Hi geohod, try the Chosen solution by cor-el from the next link : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/926741

thank you

Additionally, the Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.

Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

If the problem persists, you can right-click the taskbar > Start Task Manager, click the Processes tab > Show processes from all users. You can then search online for suspicious Image Name and try uninstalling the external Windows program behind the suspicious name via Start menu or Windows Control Panel > Programs and Features, or at least make settings changes in the external Windows program. The dedicated security forums will be helpful:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum79.html

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/index.php

http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/

Hi Geohod - while the above solutions are helpful, I can make it a lot easier for you. To remove Ask.com search tools from Firefox, just follow the instructions we publish right here on our site:

http://bit.ly/TZnYpC 

If you need any other support, our team would love to hear from you via this link:

http://help.ask.com

Best regards, Eric Ask.com

This reply from a representative of Ask.com requires that I click on a link with suffix .ly.

What country is that?

Why am I going to click on a link like that from a corporation that installs itself into my browser without explicit intent?

That is one of the sites that offer the possibility to make tiny URLs.

You will arrive here:

• http://help.ask.com/link/portal/30015/30018/Article/1/How-do-I-remove-the-Ask-com-Toolbar

Does anyone expect me to run a "removal utility" (and restart my pc) from a vendor that plants a search engine into my browser without any removal option at all but its' own removal utility that I find after putting much efforts to find? Has anyone found more reliable solution?