How to get rid of Babylon search for ever?
Hi, Somehow, Babylon toolbar and search provider got installed. And now I want to get rid of it. So, 1) I uninstalled it from "add or remove programs" in the control panel 2) cleared out the "add-ons" from all the browsers and even 3) searched the registry for "Babylon" and deleted all the traces of it 4) searched C: drive for the keyword "Babylon" and deleted all the folders
But still to my surprise, the search results of about:home in Firefox 11.0 came out of "Babylon"
Chosen solution
by TylerdownerFor those of you who are infected By Babylon, these steps should help you remove it fully:
- Click Start, then Control Panel, then Uninstall a Program. Remove anything related to Babylon.
- Open Firefox. Type about:addons into your address bar, press Enter. Click on Extensions, then Remove any Babylon or other unwanted toolbars and extensions. Restart Firefox.
- Install https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/searchreset/
- Download and Install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, run a full Scan. http://www.malwarebytes.org/. This helps check that there are no viruses on your computer causing issues. You can uninstall this program after you clean off any infections.
This should help fully remove Babylon. Another technique that you can do is to do a Full Firefox Reset. Reset Firefox – easily fix most problems
Read this answer in context 33Helpful replies
Hi - I had this problem and nearly tore my hair out trying one suggested solution after another. Even my super anti-virus service couldn't get rid of it. In desperation I wrote a strong letter to tech support at babylon.com and received a reply. I'm pasting this in below. BUT FOLKS, IT WORKS! I am finally free of this pesky search engine that kept bobbing up on my two browsers despite my efforts to free myself from its embrace. I hope it works for you.
Hello
Thank you for taking the time to write us.
Please accept my apology for any inconvenience.
Watch how to remove Babylon and all of it's [sic] features in the next video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1y9Lbsv1_0&feature=plcp
In order to uninstall Babylon and all is [sic] features completely ,follow the steps below :
1) Uninstall Babylon Software: http://support.babylon.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/177/0/uninstall-babylon-software
2) Change Babylon Home Page (Internet Explorer \ Firefox \ Google Chrome):
http://support.babylon.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/175/0/change-babylon-home-page
3) Remove Babylon search provider & Uninstall Babylon Toolbar Software
http://support.babylon.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/213/0/uninstall-babylon-toolbar-software
- Tab issue:
In case you open a new tab, and Babylon Search still appears, please do the following:
For FireFox: Write in the adress line "about:config" and enter. Confirm the message. Look for "Babylon". Open the entries and empty them out.
For Internet Explorer: Open your Internet Explorer browser, click on "Tools", then "Internet Options" and in the section "Tabs" click on "Settings". It will open a new window, on the option "When a new tab is opened, open:" in the drop-down menu please choose "Your first homepage". Then click OK, Apply and OK.
If I can be of further assistance, please turn to our live chat at: http://support.babylon.com/visitor/index.php?/LiveChat/Chat/Request/_sessionID=n42gabc9b3cfqef5bhd79hiabcq92klh/_proactive=0/_filterDepartmentID=/_randomNumber=30/_fullName=/_email=/_promptType=chat
Babylon Support Team
Ticket Details Ticket ID: MPN-897-10898 Department: Private Consumer Tech. Support Type: Issue Status: On Hold Priority: Low
Support Center: https://support.babylon.com/index.php?/default_import
Go to answer 63Bablony is evil it slows down your computer. How to destroy Babylon: 1 Go to Spybot .com down load spybot and install it. 2 Run spybot. It will detect Babylon and a bunch of other spyware and remove it. 3 Spybot will tell you that it didn't get all of Babylon and that there is some it left in your ram. 4 Spybot will ask if it can run when you restart your computer, restart your computer and the rest of Babylon will be removed. Enyoy speed of your computer.
Go to answer 33Additional System Details
This happened
Every time Firefox opened
This started when...
