Hi, you can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software: * [http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/default.aspx Microsoft Safety Scanner] * [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware] * [http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/disinfection/5350 Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller] * [http://general-changelog-team.fr/en/downloads/viewdownload/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner AdwCleaner] (for more info, see this [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ alternate AdwCleaner download page]) * [http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/ Hitman Pro] * [http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/ ESET Online Scanner] Further information can be found in the [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]] article. '''Note that not all removal programs will detect all malware, so you may need to run several or all of them.''' After removal you may need to reset your home page, search etc., which you can do by running the add-on [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/searchreset/ SearchReset.] Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

''celt1c [[#question-1075893|said]]'' <blockquote> tried all the usual hidden files and registry searches to no avail. avg doesn't find or report it. swamped by bogus adds etc </blockquote> Thanks, found it lurking in the address bar of the internet explorer shortcut and cleared the problem