Protect: blocking dangerous pages

Attention. Yandex Browser warns you when you go to a dangerous site, but is not a full-fledged antivirus product. However, Protect technology defends your browser against computer threats that antivirus programs do not block. We recommend using both for full protection.
  1. Why Yandex Browser blocks infected pages
  2. How blocking works
  3. If you must open a dangerous page
  4. Interaction with antivirus software
  5. If Yandex Browser is blocking your site
  6. Disable protection

Why Yandex Browser blocks infected pages

Hackers distribute malware that interferes with the computer and steals, corrupts, or deletes information. This malware enters a computer through removable media or the internet. The browser protects you against malware that is distributed through the internet

by warning you if a page is infected.

How blocking works

Before opening a page, Yandex Browser checks it against a list of infected pages. Their addresses are stored in a special database compiled by Yandex and our partners. Any page detected in the database is blocked.

If a dangerous page is not found in the database, but Yandex Browser thinks it's a threat, the main features of the page are sent to Yandex. From there, the page goes through a thorough check based on machine learning algorithms. If the review confirms it's dangerous, then it is blocked and a page with a warning appears. You can:

  • Close the page. Click the Leave page button.
  • View a copy of the page before infection. Click Safe copy.
  • Learn more about the malware. Follow the link to the page that contains full information about the infection.
  • Go to the dangerous page. Click Ignore warning.
Attention. However, we strongly recommend that you don’t visit a website with dangerous content. Malicious code could infect your computer or give hackers access to your personal information and electronic payments.

If you must open a dangerous page

Take security measures:

  • Temporarily disable all potentially vulnerable browser components: JavaScript.
  • After visiting the page, scan your computer with an antivirus or free utilities.

Note that these actions do not protect against infection, but only make it less likely and help with recovery.

Interaction with antivirus software

The security mechanism in Yandex Browser doesn't conflict with other security applications (anti-virus software and firewalls). If antivirus software is installed in the system, it may detect malware before Yandex Browser. In this case, you see a message from the antivirus rather than Yandex Browser.

If Yandex Browser is blocking your site

If Yandex Browser blocked your site because it’s infected, delete the malicious code. On the next indexation, the Yandex robot will exclude your site from the dangerous list.

You can use Yandex Webmaster to speed up indexing. To do this, go to Security and violations and click Recheck. We recommend that you regularly repeat the check for several weeks after infection. This will help detect malware if it was not completely removed the first time.

Follow the security rules to protect your site from infection. If you register a site in Yandex Webmaster, you will be able to get email notifications and view details of infected pages on the Security and violations page.

Disable protection

Attention. If you want to disable the blocking of dangerous pages, you have to disable protection against malware and malicious sites in Yandex Browser completely . We strongly recommend that you don’t do this.

To disable blocking of dangerous pages:

  1. Click  → Settings.
  2. Go to the Protect tab at the top of the page.
  3. In the Threat security section, deselect the Run security checks on websites and downloaded files option.

To enable the blocking of dangerous pages, follow the same steps and select the Run security checks on websites and downloaded files option.