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I would like to continue using Firefox, but Yahoo has made it impossible--please help!!

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When using Firefox, Yahoo often cuts in, usually with a DNS complaint, and won't let me connect. I don't use Yahoo. I continually strip it from the list of possible browser search choices, but it keeps coming back to the list, and makes itself my browser of choice. I keep correcting this, and it keeps coming back. It is causing me to have to use another browser most of the time, though I would prefer not to. Please tell me what I can do to prevent Yahoo from trying to control my computer!!!

My Firefox is 39.0, and my Mac 10.7.5. I believe Flash Player may be involved (maybe not) and that is version 18.0 r0, which is not allowed to act unless I tell it to.

When using Firefox, Yahoo often cuts in, usually with a DNS complaint, and won't let me connect. I don't use Yahoo. I continually strip it from the list of possible browser search choices, but it keeps coming back to the list, and makes itself my browser of choice. I keep correcting this, and it keeps coming back. It is causing me to have to use another browser most of the time, though I would prefer not to. Please tell me what I can do to prevent Yahoo from trying to control my computer!!! My Firefox is 39.0, and my Mac 10.7.5. I believe Flash Player may be involved (maybe not) and that is version 18.0 r0, which is not allowed to act unless I tell it to.

All Replies (7)

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http://www.clamxav.com/ free malware scanner for Mac OS X https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3291


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. Now do the same in the computers Programs Folder.

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.


After the problem is fixed, Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.

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"... Yahoo often cuts in, usually with a DNS complaint, ...

Who is your Internet Service Provider? Your ISP might have an agreement with Yahoo where incomplete searches or unresolvable URL's get automatically kicked over to Yahoo DNS servers for "resolution". Most ISP's have an "opt-out" available for that [questionable as a feature, IMO] "service" they provide to their customers that be easily overridden.

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FredMcD said

http://www.clamxav.com/ free malware scanner for Mac OS X https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3291

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. Now do the same in the computers Programs Folder.

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.


After the problem is fixed, Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.

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the-edmeister said

"... Yahoo often cuts in, usually with a DNS complaint, ... Who is your Internet Service Provider? Your ISP might have an agreement with Yahoo where incomplete searches or unresolvable URL's get automatically kicked over to Yahoo DNS servers for "resolution". Most ISP's have an "opt-out" available for that [questionable as a feature, IMO] "service" they provide to their customers that be easily overridden.

If this were the problem, why not with other browsers?

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JSteed said

FredMcD said
http://www.clamxav.com/ free malware scanner for Mac OS X https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3291

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. Now do the same in the computers Programs Folder.

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. Linux: Check your user manual.


After the problem is fixed, Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.

There was no Yahoo anything in the Add-ons Manager.

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On Mac, this behavior usually is caused by Spigot add-ons or something else that snuck in. Thank you for your system information, which shows the Searchme extension and other, um, crap.

Please try disabling ALL nonessential or unrecognized extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Cmd+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or remove). Especially Searchme.

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.

Does that help?

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Regarding Flash, there is an updated release that can be set to "Always Activate", version 18.0.0.209. You can get it on this page:

https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

In the first table, look for the row for Mac.

To ensure that the old version is removed, please close any tabs that are using Flash, or exit out of Firefox, during the update.

But if you don't mind activating on a site-by-site basis, there may be security benefits to doing so while these recently discovered vulnerabilities are all flushed out.