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why can't i opt out of ask.com - i have tried everything to rid myself of it. i don't know if it's an add-on or what, but i want to be rid of it. i will switch to chrome if i can't take care of this

  • 7 replies
  • 14 have this problem
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  • Last reply by vjane

vjane
vjane
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i don't know whether this is a plugin, but when i click to open a new browser tab, i get the ask.com search page. i do not want this. i cannot seem to remove it, even going into firefox config settings; it does not appear in control panel/uninstall program. this is very intrusive and annoying. i hate ask.com and i want nothing to do with it. if this continues i will have to switch to a different browser. thanks.

i don't know whether this is a plugin, but when i click to open a new browser tab, i get the ask.com search page. i do not want this. i cannot seem to remove it, even going into firefox config settings; it does not appear in control panel/uninstall program. this is very intrusive and annoying. i hate ask.com and i want nothing to do with it. if this continues i will have to switch to a different browser. thanks.

All Replies (7)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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If it is a Firefox add-on, you may be able to disable or remove it here:

new Firefox button > Add-ons > Extensions

or

classic Tools menu > Add-ons > Extensions

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can also try this:

You can open the about:config page via the location bar and do a search for ask.com via the Filter at the top of that page.

You can reset all ask.com related prefs via the right-click context menu to their default values.
vjane
vjane Question owner
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I think the problem may be fixed. Ask.com did show up in install/uninstall in Control Panel, and also I think it showed up under Options/General and I was able to make it stop hijacking the search function. However, I believe I've done these actions before and the problem recurs - perhaps when the next version of Firefox is installed? If so, could the Mozilla coders make it a separate addition or ask during installation whether the user wants it or not? I don't want to go through this every time I get a Mozilla update. Thanks!

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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could the Mozilla coders make it a separate addition or ask during installation whether the user wants it or not?

Mozilla does not include Ask toolbars or other products in any official release of Firefox.

vjane
vjane Question owner
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Pardon my ignorance, but how does it get there, then? is it Google I should be complaining to?

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
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Ask products usually are bundled with other downloads or add-ons. Sometimes you will see a checkbox somewhere along the way where you can opt out of installing it. In other cases, you might not be given a choice.

I'm confident that Ask would not come with a Google, Yahoo, or Microsoft/Bing add-on because they are competing search engines. I think other users have said Ask was included with the Foxit PDF Reader. I'm sure there are others.

vjane
vjane Question owner
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I always opt out of it whenever I see that checkbox (& I can't remember which software it's been coming with) so I think it's sneaking in anyway. Infuriating. But for the time being I seem to be ok. Thanks for your help & info.