YourSites123.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Yoursites123.com is a aggressive browser hijacker that users can't get rid of
Yoursites123.com is a browser hijacker[1], which spreads around presenting itself a useful search engine. It claims to be ready to show people the most suitable search results and improve their browsing experience. Instead, it attacks web browsers and without user's knowledge sets http://yoursites123.com/ as default home and search page in Chrome, Opera, and other web browsers. Consequently, it serves paid results and makes people visit vague external sites.
However, have you ever thought why there are so many PC users who are desperately looking for Yoursites123 remover? If you are one of them, you should know that its removal process can be much more complicated than it seems. Yoursites 123 virus may try to hide from you and may try to use browser helper objects[2] or similar components to prevent its removal from the system. In fact, it behaves in a similar way like Mysites123.com virus does.
Another thing that we should warn you about is that leaving Yoursites123.com (or Yoursites123) on the system can be dangerous. That is because of its capability to track its users. In addition to this, beware that it may show you altered search results that may redirect you to sponsored websites that can be malicious.
In exchange for that, the developers of this program are generating income. Also, you should beware of Yoursites123.com redirect issue. Typically, users are interrupted by it right after clicking on any of suspicious ads that are caused by this virus and wisely hidden in its search results. You can never be sure that each of such redirects is used to promote legitimate websites, so it is highly recommended avoiding them.
To sum up, there is no need to use this search engine because it is considered a potentially unwanted program and a browser hijacker. Yoursites123.com malware has already been included in the data base of various anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, and that was done for a reason!
If you are among those PC users who are searching for such phrases as “eliminar yoursites123” or “usunąć yoursites123[3]” because you have been struggling with this search engine for a while, you should you know that you can remove this program with each of its components with the help of a reliable anti-spyware.
Questions about YourSites123.com virus
In this case, you are highly recommended using Reimage for YourSites123.com removal because this is one of the most reliable anti-spyware programs that are offered on the Internet today.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Reasons to choose a different web search provider:
Yoursites123 has been added to PUP category because of these troubles that it makes:
- infiltrating computers without asking for the direct permission of their owners;
- altering Windows Registry and other system settings;
- altering each of web browsers by removing previously-used homepage and the default search engine;
- using dubious extensions for collecting data about people's browsing activities;
- showing corrupted search results and causing Yoursites123.com redirects to sponsored domains;
- slowing down the browser and using various techniques to prevent its removal.
Moreover, the search engine that the said search site promotes is very tricky. No matter that it may seem like it is borrowed from the Yahoo site, it may fail to deliver accurate search results for you. Each of them can be slightly altered for causing the YourSites123 redirect to sponsored websites.
That is why these results might contain hyperlinks that reroute users to third-party websites seeking to increase their popularity. Be aware of these redirects can lead you to potentially dangerous web sources, which might include infectious downloads. If you have just found yourself on a suspicious domain offering you updates for Java or Flash Player, you should leave it ASAP.
While there is no guarantee that each of Yoursites123.com search results is dangerous, you should avoid the risk of putting yourself at the risk of other PUP or even malware. Why should you use this questionable search engine when there are tens of reliable ones?
If you have been tricked into downloading this browser hijacker to your computer while installing another third-party program, you should remove YourSites123.com from your machine. As we have already mentioned, we recommend using automatic removal option as it can help you detect and uninstall programs like this one without lots of effort.
Ways you could have prevented the browser hijack
YourSites123 cannot be found online, and it cannot be downloaded directly from its official program's website because it simply doesn't have one. That means that this program usually travels with other programs (usually the free ones) and gets installed without user's knowledge at all.
The main key to the safe installation process of the freeware is to be cautious and to study each installation step without a rush. You should avoid installing programs using Default or Standard installation modes, too. Instead, you should opt for either Advanced or Custom mode.
Then you need to deselect suspicious offers to get bonus software for free. Make sure that you uncheck pre-checked boxes that say: “I agree to make [website's name] my default search provider” or “Make [website's name] my homepage.” No matter how harmless it looks, this search engine can cause only a mess on your computer.
As we have already mentioned, YourSites123.com virus can track you, interrupt you with misleading pop-up ads, redirect you to unsafe websites and lead you to additional problems. If this browser hijacker has already showed up on your Internet browser, you should wait no time and remove it ASAP.
Remove YourSites123.com from Chrome and other browsers now
YourSites123 virus is an unpleasant application, which has already affected thousands of computer users. Unfortunately, but some of them do not even know that they are dealing with the browser hijacker. It is a shame because such users can easily be redirected to malicious websites.
Besides, they may reveal their personal and non-personal information to strangers because BHOs and similar components are usually spread in one pack with Yoursites123.com virus. After testing this search engine on our computers, we can say that you should never keep it on your computer because it is obvious that it does not bring anything positive to its users.
Fortunately, we can teach you how to remove Yoursites123.com from the system. For that, we decided to prepare a very informative removal instructions including illustrations and screenshots of the removal process. Check the guide below to know how can you eliminate the virtual threat manually.
No matter how attractive a manual removal option seems to you, we strongly recommend thinking about automatic removal option. Here are the main pros of using Yoursites123.com removal tool for eliminating this browser hijacker from the system.
