YesSearches ads: what it is and how to remove it
YesSearches is a bogus search engine that has features of a browser hijacker. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) can infiltrate the system unnoticed thru bundling.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
Not sure what sends your browser to www.yessearches.com? An automatic scan looks at the usual sources for you.
Do it yourself · free Remove YesSearches ads yourself 3 steps, about 9 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
YesSearches ads: summary
| Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive promotions or websites |
|---|---|
| Name | YesSearches |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Main file | Clqvrfsrv.exe; ShortcutBoost.exe; Uninst.exe |
| Detected as | PUA.Yessearches |
| Affects web browsers | Chrome, Firefox |
| 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
| Symptoms | Delivers intrusive advertisements, causes redirects, displays altered search results |
|---|---|
| Main danger | Collects various user information |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | www.yessearches.com |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 30 October 2018 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is YesSearches ads dangerous?
From our report of Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
YesSearches — a fake search engine that is launched by ShortcutBoost.exe process
YesSearches is a bogus search engine that has features of a browser hijacker.
This potentially unwanted program (PUP) can infiltrate the system unnoticed thru bundling. Once there, it drops Clqvrfsrv.exe, ShortcutBoost.exe and Uninst.exe to launch with every startup. Additionally, it replaces the default search engine and the homepage to www.yessearches.com domain to start rerouting its victim to sponsored sites. To prevent users from reverting these changes back, the virus also alters the computer's Registry.
From first sight, YesSearches might look like a legitimate search engine which includes a Privacy policy, EULA, and optional languages. However, as you must have already understood, it hides shady functionality behind these allegedly useful functions. You should not spend your time dealing with this hijacker. Make sure you terminate it right after it appears on your web browsers.
The main aim of YesSearches virus is infiltrating third-party ads directly into the search results it displays on victim's screen. As a result, you might find difficulties in finding needed information quickly.
Reasonable and safe search tools always limit the amount of commercial content displayed to their users and separate them from the organic search results. However, this browser hijacker acts in the opposite way. As a result, security vendors have started detecting it as PUA.Yessearches and similar.
Additionally, YesSearches seeks redirect victim's searches to third party sites that are typically working on increasing their search rank or visitors' number. While some part of these domains is considered to be safe, the other part should be avoided or at least left when entered.
Beware that visiting such domains can end up with useless tools on your computer, e.g. fake optimization tools, rogue anti-spyware apps, etc. Additionally, such sites can locate tech support scams seeking to swindle users' personal data.
Furthermore, this potentially unwanted program is also capable of collecting various information about users. Fortunately, YesSearches does not collect personally identifiable information. However, browser hijacker immediately after infiltration starts tracking and recording:
Aggregated information is usually used for advertising purposes, meaning that based on your activities online, the hijacker display targeted or personalized ads. However, information about you might be shared or sold to third-parties. Thus, if you do not want to see more ads on the browser, you should remove YesSearches virus.
It allows deleting hijacker-related entries from the system using reputable anti-malware software like .
This automatic removal is beneficial for the system, according to various users, this program gets installed on the system with programs like VPlay. You need to uninstall this or any similar program and change browser settings to default if you want to get rid of YesSearches search engine.
Uninstalling the program is not enough browser changes may still affect your browsing online. Cleaning the system thoroughly with anti-malware os system tools can terminate all additional processes and applications completely.
- search keywords;
- visited websites;
- clicked ads;
- IP address;
- location.
From our report of Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
Free software installers might include browser hijacker
The virus usually infiltrates the target system when users download freeware or shareware incorrectly.
A security team from bedynet.ru reminds that PUPs cannot get into the system by themselves. They need users permission to enter the system, and users give it without even knowing it.
If you have recently downloaded some "safe" freeware from the Internet, then it means you have probably received a bundle with it. Shareware bundling is a method used to spread various potentially unwanted programs, such as questionable add-ons or plug-ins. Developers of the freeware do not warn you what lies behind "standard" or "default" installation options.
Most of the computer users rush through installation steps, hastily choose default settings for the installation and click finish. You should always pay attention to freeware installation:
- Read the Terms and Agreements, as well as Privacy Policy.
