How to remove gotoyahoo.com from web browsers
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is gotoyahoo.com?
While analyzing gotoyahoo.com, we found that it is a fake search engine promoted via browser hijackers (extensions like Image Size Info). Fake search engines and extensions promoting them should be avoided. If they are present within browser settings and (or) added to browsers, they should be removed.
Gotoyahoo.com overview
Our examination of gotoyahoo.com has shown that, depending on the user's location, this site (a fake search engine) can redirect users to search.yahoo.com, skyjem.com, and possibly other addresses. Generally, gotoyahoo.com can lead users to trustworthy and unreliable search engines.
However, note that before landing to a search engine users are redirected through a chain of different websites, such as goodtosearch.com, search.pdf2docs.com, myhoroscopepro.com, and many other. The redirect chain also differs depending on user's location.
Questionable search engines opened through gotoyahoo.com can display dubious advertisements and misleading results. Interacting with them can expose users to phishing pages, sites hosting technical support scams, malicious applications, fake lotteries, giveaways, and other content. Thus, users may be lured into disclosing sensitive information, sending money to scammers, infecting computers, etc.
As we mentioned in our introduction, gotoyahoo.com is promoted through extensions that operate as browser hijackers. Usually, these extensions hijack browsers by changing the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Moreover, they can be persistent and prevent users from removing the promoted addresses from the affected settings.
Furthermore, browser hijackers can collect various types of information from users, including browsing history, search queries, and website visits. Sometimes, they can capture personal information. Ultimately, the information gathered can be used for malicious purposes. Therefore, gotoyahoo.com and the associated browser hijackers should never be used.
| Name | gotoyahoo.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Image Size Info and other browser hijackers |
| Supposed Functionality | Accurate search results |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Detection Names | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), dubious websites, and similar channels. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, gotoyahoo.com can redirect users to both reliable and unreliable search engines, exposing them to questionable content and advertisements. Users interacting with these dubious search engines may fall victim to phishing attempts, scams, and malware, putting their sensitive information and devices at risk.
Users should avoid using this site and its associated extensions. More examples of fake search engines are searchesinstyle.com, dfltsearch.com, and toptosearch.com.
How did gotoyahoo.com promoting software install on my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed in various ways. For example, they can be bundled with free or shady applications. Users may unknowingly add them to their browsers during application installations. Typically, this happens when users finish installations without deselecting unwanted offers using "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings.
Also, browser hijackers can be downloaded and added/installed via unofficial app stores, P2P networks, third-party downloaders, questionable websites, misleading pop-ups, ads, fake software updates, etc.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Always ensure that downloads come from official and verified sources (official pages and app stores). When installing, take the time to review the settings/options, use the "Custom" or Advanced" settings, and decline any additional (unwanted) apps, extensions, or tools.
It is also important to exercise caution while browsing and avoid interacting with pop-ups, ads, and similar content encountered on shady pages. Additionally, regularly update the installed software and the operating system and use a reliable security tool. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is gotoyahoo.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove gotoyahoo.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove gotoyahoo.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove gotoyahoo.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
gotoyahoo.com redirect removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the gotoyahoo.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
gotoyahoo.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions (e.g., Image Size Info) , select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.gotoyahoo.com) below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "gotoyahoo.com", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the gotoyahoo.com browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove hxxp://gotoyahoo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".
In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with gotoyahoo.com browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the gotoyahoo.com browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
Post a comment:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit gotoyahoo.com website?
The purpose of forcing users to visit gotoyahoo.com is to increase website traffic, generating revenue for its owners.
Is visiting gotoyahoo.com a threat to my privacy?
Gotoyahoo.com can lead users to both legitimate and questionable search engines or websites, exposing them to intrusive advertisements, scams, and potentially malicious content. Also it may invade privacy by collecting various data.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are often distributed by bundling them with free or shady applications, which users may unknowingly install if they skip the "Advanced" or "Custom" settings during installation. They can also be downloaded through unofficial app stores, P2P networks, third-party downloaders, questionable websites, misleading ads, or fake software updates.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove any browser hijackers. Manual removal may not always work, especially when multiple hijackers designed to reiinstall one another are present. When more than one hijacker is added, it may be required to remove all hijackers at the same time.
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