Remove SearchYa Toolbar (Searchya.com)


SearchYa is a toolbar is a toolbar that may be installed on browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox, and Google Chrome. Once it is installed, it will change default homepage address to searchya.com. It may also modify search settings and set its own as the default. Every search item will get redirected to commercial web site, which is irrelevant to user’s search.

SearchYa is considered as an adware program, which will display many advertisements on the computer. It may appear as pop-up, pop-under, toolbar, or hijacker. To execute this, SearchYa need to install additional code to the computer. It can only do that by tricks that will convince victim to execute a button that will disguise as mini-game or similar.

This toolbar and browser hijacker program may come into your computer through various means. Sometimes, it will require you to download a program and there are instances that it is bundled with freeware that you have acquired from unofficial web site. However you may have obtain this adware, it is good to know that you can remove it manually from an affected computer. See the complete guide below.

What are the Symptoms of SearchYa Infection?

Screenshot of Searchya

Threat Summary

Threat: SearchYa Toolbar
Type: Browser Hijacker/Toolbar
Brief Description: Unwanted extension that produces malicious toolbar and also hijacks home page of infected browser.
Removal Tool: â–¼ DOWNLOAD MalwareFox

SearchYa is a toolbar is a toolbar that may be installed on browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox, and Google Chrome. Once it is installed, it will change default homepage address to searchya.com. It may also modify search settings and set its own as the default. Every search item will get redirected to commercial web site, which is irrelevant to user’s search.

SearchYa is considered as an adware program, which will display many advertisements on the computer. It may appear as pop-up, pop-under, toolbar, or hijacker. To execute this, SearchYa need to install additional code to the computer. It can only do that by tricks that will convince victim to execute a button that will disguise as mini-game or similar.

This toolbar and browser hijacker program may come into your computer through various means. Sometimes, it will require you to download a program and there are instances that it is bundled with freeware that you have acquired from unofficial web site. However you may have obtain this adware, it is good to know that you can remove it manually from an affected computer. See the complete guide below.

What are the Symptoms of SearchYa Infection?

Screenshot of Searchya

Procedures to Remove SearchYa Toolbar

Removal steps on this page will help you get rid of the threat effectively using tools and virus scanners. Please make sure that you will carry out the guide in exact order.

Procedure 1: Uninstall SearchYa Toolbar from Windows Control Panel

1. Begin the removal process by uninstalling the adware program from Windows. To do this, we need to open Control Panel. Please ensure that you are logon with the Administrative privilege to access this function.

Accessing Windows 10 Control Panel

- Click on the Windows Start button at lower left corner of the screen.
- Type Control Panel on the search box, and click on its icon on the search result.
- Alternatively, you can just press Windows + X on the keyboard to display Quick Access Menu. Then, click Control Panel.

How to access Control Panel in Windows 8

- The easiest way to access Control Panel on Windows 8 is through the Search function.
- Simply press Windows Key + Q on your keyboard to display the Charms Bar. Alternatively, you can drag mouse pointer to lower-right portion of desktop until the Charms Bar slide-out.
- Click on the Magnifying Glass icon and search for 'Control Panel'. Click the item on the result to access this feature.

cpanel-win8

How to access Control Panel in Windows XP, Windows Vista/ 7

- Click on Start button that can be found on bottom left corner of the screen.
- From the list, choose Control Panel to access settings of Windows and make the needed changes.

Cpanel Win7

2. Under Programs, click on Uninstall a program. It will open a program and features window where-in you can uninstall, change, or repair installed software.

3. Look for adware title or any suspicious name that was installed recently. To do this, you need to arrange the items chronologically. Click on 'Installed On' to display the latest program that looks unfamiliar.

