How to Fix the Recent Browser Hack Redirecting All Your Search Results

A new browser hack has recently been making its way around and affecting plenty of people's devices. This hack changes your searches by redirecting them several times and ending with Yahoo search results. This happens regardless of the search engine you have identified in your web browser. Going directly to a search engine, like Google.com and searching from within that page will likely work, but there is also a way to fix this issue.

This post discusses how to fix the recent browser hack redirecting all of your search results to Yahoo search regardless of your chosen search engine.

How to Fix the Recent Browser Hack Redirecting All Your Search Results

Unfortunately, resetting your browser will not fix the redirect issue. If your web browser search results are being redirected to search-redirect.com and/or eventually ending up at search.yahoo.com when that is not the search engine you set in the browser, follow the steps below to fix the issue.

First, remove any malware applications listed under Windows Settings, Apps.
Second, remove any browser extensions. Browser extensions can be found by clicking on the setting icon in most browsers, then selecting "Extensions" in the pop-out menu and managing the installed extensions.

In most browsers you can click on Settings, then "Extensions" to manage all installed browser extensions.

Once these two steps have been taken, you will want to check the search engine listed in the browser's settings.

Within the Edge browser:

Click on the ellipsis in the upper right corner and select "Settings".
Click on "Privacy, search, and services".
Click on "Search and connected experiences".
Click on "Address bar and search".
Click on "Search engines".
If the Google search engine is pointing to something other than Google, like search-redirect.com, delete this search engine.

Example of the Google search engine being redirected in the search engine settings in the Edge browser.

Within the Chrome browser:

Click on the kebab in the upper right corner to open the settings menu and click on "Settings".
Click "Search Engine".
Click "Manage search engines and site search".
If the Google search engine is pointing to something other than Google, like search-redirect.com, delete this search engine.

Example of the Google search engine being redirected in the search engine settings in the Chrome browser.

Once you have removed the search engine, add it back by clicking on the "Add" button so it is added with the correct information.

This recent hack targeting search engines used in web browsers can be fixed, but knowing where to find the setting is key. These settings have moved many times as web browsers have been updated, and the setting in Microsoft Edge in particular is buried several menus deep. However, if you notice your web browser searches being redirected, you will want to check the search engine settings immediately and get this fixed. This will help protect your privacy and ensure you are receiving the search results you intended.

As always, knowing how and where to find the configuration settings when something is not working as expected is extremely important in protecting you, your data, and your privacy!