Do you know what Hao.ylmf.com is?
Hao.ylmf.com is one messy infection that we classify as a browser hijacker. This Chinese hijacker is mainly targeted at those speaking the language and those located in the region; however, it was also found in India and Pakistan. Your location can be discovered by recording your IP address, which can be done by tracking cookies. These tracking cookies might even belong to seemingly unrelated programs, but some of them can share information with other parties. This information can be used by third-party installers distributing this hijacker along with other programs, as you might be introduced to specific software depending on where you live. Speaking of third-party malware, if you suspect that it exists, you should remove it ASAP. Right now, let’s focus on deleting Hao.ylmf.com. This hijacker might seem interactive and useful, but it is deceptive and potentially malicious, which leaves no doubt that you should get rid of it.
According to our research, Hao.ylmf.com usually travels packaged with QvodPlayer, an advertising-supported program that we know by the name “Qvod.” As mentioned previously, other suspicious apps and programs could be spread bundled with this hijacker, so keep your eyes open. The best thing to do is scan your operating system with a reliable malware scanner to see which other threats are active on your PC. Of course, the hijacker is enough of a burden, and it might take some time for you to figure it out. As we have found, this infection creates a fictitious shortcut to Internet Explorer on your Desktop. This shortcut is called "Intrenet. Expleror.lnk". As you can see, the name of this shortcut gives away that it is fake; however, because it has the icon of an IE browser, you might launch it without looking at the name twice. On top of that, this hijacker is also capable of modifying the homepage of your IE browser. Unfortunately, this infection directly affects Chrome and Firefox browsers by changing their Targets.
A browser Target determines the location which the browser is launched from. Because most users attach browser shortcuts on their Desktops, Start menus, or Taskbars, Hao.ylmf.com is capable of introducing itself to you right as you interact with your browsers. Whether you launch Chrome, Firefox, or IE, you will be greeted by this hijacker. Needless to say, it is not a silent threat. Unfortunately, this hijacker presents a weather forecast, news, and other content that you might find interesting. Of course, the main feature of this hijacker is a search tool that you should not use. If you do, you might be shown unreliable search results, and you might be redirected to unreliable websites. Although, the greatest reason to eliminate this hijacker is its illegal infiltration, our research team warns that it does not provide reliable search services either.
Hao.ylmf.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Do not be mistaken, removing Hao.ylmf.com is not an easy task. This hijacker has so many components and elements that it might be difficult for you to erase all traces of this threat yourself. If you are up for the challenge, you can follow the steps shown below. If you are not sure you can succeed on your own, use the help of an automated malware remover. Install this tool, and it will clean your operating system within minutes. Even better, it will keep it clean in the future. If you decide that you want to eliminate all threats manually, use a scanner to check your progress. Scan your PC beforehand to identify malware, and scan it afterward to see if you have completed the operation successfully.
Remove Hao.ylmf.com
- Launch Explorer by tapping Win+E keys together.
- Enter %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\tools\ (if you use Windows XP, %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\tools) into the address bar.
- Right-click and Delete the file called “google.html”.
- Enter %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\ into the address bar.
- Right-click and Delete the file called “Intrenet. Expleror.lnk”.
- Visit these directories and Delete shortcuts (LNK files) called “打折网购.lnk” and “上网导航.lnk”:
- %PUBLIC%\Desktop\
- %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
- %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\
- Simultaneously tap keys Win+R to launch the RUN dialog box.
- Navigate to Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\.
- Right-click and Delete these keys: www.hao.ylmf.com, hao.ylmf.com.
- Launch Internet Explorer, tap Alt+T, and click Internet options.
- Click the General tab, overwrite the Home Page URL, and click OK.
- Right-click the shortcut of the infected Firefox browser and select Properties.
- Click the Shortcut tab and move to the Target.
- Replace the Target with the location of your original browser (e.g., "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe").
- Right-click the Chrome shortcut and select Properties.
- Click the Shortcut tab and move to the Target.
- Replace the Target with the location of your original browser (e.g., "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe").
N.B. You might have to modify the Target on multiple shortcuts, including those on the Taskbar, the Desktop, and the Start menu.
In non-techie terms:
There is no doubt that Hao.ylmf.com is a browser hijacker, and it is best to eliminate it from your browsers and your operating system. This threat can slither in without your notice and corrupt your browsers using a very deceptive manner. This hijacker is even capable of creating a fake IE link to trick you into interacting with it. Although not all links or services promoted by this hijacker are malicious, you should not interact with them mindlessly. In fact, you should not interact with them at all. The removal guide above is lengthy and complicated, which is why only experienced users should follow it. Alternatively, employ automated malware removal software to have to computer cleared of malware.