after removal of Babylon Tool Bar
Installed Plug-ins
- Shockwave Flash 11.1 r102
- Picasa plugin
- Version 2.7.5.6365
- Google Talk Plugin Video Accelerator version:0.1.44.15
- Next Generation Java Plug-in 10.3.0 for Mozilla browsers
- Google Update
- Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.6.4.634
- Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape 10.1.2
- DRM Store Netscape Plugin
- Npdsplay dll
- DRM Netscape Network Object
Application
- User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:11.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/11.0
More Information
Application Basics
Name
Firefox
Version
11.0
User Agent
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:11.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/11.0
Profile Directory
Open Containing Folder
Enabled Plugins
about:plugins
Build Configuration
about:buildconfig
Crash Reports
about:crashes
Memory Use
about:memory
Extensions
Name
Version
Enabled
ID
avast! WebRep
7.0.1426
true
wrc@avast.com
WordWeb one-click lookup
5.0.1701
true
wcapturex@deskperience.com
IDM CC
7.2.6
false
mozilla_cc@internetdownloadmanager.com
Modified Preferences
Name
Value
accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar
0
browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion
2
browser.startup.homepage
about:home
browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID
20120312181643
browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone
rv:11.0
extensions.lastAppVersion
11.0
font.internaluseonly.changed
false
gfx.blacklist.direct2d
3
gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d10
3
gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d10-1
3
gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d9
3
gfx.blacklist.layers.opengl
3
gfx.blacklist.suggested-driver-version
257.21
gfx.blacklist.webgl.angle
3
gfx.blacklist.webgl.msaa
3
gfx.blacklist.webgl.opengl
3
keyword.URL
http://www.google.co.in/search?&q=
network.cookie.prefsMigrated
true
network.http.max-connections-per-server
6
network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-server
3
places.database.lastMaintenance
1331658205
places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages
53666
privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs
true
security.warn_viewing_mixed
false
Graphics
Adapter Description
NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
Vendor ID
10de
Device ID
06e4
Adapter RAM
Unknown
Adapter Drivers
nv4_disp
Driver Version
6.14.11.7516
Driver Date
5-2-2008
WebGL Renderer
Blocked for your graphics driver version. Try updating your graphics driver to version 257.21 or newer.
GPU Accelerated Windows
0. Blocked for your graphics driver version. Try updating your graphics driver to version 257.21 or newer.
I don't have a browsemngr.dll file anywhere on my system either. It's a real 'ghost in the machine' scenario.
The webpage you quoted only supplies their current paid for version. The last free version required googling to find. I guess I must have picked a bad download site. Or else one of those with so many buttons that you think your downloading the file but in fact it's something else.
Ah well, as I said, it seems successfully deactivated. It's just really annoying knowing that somewhere, somehow, it can keep reinstating those FF configuration settings.
Neale,
somehow, it can keep reinstating those FF configuration settings
If preferences reset it is likely either
- you still have Babylon related software installed that is able to modify things, unfortunately filenames may not be obvious
If problems persist consider starting your own thread by using /questions/new and maybe we will get to the bottom of the problem. (Post again in this thread if you do and we can find and cross reference the new thread)
- a user.js file is overriding settings when you restart Firefox
see http://kb.mozillazine.org/User.js_file
Good job John99 - as you indicated Babylon had created a user.js file. I found the folder using Help> Troubleshooting Information' - it was tucked away in:
C:\Users\Neale\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\owen8ecc.default.
I renamed the user.js file that Babylon had created and the Babylon entries no longer appear under 'about:config'.
I have no idea how a profile 'owen8ecc' got created. Nothing I recall consciously doing and I don't know any Owens.
Either way - Babylon seems to have gone for ever! ... until the next time ;-)
Glad you fixed it.
I have no idea how a profile 'owen8ecc' got created. Nothing I recall consciously doing and I don't know any Owens.
Firefox creates profile folder names with some leading pseudo random characters. If for instance you ever use the new reset feature you will see that in action. Alternativley other software may have cloned and modified the profile.
See also
Another thing that might help would be to enter "about:config" in the address bar, and check the entry for "keyword:url". If a keyword search is entered in the address bar, the search is sent to the search engine the character string points to. It's a Firefox preference that could still be aimed at Babylon, even if you have expunged the toolbar and other app and plugin items.
Be careful when you tinker in there, though. Just like in the antique store, things can get broken.
If for instance you ever use the new reset feature you will see that in action.
That will be it then. Reset was one of the suggestions for getting rid of Babylon.
check the entry for "keyword:url".
That's fine, it's an empty string.
This thread is rather long and dificult to read and is already solved for the origianl thread owner so I am going to lock it.
Note there will be a header reminding you to start your own thread if you have problems ( use link /questions/new )
I will sumarise some of the thread content.
- There is a chosen solution that we would expect that to work in almost all cases.
- Babylon may install with different bundles and file names and exact installs are likely to differ, that is one reason why it is a good idea to start new threads with full details
- once software is removed settings will almost certainly need resetting
- cor-el recomends trying extension https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/
- sometimes a user.js file may have been created, and renaming or deleting that may prevent the problem of settings changing back when you restart firefox (see)
- browsemngr.dll is known to be involved in some Babylon uninstal problems
- a link to a babylon Support centre was given in a comment by kischmir along with a reminder that Babylon is likely to change any other browsers behaviour, not just Firefox
If anyone has information considered very important send me a PM (I am sure cor-el or TylerDowner would also help) and I will consider adding it to the locked thread. By important I am thinking of links to other solved posts, or names of files and software involved with this issue.
See also: