How do I fix redirects when using Firefox 30? Windows 8.1.
I get redirected and/or pop ups while using Firefox 30 with Windows 8.1. It began immediately with the downloading of said Windows 8.1, so I think it came with that download, and although I have run deep scans and even a pre-boot scan with Avast, plus a scan with IObit Anti Malware, I still get redirects and/or pop ups.
It is an intelligent redirect (context sensitive), but tries to get money from you. For example, I had tried to stop the pop ups [redirects, perhaps] with the pop up blocker likely built into Firefox, but Firefox Help led me instead to an 800 # that offered to connect remotely and fix my PC with Certified Techs as you will see in the chat below. It appeared to be a function of Firefox, not a redirect.
Just after the chat with the 800 outfit I opened FireFox and it went to the (default) url: start.mysearchdial.com/ and a string of more hash, which is possibly how the popups get propagated? I went to mozilla via url and soon got encouraged to download new version, saying current one out of date. But it was going to download from: http://downloadsoftware.pw/download/firefox2/
So it is not only very intelligent, it is also resistant to a lot of software removal tools.
What might you suggest? I have not tried many of those tools yet.
الحل المُختار
MySearchDial should have an entry in the Windows Control Panel, but possibly also have its hooks into all your browsers.
Checking and cleaning that will take a few steps. I suggest starting here:
Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. Click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.
Then, in Firefox, open the Add-ons page using either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions.
Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
Finally, you can "mop up" remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.
Are you able to rid yourself of it?
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الحل المُختار
MySearchDial should have an entry in the Windows Control Panel, but possibly also have its hooks into all your browsers.
Checking and cleaning that will take a few steps. I suggest starting here:
Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. Click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.
Then, in Firefox, open the Add-ons page using either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions.
Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
Finally, you can "mop up" remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.
Are you able to rid yourself of it?
By the way, you may want to use Firefox in its Safe Mode for downloads. That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.
Exit out of Firefox. Then hold down the Shift key while starting it up again.
A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).
Then check the Add-ons page to confirm that extensions are disabled.
You can also check if you have a user.js file in the profile folder to initialize prefs each time Firefox starts.
The user.js file is only present if you or other software has created this file and normally it wouldn't be there. You can check its content with a plain text editor (right-click: Open with) if you didn't create this file yourself.
The user.js file is read each time Firefox is started and initializes preferences to the value specified in this file, so preferences set via user.js can only be changed temporarily for the current session.
Great reply and help. I did everything on the list from this first reply, but the majority of the removals were PUP HTKEYS and Malwarebytes removed a total of over 1100 items including those.
Thanks. That took time, but I took notes. Thanks very much.