As observed, this threat is also linked to known malware. You may also look for and delete the following names that were identified with SearchYa Toolbar: Searchya.com

Uninstall Item

4. Click on Uninstall button to remove the program automatically.

5. If it prompts for confirmation, please click OK to proceed.

Procedure 2: Scan and remove SearchYa Toolbar files with MalwareFox Anti-Malware

To remove SearchYa Toolbar, download MalwarFox Anti-Malware. This tool is effective in getting rid of Trojans, viruses and malware.

Download Malware Removal Tool

1. After downloading, please install the program using the default settings.

2. At the end of the installation, please make sure that it will download necessary updates.

3. Once update has completed, MalwareFox will launch.

MalwareFox Scanner

4. Select SCAN from the main window to start detection process.

5. Computer will be thoroughly scanned and all infections will be displayed. Remove all threats detected by this anti-malware program after the process.

Procedure 3: Scan Computer in Safe Mode Using Installed Anti-virus Program

1. In troubleshooting a PC, one common step is to boot operating system into Safe Mode with Networking. The same approach will be used in the removal of SearchYa Toolbar. Please execute instructions based on your Windows OS version.

Start Windows 8 / Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

- Please restart the computer and as soon as it begins to start, please press Shift + F8 keys.
- Instead of seeing Advance Boot Options, latest version of Windows will display Recovery Mode. Continue with the given steps until you reach Safe Mode function.
- Click on 'See advanced repair options'.

win8-recovery

- Then, click on Troubleshoot.
- Next, please select Advanced options.
- On the next window, please choose Windows Startup Settings.
- Lastly, click on Restart button. Windows 8 / Windows 10 will now restart and boot into Advanced Boot Option wherein you can run the system in Safe Mode with Networking.

win8-safemode

Start in Safe Mode with Networking (Windows XP/Vista/7 Instruction)

- Please restart the computer and just before Windows start, press F8 on your keyboard repeatedly. You will be presented with Advanced Options Menu.
- From the selections, choose Safe Mode with Networking. Please use keyboard's arrow up/down to navigate between selections and press Enter to proceed.

win7-safemode

2. Once your Windows is running in Safe Mode, open your installed anti-virus programs and update it to the most recent version by automatically downloading necessary updates.

3. Thoroughly scan the computer and remove all identified threats. Do not restart or turn off the computer after the scan process. You still need to run another scan. Please follow the next procedure.

Procedure 4: Run extra scan with Junkware Removal Tool

To make sure that no more malicious files linked to SearchYa Toolbar are inside the computer, we must run another effective scanner. This time, use Junkware Removal Tool. No installation is necessary with this tool.

Download JRT

1. Click the button above to start the download process. Save the file to your preferred location.

2. Junkware Removal Tool will close all running applications later. So, before executing the file, please Bookmark or Print this page. And then, close all programs.

3. Double-click the JRT.exe file to initiate the tool.

4. It will prompt you to "Press any key to continue."

JRT Scanner

5. Junkware Removal Tool will create a Restore Point and proceed with the scan. Please wait for the scan process to finish.

6. After scanning the computer, JRT will open a Notepad containing scan logs. It may have not find SearchYa Toolbar relevant entities, but it will surely delete any malicious items not found in the previous scans.

Procedure 5: Reset Affected Internet Browser

Reset browser settings of Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome browser.

2. In the address bar, type this: chrome://settings/ and then, press Enter.

3. Navigate at the end of the page and click on Show advanced settings.

4. At the bottom of the page, click on Reset settings to remove all changes made by SearchYa Toolbar.

Reset Google Chrome

Reset Internet Explorer Settings:

1. Open Internet Explorer software.

2. Navigate to top menu and click Tools > Internet Options.

3. On Internet Options window, select Advanced tab.

4. In order to reverse modifications caused by SearchYa Toolbar, click on Reset button to bring back Internet Explorer's settings to their default condition.

Internet Explorer

Reset Firefox to its default state:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox program.

2. Navigate to top menu and Open Help Menu. Then, select on Troubleshooting Information.

3. Click on Refresh Firefox button to erase the effect of SearchYa Toolbar.

Reset Firefox

Protect your PC from SearchYa Toolbar or Similar Attack

Turn On Safe Browsing Features

Google Chrome's Protection from Dangerous Sites

With Google Chrome's Dangerous Site Protection feature, you will have lesser risks browsing the web. It will display a warning when the site you are trying to visit is suspicious, thus, you can prevent SearchYa Toolbar infection. To enable protection from dangerous sites, please do these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome.

2. In the address bar, type this: chrome://settings/ and then, Press Enter.

3. Once on the settings page, click on Show advanced settings... at the bottom of the page to see the rest of the Chrome setup.

4. Locate Privacy section and mark 'Protect you and your device from dangerous sites'.

Chrome Security Settings

5. Please restart Google Chrome. New settings keep your browser safe while surfing the web.

SEE MORE : Enable Google Chrome's protection from dangerous sites

Internet Explorer - Activate SmartScreen Filter

Internet Explorer versions 8 and 9 has this feature called SmartScreen Filter. It helps detect phishing web sites and protect you from downloading malicious programs including SearchYa Toolbar. To turn on SmartScreen Filter, follow these steps:

1. Please open Internet Explorer.

2. On top menu, select Tools (IE 9). For IE 8, please look for Safety menu.

3. Select SmartScreen Filter from the drop-down list and click on Turn on SmartScreen Filter.

IE SmartScreen Filter

4. Please restart Internet Explorer.

SEE MORE : Comprehensive steps to activate SmartScreen Filter

Mozilla Firefox - Block Attack Sites and Web Forgeries

Phishing and Malware Protection is a built-in feature on Firefox version 3 or later. It warns you when a page you are trying to visit contains phishing content or an attack site designed to drop threats such as SearchYa Toolbar. To help you keep safe while browsing the Internet using Firefox, please follow this guide:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser.

2. On top menu, click on Open Menu. Then select Options from the list.

3. Select Security and put a check mark on the following items:

  • Warn me when sites try to install add-ons
  • Block reported attack sites
  • Block reported web forgeries

Firefox Security Settings

Edge Browser - SmartScreen Filter

SmartScreen filter is a built-in feature in Microsoft Edge browser that can help you deter malicious programs such as SearchYa Toolbar. It can block malicious web sites and downloads.

1. Open Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Click on More Actions button located at top right corner of the screen.

3. Select Settings from the drop-down list.

4. Under Settings menu, go to Advanced Settings section and click on View Advanced Settings.

5. Scroll down to "help protect my PC from malicious sites and downloads with SmartScreen Filter". Turn it to ON.

6.You may now restart Microsoft Edge browser.

Edge SmartScreen Filter

11 thoughts on “Remove SearchYa Toolbar (Searchya.com)”

  1. Great info, thanks. Got the searchya removed.

    Mack, Start by uninstalling the add-ons from control panel (clearly No. 1).Searchya is not the culprit for disablling system restore, regedit, etc… I am certain that you have a malware on your PC (without reformat). Searchya is a plain browser add-on. I am sure of that. I have removed it successfully from my clients PC.

    How about checking your computer first for malware before showing your ignorance? This guide covers searchya removal only and not malware removal. So if your computer is affected by some malware, you do not have to blame this guide. First, it was you who install the product by browsing explicit web site. It is your irresponsible web browsing habit that causes you problems and for that, blame yourself.

    Don’t expect that there will always be a free and easy solution to problems made by yourself.

  2. If you are using the latest version of chrome or have recently installed it you will have to go to the Extensions menu (above settings) and either uncheck the Searchya tab or delete it using the recyclebin icon.

  3. Thank you so much !!! Finally I was able to get rid of this annoying searchya issue !!!!
    SearchYa should be considered as a SPAM and I don’t understand why the laws did not apply to this case …

  4. Unfortunalely it is not working on Google chrome. I have removed it through the control panel programes and features, however it still apears as a default search engine in my browser. Any ideas how to dispose it for good?

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