Y2search – What is it?

“Y2search” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is spread as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some precise information, for instance, about sport events, make your browser far more safe, enable downloading of any web video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nonetheless, the “Y2search” plugin is quite ineffective because all such features are already built-in to your web browser and/or Windows. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even experienced users are getting caught on such an attraction. In certain instances, this hijacker is spread together with free apps.

How harmful is Y2search hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Y2search hijacker is also quite harmful for web browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its specific – Y2search.com, and likewise modifies your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified symptom).

Aside from seeable transformations done by Y2search hijacker, you may discover that many of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unknown sites, full of web links and promotions – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can include web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

But all these activities are much more bothersome than really dangerous. The major danger, primarily for people who have a great deal of secret information in their browsers, is installed in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, as well as other activities are easily collected by Y2search hijacker.