Yeabd66.cc virus: what it is and how to remove it
Yeabd66.cc virus is definitely related to the infamous Yeabests.cc virus, which is another browser hijacker virus . Yeabd66 hijacker takes over the control of the infected computer browsers and alters their settings.
Facts checked October 7, 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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Yeabd66.cc virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Yeabd66.cc virus |
| Type | Fake search engine |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| 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 5 more facts
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Search page | yeabd66.cc |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 8 December 2016 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Yeabd66.cc virus dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since
Hazards you may encounter while using Yeabd66.cc search tool
Yeabd66.cc virus is definitely related to the infamous Yeabests.cc virus, which is another browser hijacker virus .
Yeabd66 hijacker takes over the control of the infected computer browsers and alters their settings. One of the initial changes is the replacement of the Web engine's homepage. The hijacker assigns Yeabd66.cc as the default search engine which loads every time the browser is launched and opens in the new browser windows of tabs.
At first, the victim may notice nothing suspicious - the website looks like a typical search engine, offering a bunch of useful quick links that may be used to immediately access social networking sites, play videos, check mail or play online games. Though most of these links are completely legitimate, the search engine itself is quite useless.
It's no wonder that disappointed users often refer to this program as Yeabd66.cc malware. When you enter a search term into it, it redirects you to cse.google.com search results' page, which displays "Google custom search" logo at the top. Now, we would like to warn you that custom results are particular results that are actually based on non-personal information collected about you .
In other words, Yeabd66.cc redirect virus gathers your clicks on ads, recent terms you searched for using search engines, information about your browsing history (for instance, what websites and how frequently did you visit), and related data. Based on such data, it presents third-party offers, which it integrates next to regular search results.
If you are still not sure if Yeabd66.cc removal is worth your time, ask yourself whether you wish to get customized search results instead of the ones that actually respond to your search queries. Besides, there are more downsides to such modified search results.
Some third-party websites advertised via vague search engines can be very dangerous . Despite the fact that they usually don't look malicious or dangerous, they can be. Of course, not all websites promoted via Yeabd66.cc hijacker are untrustworthy, but you better be cautious. Don't provide your personal information on sites that look unfamiliar to you, inspect URLs of these websites and never agree to install unknown software on your PC.
In fact, you better not agree to install ANY software at all, because untrustworthy websites often promote software packs that contain highly suspicious pieces of software. If you want to search the Internet without receiving sponsored content, remove Yeabd66.cc hijacker using instructions we provide or anti-spyware tools like or .
You might encounter issues while trying to remove the browser hijacker. Mostly, users complain that they cannot find Yeabd66.cc virus in the Add/Remove Programs list or that no browser extension relates to it. If so, you might be infected with a hijacker's version that adds VBScript file to Windows Management Instrumentations (WMI). In other words, it's a fileless infection .
This script reinfects browser shortcuts and prevents you from eliminating the browser hijacker completely. Such technique is tricky, so if your anti-malware or antivirus fails to clean Yeabd66.cc infection, try updating it first. If an updated version fails to remove the infection, contact your anti-malware program authors and ask them to help you with Yeabd66.cc removal - they will definitely help you out and improve their product at the same time.
From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since
Ways to get infected with a redirect program
Ad revenue-oriented potentially unwanted program like Yeabd66.cc hijack computers easily.
They, just like other potentially unwanted programs (adware and similar) spread along third-party programs that are usually popular among computer users. Examples include games, download managers, media players, photo editing apps, and so on. When you download a free program from the Internet, inspect its reliability by choosing "Custom" or "Advanced" settings for its installation .
Chances are, you will find "recommended" downloads added to your selected program. Your task is to take the permissions to install these programs away, so just simply remove ticks next to agreements to install them on your system. If it is too late, please read the following paragraph on Yeabd66.cc elimination and get to work!
From our report of Dec 2016 · not reviewed since
Abolish Yeabd66.cc redirect problems
If you follow instructions provided below this article, you can remove Yeabd66.cc virus easily.
