Deceiving domain - Portal.search-ya.com

Portal.search-ya.com is a domain name bound to a SeachYA potentially unwanted program (PUP). It has been classified as a browser hijacker already due to a doubtful distribution technique referred to as bundling and schematized marketing campaigns initiated to a target audience. 

Experts point out the fact that the extension is capable of hijacking Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and other web browsers without requiring for user's consent. Upon installation, it automatically sets itself as a default start page, search engine, and generates Yahoo search results. 

Although the domain does not exhibit malicious traits, some of the links and advertisements that it generates raise credibility issues. Users may be offered to download software updates or perform an online PC's security check, which clicked can trigger malware infiltration. 

Privacy is yet another aspect, which concerns cybersecurity experts when analyzing the portal.search-ya.com domain. The Privacy Agreement of the app reveals that it can collect non-personally identifiable information, such as IP address, search queries, etc., but can also collect users' emails or other sensitive information that the user discloses intentionally. 

Name	Portal.search-ya.com
Type of malware	Browser hijacker / PUP
Symptoms	Hijacks web browsers by replacing the start page and search provider. It can also inject various toolbars and initiate a web browser's redirects. Sometimes people notice intrusive ads powered by SearchYA on ransom websites
Danger	The PUP does not harm the system directly. Nevertheless, it can initiate multiple changes on web browsers in order to expose its users to suspicious content

 

Portal.search-ya.com violations

2CR-004: The site targets web browsers to compromise their settings by replacing start page, search, engine, and toolbars