Stop Your Template Finder from hijacking your browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Your Template Finder?
Your Template Finder (not to be confused with Your Template Finder toolbar by Mindspark Interactive Network) is a browser hijacking that supposeldy allows download of various free templates and related content. It is accompanied by a fake search engine tool (search.searchytf.com).
Categorized as a PUA (potentially unwanted application), most users install Your Template Finder unintentionally. It operates by changing browser settings, forcing people to use its fake search engine, and tracking user data (specifically, monitoring and gathering information relating to browsing activity).
Typically, browser hijackers target the most popular browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer). They modify browser settings, including the homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URL. In the case of Your Template Finder, it assigns them to search.searchytf.com.
Changes made by Your Template Finder cannot be undone without removal of the app (they are simply reset). Users with hijacked browsers will experience a diminished browsing experience. New tabs/windows opened and search queries entered into the URL bar will redirect to search.searchytf.com.
In addition, this fake search engine produces no unique results. When used, it redirects to search.yahoo.com, a legitimate search engine. Most browser hijackers can also track data and gather users' browsing details (URLs visited, pages viewed, search engine queries) and personal information (IP address, geolocations, and details pertaining to identities).
This data is then passed to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who seek to misuse it to generate revenue. Therefore, while Your Template Finder appears to offer free services, users can end up experiencing problems with their device, browser, privacy, and even becomes victims of identity theft.
This browser hijacker is often distributed together with the Hide My Searches app. The latter is also considered to be a PUA. To maintain the safety of your device and avoid identity theft, remove all PUAs immediately.
| Name | Your Template Finder |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:AdwareSig [Adw]), DrWeb (Adware.Spigot.145), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.WebSearch.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Your Template Finder |
| Supposed Functionality | Access to document templates. |
| Promoted URL | search.searchytf.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.searchytf.com) | 34.195.214.115 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| 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. |
| Additional Information | Your Template Finder is distributed together with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| 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. |
Your Template Finder developers have created many identical browser hijackers (e.g. Get Free Translations, How To DIY, Free Live Radio, and others). These applications are intentionally created to seem legitimate and offer various "useful" features. In fact, these so-called features promised are often nonfunctional and merely cause problems.
The only purpose of PUAs is to generate revenue for the developers by promoting fake search engines, causing unwanted redirects to sale-oriented and malicious websites, delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns, and tracking user data.
How did Your Template Finder install on my computer?
Your Template Finder has an official website from which this rogue app is free to download. Despite this, most PUA infiltrations occur without explicit user permission and/or knowledge. Unwanted applications are often installed inadvertently through scripts executed by intrusive advertisements.
This type of infiltration occurs when users visit compromised sites and click intrusive ads hosted on them. PUAs also proliferate through program install packs or 'bundles'. Note that "bundling" is a deceptive marketing method, whereby regular software is packed with unwanted apps.
Careless users skip steps, ignore terms, and use preset options during installation, thus leading to PUA installation onto devices. In summary, careless browsing habits and rushing installation procedures can lead to PUA infiltration.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
When downloading software, use only official, verified sources, and preferably direct download links. Using peer-to-peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders is ill-advised - programs downloaded using these methods are often bundled with PUAs.
When installing software, study all terms and possible options, and use "Custom/Advanced" settings. Dismiss all additional apps/features and decline offers to download them from any source. When browsing, express caution and avoid suspicious websites/advertisements.
Intrusive ads often seem harmless, so as to trick users into clicking them, however, they can redirect to rogue websites. Intrusive ads can redirect to pornographic, adult-dating, gambling, and similar sites. To stop redirects to dubious websites and suspicious/malicious advertisement campaigns, remove any unwanted applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins.
If your computer is already infected with Your Template Finder, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Your Template Finder browser hijacker installer set-up:
Website promoting Your Template Finder browser hijacker:
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 Your Template Finder?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Your Template Finder application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.searchytf.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Your Template Finder browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.searchytf.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.searchytf.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Your Template Finder browser hijacker 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 (for example, "Your Template Finder"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.searchytf.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Your Template Finder browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.searchytf.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Your Template Finder".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.searchytf.com redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Your Template Finder" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Your Template Finder" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.searchytf.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click 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 "hxxp://search.searchytf.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.searchytf.com redirect, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Your Template Finder", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, disable "Your Template Finder" or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.searchytf.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.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 "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.searchytf.com redirect 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 search.searchytf.com redirect, 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.
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