- Use "Custom" or "Advanced" installation settings instead of "Quick" or "Recommended."
- Untick all the boxes suggesting to install extra programs,
- Do not give the authorization to change your homepage.
From our report of Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on YesSearches
- Use for general system cleaning
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
www.yessearches.com
How to remove YesSearches ads
How to stop the YesSearches redirects
Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.
Step 1: Check the browser's extensions
A browser that keeps landing on
www.yessearches.comby itself usually has an add-on doing it. Open the extension list (chrome://extensions, edge://extensions, or Extensions and themes in the Firefox menu) and remove anything you do not remember installing.Coupon, PDF, new tab, search and video downloader add-ons are the usual suspects. Do this in every browser on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue
When
www.yessearches.comkeeps opening after the extensions are cleaned, reset the browser to its defaults. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; Edge: Settings > Reset settings; Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.A reset keeps bookmarks and saved passwords but clears site permissions, the start page and the search engine.
If every browser still redirects afterwards, the cause is a program in Windows 11 or Windows 10: check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for anything you did not install.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.
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 uninstall YesSearches from Windows, follow these steps to get rid of every suspicious app that you can't remember installing:
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
Get rid of YasSearches by removing suspicious extensions at first. Additionally, reset 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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove malicious Firefox extensions related to this browser hijacker as shown 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.
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.
From our report of Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
Remove YesSearches from Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox web browsers
One of the ways to remove YesSearches from your web browser is to download a reliable anti-spyware, update it to its latest version and run a full system scan.
This should help you get rid of its reappearance on the system. Keep in mind that hijacker travels around together with numerous components, including specific BHOs and Windows services. Also, you should think about an alternative search engine that does not track its users and then share such data with third parties.
However, if you do not want to opt for automatic YesSearches removal, you can follow the manual removal guide below. Make sure you terminate the following processes at first:
- Clqvrfsrv.exe
- ShortcutBoost.exe
- Uninst.exe
Then, uninstall all apps that you don't know or seem suspicious and reset your web browsers:
Questions about YesSearches ads
Why does my browser keep going to www.yessearches.com?
Something is sending it there. On one site only, that site's ads are the cause and leaving the site ends it.
On many different sites, the usual causes are an extension you installed with something else, a site you once allowed to send notifications, or an ad-supported program in Windows that changes how the browser behaves. www.yessearches.com itself is only a stop on the way: it records the visit and forwards you to whatever advertiser pays most.
Check the extensions page, then the list of sites allowed to send notifications, then Installed apps sorted by date. Removing the cause stops the redirects; blocking the domain alone usually does not, because the network moves to a new one.
Is it safe that my browser was redirected to www.yessearches.com?
Landing on www.yessearches.com does not infect the PC by itself. A browser does not run programs from a page without your action. The danger is in the pages that come next:
- some ask you to allow notifications
- some show fake virus warnings
- some offer downloads
- ask for card details
If you only saw those pages and closed them, nothing more is needed than removing whatever caused the redirect. If you allowed notifications, remove that permission.
If you downloaded a file, delete it unopened, or uninstall it if you ran it. If you typed a password or card number on one of the pages, change the password and call your bank.
What is YesSearches?
YesSearches is an ad redirect domain, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.
YesSearches does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.
Why does www.yessearches.com keep showing up?
There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from www.yessearches.com, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.
If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if www.yessearches.com never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.
Which browsers does YesSearches affect?
In the cases we checked, YesSearches showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.
Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.
Are the pop-ups I see really from YesSearches?
Compare them with the details in the table above. YesSearches produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to www.yessearches.com. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.
If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.
Did YesSearches collect my data?
Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:
- the sites you visit
- search terms
- approximate location
- browser and system details
Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.
If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?
No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:
- running a downloaded file
- installing an extension
- giving a stranger remote access
That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.
Will Fortect remove YesSearches?
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 YesSearches, 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
- Techopedia: Browser hijacker (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Personally identifiable information (read October 6, 2026)
- HowStuffWorks Computer: How do advertisers show me custom ads? (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)