Default Search Engine Problem
I have Bing set up as my default search engine and it has worked fine for years. Now all of the sudden, any search I request, whether in the address bar or search window is completed by Yahoo. I have tried everything I know to try to fix this but to no avail. Also, when I click the Add-ons button to check for add -ons that I perhaps placed in error, a new blank tab opens up. I'm wondering if I should just delete Firefox and then re-install it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Επιλεγμένη λύση
Hi pfburdett, in recent months, a number of users have reported being infected by an extension that somehow blocks access to the content of the Add-ons page. As a workaround, restart Firefox in its Safe Mode first. In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions.
If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart.
If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)
Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Then you should not be blocked from using the Add-ons page and you can proceed with cleaning up there.
By the way, if you identify a bad extension, please name names. You also can share its unique ID that is on the Troubleshooting Information page, Add-ons table since Mozilla would need that to issue a block.
Ανάγνωση απάντησης σε πλαίσιο 👍 2Όλες οι απαντήσεις (6)
Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; (<Control> [Mac=<Command>] <Shift> A)
In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Remove “ Yahoo “ Anything.
Also remove SafeSearch, SearchAssist Incognito, FileConverter Addon, SearchLock, DiscreteSearch, WebSearch, Findwide Search Engine, securedsearch
Now do the same in the computer’s Programs Folder.
Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the Applications folder. Linux: Check your user manual.
Επιλεγμένη λύση
Hi pfburdett, in recent months, a number of users have reported being infected by an extension that somehow blocks access to the content of the Add-ons page. As a workaround, restart Firefox in its Safe Mode first. In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions.
If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart.
If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)
Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Then you should not be blocked from using the Add-ons page and you can proceed with cleaning up there.
By the way, if you identify a bad extension, please name names. You also can share its unique ID that is on the Troubleshooting Information page, Add-ons table since Mozilla would need that to issue a block.
Thank you both for your rapid responses. The solution that worked was the action suggested by jscher2000. I tried FredMcD's solution first, but the first step "about:addons" enter just took me to a new tab.
I did report the offending extension.
I can't thank you enough for your help. Have a great day!!
I don't remember Fred. I reported it in the popup box that came up when I selected it for deletion. Sorry.
I think I have solved the problem described here. The offending extension seems to have been "blog link" which I do not ever remember adding. I removed several other extensions that didn't seem familiar, but they did not stop yahoo search from popping up in place of google results. The google results are much better organized and relevant, which is why google has been preferred all over the world for all these years!!