How to prevent outside apps from making invasive changes to other programs.

Question

How to prevent outside apps from making invasive changes to other programs.

Richard Katz 0

A malware known as "Yahoo:" attacked my copy of Chrome - turning off the sound.

I would like to know whether you have a reliable software component that can stop this kind of occurrence. It is important to me. Allowing a program called "Yahoo" to modify another browsers settings makes it harder to rely on.
The various settings menus could be more user friendly and maybe less friendly to invasive actions. That is I personally had difficulty finding a "Sound" setting on the Windows 11 Chrome. But the "Yahoo" program had very little trouble at all modifying settings for competive browser Chrome.

Thanks!

Rich

415 336 9559

******@gmail.com

Paulo GM 49,565 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-08-09T21:58:59.08+00:00

Hi Richard,

You might be referring to a browser hijacker, but muting the volume isn’t typical behavior for one. Did it mute your entire system volume or just the volume in Google Chrome? Have you checked if other browsers are affected too? And how did you determine that your device is infected with malware? Your answers to these questions will help get a clearer picture of what’s going on.

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Paulo GM 49,565 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2025-08-09T21:58:59.08+00:00

Hi Richard,

You might be referring to a browser hijacker, but muting the volume isn’t typical behavior for one. Did it mute your entire system volume or just the volume in Google Chrome? Have you checked if other browsers are affected too? And how did you determine that your device is infected with malware? Your answers to these questions will help get a clearer picture of what’s going on.

Answer 1

Hi Richard Katz,

Thanks for reaching out here in the Microsoft Q&A. I can understand the inconvenience this issue has caused you. To help resolve this issue, please follow the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Immediate Cleanup

1 - Remove Suspicious Programs

Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps
Sort by installation date and uninstall any unfamiliar programs, especially those related to search tools or browser helpers

2 - Browser Reset

In Chrome, go to: chrome://settings/reset > Reset settings > Restore settings to their default values.
Clear browsing data: Ctrl+Shift+Del > All time > Check all boxes > Clear.

3 - Extension Audit

Visit: chrome://extensions
Remove all extensions (you can reinstall trusted ones later)

Step 2: System Scans

1 - Run Built-in Security Scan

Open Windows Security
Run both: Quick scan & Full scan.

2 - Additional Scanning Options

Consider using Windows' built-in offline scanner (found in Windows Security under Scan Options)
For persistent issues, the Command Prompt tool bundled with Windows can check system files: Open Admin Command Prompt & run:

sfc /scannow

then:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Step 3: System Configuration Checks

1 - Audio Settings Verification

Right-click the speaker icon > Open Volume Mixer
Verify Chrome isn't muted here
Check Windows Sound Settings for any unusual configurations

2 - Browser Policy Check

Press Win + R > type regedit
Navigate carefully to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google
Look for and remove any suspicious entries (backup registry first)

Step 4: Prevention Measures

1 - User Account Control

Ensure you're not using an administrator account for daily browsing
Set UAC to highest level (search for User Account Control in Start)

2 - Browser Hardening

Enable Chrome's built-in security features: Visit chrome://settings/security > Enhanced protection
Disable unnecessary permissions: chrome://settings/content

3 - System Maintenance

Create a new user profile in Chrome to test if issues persist
Consider creating a new Windows user account for testing

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How to prevent outside apps from making invasive changes to other programs.

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