Remove YourTV.link virus from Firefox, Chrome, IE and Safari

This security report covers a technique to troubleshoot a web browser that returns YourTV.link page instead of the preferred Internet navigation settings.

Web browsers, thankfully, have built-in features that allow users to adjust some settings to their likes. Some people configure a certain search engine or simply a blank page to appear when they open their favorite browser and every new tab. It’s certainly convenient to also tie up a keyword lookup provider of choice to whatever is typed right into the address bar. This principle works flawlessly as long as a computer is running without malicious software on board. Adware is one’s biggest adversary in this regard. The infection called YourTV.link, for instance, ruins the preferences-based balance and turns the user’s online activity into a drag.

YourTV.link adware circulates along with other programs in a way that keeps the targeted person from knowing about the drive-by. The oddest thing in such a propagation methodology is that it’s technically legitimate since users can deselect the unwanted app on the installation stage. Most people stick with the recommended setup and hardly ever choose the custom option, although the latter is a good idea these days. Incidentally, the formally licit distribution is the reason why some antivirus suites don’t produce alerts on potentially unwanted programs like this. The software that the hijacker under consideration stealthily escorts may include free streaming video grabbers, file converters into PDF format, and media players.

This infection runs on all popular web browsers, so it’s not just the default one that will be affected. It adds a plugin that automatically replaces the homepage and new tab page with YourTV.link URL. When the user tries to find some information online directly from the omnibox, what they get is a results list through custom search rather than their preferred engine. The landing page is primarily tailored for advertising. It contains targeted ads based on the victim’s web surfing history, which means that the malicious add-on harvests this type of information. The Privacy Policy posted on the site proves this adverse practice by stating that the application logs the user’s IP address, ISP name, user-agent string, and the pages visited.

Going into browser settings to change the tweaked preferences won’t work and the modifications simply won’t take effect for long. It actually takes a special workaround to undo the bad impact and completely get rid of YourTV.link hijacker.

Automated removal of YourTV.link 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

Download YourTV.link remover

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 YourTV.link 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 YourTV.link 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 YourTV.link.

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.

Download YourTV.link removal tool