It only takes a few minutes to delete a browser hijacker, especially if you are an experienced computer user. However, you should not underestimate this task and do everything carefully, otherwise you can damage computer system if you delete the wrong files.
When in doubt, use Yeabd66.cc removal tool. It can quickly remove all dangerous files without risking to damage your computer system. After you remove Yeabd66.cc from your PC, be careful and take measures that would prevent similar programs from taking over your computer again.
To remove fileless infection, follow these steps:
- Open Run window by clicking Windows button & R key at the same time. Type wbemtest and select OK.
- This should open Windows Management Instrumentation Tester. Hit Connect... button.
- In the Namespace field, type root\subscription and click Connect.
- Next step: In the table of buttons, find Open Class... and click it. Once a new pop-up appears, type ActiveScriptEventConsumer. Hit OK.
- Next, click on Instances button in the table that shows up.
- Remove infection:
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
yeabd66.cc
How to remove Yeabd66.cc virus
The search page is only the end point.
These steps remove what sends the browser there, then put the search engine back.
Step 1: Put the search engine back and delete yeabd66.cc
Searches that pass through
yeabd66.ccmean 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 yeabd66.cc.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 2: Remove extensions you did not add
Yeabd66.cc virus 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 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 Yeabd66.cc virus. 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
Check the system for suspicious programs that you have never installed. If you find some, make sure you uninstall them. For that, you can use these instructions or anti-malware program. To remove fileless infection, follow these steps: Open Run window by clicking Windows button & R key at the same time. Type wbemtest and select OK. This should open Windows Management Instrumentation Tester. Hit Connect... button. In the Namespace field, type root\subscription and click Connect. Next step: In the table of buttons, find Open Class... and click it. Once a new pop-up appears, type ActiveScriptEventConsumer. Hit OK. Next, click on Instances button in the table that shows up. Remove infection:
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
You can fix your Google Chrome browser by eliminating any unfamiliar applications of unknown origin.
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
When you remove Yeabd66.cc and all of its related components, you should forget to check out your browser and see whether the list of extensions does not feature any unfamiliar entries that might potentially help this virus to regain its place on your browser later.
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)
Remove suspicious add-ons that might be related to Yeabd66.cc virus, and then refresh your browser as explained below.
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
Eliminate suspicious add-ons and reset Safari using tutorial that we provide below.
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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about Yeabd66.cc virus
How do I change my search engine back from yeabd66.cc?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove yeabd66.cc from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put yeabd66.cc back.
Did yeabd66.cc come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as yeabd66.cc usually arrive with free software, where an extra offer is pre-ticked in the installer, or as an extension that promises something useful, such as file conversion, maps, recipes or streaming.
Look at Settings, Apps, Installed apps sorted by install date: whatever was installed just before the search engine changed is the main suspect. Uninstall it, then remove any extension you do not recognise. In future, choose the custom or advanced option in installers and untick extra offers, and install extensions only from the official store pages of publishers you know.
Why do my searches go to yeabd66.cc?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Yeabd66.cc virus did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to yeabd66.cc.
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 yeabd66.cc?
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 Yeabd66.cc virus and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Yeabd66.cc virus 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 yeabd66.cc 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 Yeabd66.cc virus, delete the cookies and site data for yeabd66.cc 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.
Would an ad blocker stop Yeabd66.cc virus?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on yeabd66.cc, but it does not change your search engine back or remove the extension that set it. Your searches would still pass through the hijacker's servers and be logged.
Some ad blockers include tracking filters that block parts of the redirect chain, which can break searches altogether. Remove Yeabd66.cc virus with the plan above; an ad blocker is a reasonable extra afterwards, from the official store only and from a developer with a long track record.
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 Yeabd66.cc virus 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.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
Will Fortect remove Yeabd66.cc virus?
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 Yeabd66.cc virus, 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
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)