- It helps you to detect and remove each of yoursites123.com components, including its files (listed below), registry entries and similar components.
- You can keep it on your computer for as long as you need and use its real-time protection feature. Because of this feature, you will get ability to avoid ransomware, trojans, adware, browser hijackers and similar malware in the future.
- This tool can help you increase your computer's speed by fixing registry errors, removing useless hard drive files and other components.
Bonus instructions: Learn to remove Yoursites123 from Opera
After noticing that Yoursites123.com got an ability to hijack Opera, we are adding a simple guide explaining how to reset this browser and get rid of this browser hijacker:
Change your homepage:
- Start Opera and click Menu;
- Go to Settings -> Preferences. You should find yourself in General tab;
- Remove Yoursites123.com from the Home Page section and enter your previously-used one.
- Click OK to save your changes.
If you want to reset Opera entirely, follow these steps:
- Close Opera and open command prompt from the Start menu (Click Start and R on your keyboard at the same time to open Run window. Now enter cmd)
- Copy paste this command: del %AppData%\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini. This command will open the Operaprefs.ini file
- Close cmd and open Opera.
You can remove YourSites123.com automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus, Malwarebytes Anti Malware. We recommend these applications because they can easily delete potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
YourSites123.com virus manual removal:
yoursites123.com.exe
Delete registry values:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun "[random].exe"
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID[ yoursites123.com]
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAppDataLowSoftware yoursites123.com
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware yoursites123.com character
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall yoursites123.com
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowserHelperObjects[random numbers
Unregister DLLs:
yoursites123.com.dll
Delete files:
%PROGRAMFILES%common filessystemyoursites123.com.dll
%PROGRAMFILES(X86)%yoursites123.com uninstall
%programData%yoursites123.com.exe
%appdata%roaming[yoursites123.com].exe or folder
%Windows%system32driveryoursites123.com.sys
%users%defaultappdatalocalyoursites123.com.log
To remove YourSites123.com virus, follow these steps:
Delete YourSites123.com from Windows systems
To remove Yoursites123, you will need to:
- Uninstall associated programs from your PC;
- Clean up compromised browser shortcuts;
- Check Windows registry for modified keys (Open Windows Registry (search your computer for regedit) and press CTRL + F to open Search. Type in yoursites123 and hit Find Next. Right-click and delete the detected key associated with the hijacker and press Find next again. Repeat until there are no dangerous keys left);
- Check your Hosts file (see a guide given below).
If you are facing Yoursites123.com problem while trying to remove this browser hijacker, you should check your Hosts file. You can do that with the help of these steps:
- Find the Start key and R on your keyboard. Hold them together until you see Run window;
- Here, copy/paste this text: notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts;
- Select OK.
- When the .txt file opens, check the IP addresses below the localhost. If you can find strange addresses, it means you are hacked. You should edit your .txt file and remove such and similar addresses that are related to yoursites123 or similar browser hijackers: 127.0.0.1 down.baidu2016.com; 127.0.0.1 123.sogou.com; 0.0.0.0 pubads.g.doubleclick.net, 0.0.0.0 securepubads.g.doubleclick.net, etc.
Now you should try to scan your computer with one of programs that are given below and remove malicious files from it. Make sure that you use the latest versions of these programs to be sure that each of them has Yoursites123.com virus in its database. If you don't want to use automatic removal option, follow a guide given below. Before you carry out the main removal instructions, complete these easy steps to stop all running hijacker's processes:
- Click Start -> Task Manager and go to Processes Tab.
- If you can see a malicious process related to this browser hijacker, right click each of them and select Open File Location.
- Once you opened the folder, select End Task and repeat with other entries.
- Finally, eliminate those directories you were sent to.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
-
If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall YourSites123.com and related programs
Here, look for YourSites123.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove YourSites123.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariEliminate YourSites123.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for YourSites123.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove YourSites123.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
-
Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for YourSites123.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete YourSites123.com removal.
Erase YourSites123.com virus from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
-
Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
-
Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
-
Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, YourSites123.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariGet rid of YourSites123.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
- Open Firefox and enter about:config into the address bar. Hit Enter.
- Click the “I'll be careful, I promise!” button to continue.
- Use the search box at the top of the page to type homepage. Wait until it finds associated entries.
- Right-click on the browser.startup.homepage entry and choose Modify. Here, delete the deceptive domain and enter the URL of whichever website you want to keep as your homepage.
- Complete the instructions given below.
-
Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select YourSites123.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete YourSites123.com removal.
Uninstall YourSites123.com from Google Chrome
Delete all extensions and modified settings related to Your Sites 123 hijacker.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select YourSites123.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
-
Click Reset to confirm this action and complete YourSites123.com removal.
Delete YourSites123.com from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for YourSites123.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by YourSites123.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete YourSites123.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ H. Thomas Milhorn. Cybercrime: How to Avoid Becoming a Victim. Google Books. The World's Most Comprehensive Index of Full-Text Books.
- ^ Browser Helper Object. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.
- ^ UsunWirusa. UsunWirusa. Virus Removal Tutorials, Security News.