometimes, you might be taken to a location that is filled with malware. This way a dangerous parasite might end up on your computer system and cause severe damage.
Continuously, Utilitool could be able to collect non-personal information that is related to your web browser and online sessions. Such data often refers to recently visited websites, hyperlinks and adverts clicked, bookmarks saved, offers and deals searched, your web browser type, IP address, and geographic location.
Utilitool might collect such type of information to share it with other parties and receive income. However, this data can also be recorded due to the goal to get you involved in targeted advertising campaigns. Afterward, the developers can provide adverts that claim to suit your needs even if they are truly misleading.
To add, Utilitool might not come to the computer system allow. This browser hijacker can bring others of its kind or other potentially unwanted programs such as adware. This way your computer system will be overloaded by potentially unexpected cyber threats and your browser will experience a higher load of intrusive activities.
Spotting Utilitool randomly on your computer system signifies that your computer system is not protected at a good level or you have made mistakes somewhere in a software downloading process, etc. If you cannot recall installing this extension on your own, you should make sure that you secure your computer system with antimalware software properly.
However, first of all, you should remove Utilitool so it would not bother you anymore. This third-party app can be easily erased with automatical removal utilities, just pick a trustworthy program for the process. Also, if you have discovered any system alterings, you can try recovering the touched areas with the help of software such as .
Utilitool removal can also be performed with the help of manual guiding steps. Remember, that you will be responsible for cleaning both your operating system and web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or Safari from suspicious objects that were added by the adware program.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Utilitool
- You can terminate the browser hijacker with the help of manual step-y-step guidelines or by purchasing trustworthy antimalware software
- If your system has experienced any alterings during the activity period of the browser hijacker, try reversing the changes with the help of
How Utilitool got into your browser
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Even though some potentially unwanted programs can infiltrate computer systems through official downloads on the Google Chrome Web Store, this is not the main way how the PUPs appear on a particular machine. According to Virusai.lt specialists, browser hijackers are usually bundled with freeware and shareware.
This happens when the user is completing a download himself and misses some crucial downloading steps. Continuously, those who have set their installing configuration to "Recommend" have a much higher chance of receiving a potentially unwanted program than those who have already opted for the "Advanced" settings.
Furthermore, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted content can get delivered with PDF converters and download managers that users download from secondary websites such as download.com, cnet.com, softonic.com, and soft32.com. A piece of advice would be to get all of your products and services from reliable sources only.
In addition, some PUPs can come camouflaged as fake flash player updates or be injected into advertisements and hyperlinks. While you are browsing the Internet sphere, you have to be aware of questionable content that runs your way. Also, pay attention to the warnings that your antivirus program throws you.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
feed.utilitooltech.com
How to remove Utilitool
How to remove Utilitool 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
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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 feed.utilitooltech.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
feed.utilitooltech.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If feed.utilitooltech.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on 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
Utilitool rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
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
A scan finds the parts of Utilitool that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
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
To delete questionable applications from your Windows machine, use the below-provided guidelines.
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
To reverse dubious changes in Google Chrome, complete the following guiding steps.
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)
To erase suspicious components from Mozilla firefox, apply these instructions.
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
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.
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 Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Removal instructions for Utilitool extension
If you have been dealing with the browser hijacker lately and your web browsers have experienced unwanted changes, it is time for you to remove Utilitool permanently from your computer system and browser apps.
Utilitool removal can be performed with the help of automatical software that is capable of detecting the PUP and eliminating all the additional products that were brought by the help of the browser hijacker.
Also, you can uninstall Utilitool virus with the help of manual step-by-step instructions that have been added to the end of this writing. There you will learn how to get rid of unwanted apps from your OS and clean your web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari from bogus extensions.
Questions about Utilitool
Is it safe to keep feed.utilitooltech.com as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through feed.utilitooltech.com usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.
You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set feed.utilitooltech.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Can feed.utilitooltech.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to feed.utilitooltech.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
What is feed.utilitooltech.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Utilitool. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is feed.utilitooltech.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Utilitool, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Utilitool affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did feed.utilitooltech.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of feed.utilitooltech.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Utilitool
- clear cookies and site data for feed.utilitooltech.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
Can I just block feed.utilitooltech.com?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. Utilitool sends searches to feed.utilitooltech.com, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Will Fortect remove Utilitool?
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 Utilitool, 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
- Wikipedia: Yahoo! (read October 6, 2026)
- Norton: What are browser hijackers? (read October 6, 2026)
- Digital Trends: What is a CPU? (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai.lt (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)