To find the optimal operational condition when the properties of feedstock changes in the cracking furnace online, a hybrid algorithm named differential evolution group search optimization (DEGSO) is proposed, which is based on the differential evolution (DE) and the group search optimization (GSO). The DEGSO combines the advantages of the two algorithms: the high computing speed of DE and the good performance of the GSO for preventing the best particle from converging to local optimum. A cooperative method is also proposed for switching between these two algorithms. If the fitness value of one algorithm keeps invariant in several generations and less than the preset threshold, it is considered to fall into the local optimization and the other algorithm is chosen. Experiments on benchmark functions show that the hybrid algorithm outperforms GSO in accuracy, global searching ability and efficiency. The optimization of ethylene and propylene yields is illustrated as a case by DEGSO. After optimization, the yield of ethylene and propylene is increased remarkably, which provides the proper operational condition of the ethylene cracking furnace.