Remove Yessearches.com malware (ShortcutBoost.exe) from Firefox, Chrome and IE

The hijacker using ShortcutBoost.exe process to redirect all web browsers on a computer to Yessearches.com must be eliminated via a special cleaning technique.

Upon a cursory glance at the numerous browser homepage and search diverting contagions out there, it may appear that they are all identical except for the landing pages that the victims are forced to hit constantly. This sameness, however, doesn’t hold true for adware like Yessearches as it uses a unique technique to corrupt Internet navigation presets. On entering an operating system, the infection creates a folder named ‘yessearchesbnd’ or ‘yesforsearchesbnd’ in Program Files directory, which holds several auxiliary executables. ShortcutBoost.exe is one of these. It is aimed at modifying the default settings of quick launch icons for all browsers detected on the PC.

The Yessearches app usually escorts various third-party programs to infiltrate into computers. The accompanying utilities are installable separately or as part of bundles. Adware distributors stick with the latter technique, negotiating the inclusion of their harmful installers into multi-component download clients. In the course of such a setup, the end user mainly just pays attention to the headlines and misses the information in fine print or somewhere down the EULA. The potentially unwanted objects like the one discussed can be avoided on condition that the installation wizard allows disabling the extra options.

In case the user didn’t customize the setup and unwittingly authorized the applet to get in, the effects will show almost instantly. The hijacker does exactly what’s stated in bundle’s terms, which say “Set Yessearches as homepage and default search on Chrome and Firefox browser”, moreover, it proved to also affect Internet Explorer. ShortcutBoost.exe makes shortcuts act up by bringing up Yessearches.com when double-clicked, and the intrusive browser plugin deploys a redirect routine further during web surfing. Given the complexity of this adware attack, manual troubleshooting is barely effective – at least, uninstalling the pest through Control Panel won’t help. What does the trick is the instruction below, which stems from years of malware removal experience.

Automated removal of Yessearches.com virus

Owing to an up-to-date database of malware signatures and intelligent behavioral detection, the recommended software can quickly locate the infection, eradicate it and remediate all harmful changes. So go ahead and do the following:

1. Download and install the antimalware tool. Open the solution and have it check your PC for PUPs and other types of malicious software by clicking the Start Computer Scan button

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2. Rest assured the scan report will list all items that may harm your operating system. Select the detected entries and click Fix Threats to get the troubleshooting completed.

Use Control Panel to get rid of Yessearches adware

• Open up the Control Panel from your Start menu in Windows and select Uninstall a program

• To facilitate the process of locating the threat, sort the programs list by date to get the latest ones displayed at the very top. Find Yessearches Uninstall or some other unfamiliar entry under the Name column, click Uninstall and follow further directions to get the removal done

Restore web browser settings to their original defaults

In the circumstances of a complex browser hijack like this, executing a reset makes the most sense despite a few obvious downsides. Customizations such as saved passwords, bookmarked pages etc. will be gone, but so will all the changes made by the potentially unwanted program. The instructions below address the workflow for the web browsers most targeted by Yessearches.

Reset Google Chrome

• Open Chrome, expand the Customize and control Google Chrome menu and choose Settings

• Scroll down the settings screen and click Advanced down at the bottom

• Move on to the Reset and clean up sub-section and select the option that says Restore settings to their original defaults

• Finally, confirm the restoration by clicking Reset settings on the warning message

• Restart Chrome.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

• Open Firefox, type about:support in the URL area and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click on the Open menu icon in the top right-hand part of the browser window, then select the Help option and proceed to Troubleshooting Information

• On the Troubleshooting Information screen, spot the Refresh Firefox button and click on it

• Follow subsequent directions to reset Firefox to its original settings

• Restart the browser.

Reset Internet Explorer

• Select Internet options under IE’s Tools (Alt+X)

• Proceed by clicking on Advanced tab, then select Reset

• To confirm the intended changes, click Reset on the Reset Internet Explorer Settings screen after ascertaining that the Delete personal settings checkbox is enabled

• Reboot the machine to fully implement the fix.

Reset Safari

• Go to the Safari menu and select Preferences

• When on the Preferences screen, select the Privacy tab and hit the Remove All Website Data button if you are up to erasing all website data stored on your Mac. Otherwise, you can use a site-specific removal option described below

• A dialog will appear, asking you to validate your choice. Click the Remove Now button if you are sure. Be advised this will log you out of online services and undo personalized web browser settings such as saved passwords, etc.

• Safari also allows deleting data for specific sites rather than all sites in general. To use this option, click the Details button under Privacy tab

• Select the websites for which you would like to erase data and click the Remove button

• Click the Done button to confirm and exit. You can also select the Remove All option to remove all data stored by the listed websites.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup.

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