I upgraded Windows 10 & Firefox;now a weird URL appears before I get to the site I requested.
OK as the questions states, I upgraded to Windows 10 and upgraded my Firefox as recommended and now when I put a request in the Firefox search box it takes me to the screen that lets me choose which site I really want, then instead of going directly to that site this appears in the URL Line:
I used "example" instead of the site name that was really there (the site I was going to) (I know, clever of me, right?) but it isn't only with this site. I have Kaspursky Security and have referred the question to them as well, but I don't think they're as responsive (or nice) as you guys. So thank you very much in advance, This feels very much like a URL tracker, since the word "tracker" is the first word. But I must say they are not very covert about it if that's the case! Thanks again Sid
Chosen solution
A browser is a computer program for displaying web pages. Usually a browser has a set of pre-defined behaviors, such as sending your search requests to one particular site. Usually these "default" settings can be changed if you like. There's a lot about Firefox that you can customize.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (5)
What search site are you using? Many results pages have outbound link tracking so they can keep web history for you (as well as for their own benefit), but marinsm.com tracks advertising, so I wouldn't expect it to affect regular search results.
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar and search for prefs that refer to marinsm. You can reset user set (bold) prefs via the right-click context menu to the default value.
Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - AdwCleaner:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml - SuperAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/ - Microsoft Safety Scanner:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Windows Defender:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender - Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Kasperky Free Security Scan:
http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
- Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
SidneyADVM said
OK as the questions states, I upgraded to Windows 10 and upgraded my Firefox as recommended and now when I put a request in the Firefox search box it takes me to the screen that lets me choose which site I really want, then instead of going directly to that site this appears in the URL Line: http://tracker.marinsm.com/rd?cid=268861bw43658&msid=bmrbdT43_dc&creative=9310780400&pmt=be&pkw=example%20com&lp=https://www.example.com/examplehome.html?bu=retail&bi=exampleoffer&ex_cmp=cc/Homepage+Test+-+Brand+-+Exact/sea/bmrbdT43/example+-+URL&kwdID=bmrbdT43_dc&adgrpID=9310780400 I used "example" instead of the site name that was really there (the site I was going to) (I know, clever of me, right?) but it isn't only with this site. I have Kaspursky Security and have referred the question to them as well, but I don't think they're as responsive (or nice) as you guys. So thank you very much in advance, This feels very much like a URL tracker, since the word "tracker" is the first word. But I must say they are not very covert about it if that's the case! Thanks again Sid
jscher2000 said
What search site are you using? Many results pages have outbound link tracking so they can keep web history for you (as well as for their own benefit), but marinsm.com tracks advertising, so I wouldn't expect it to affect regular search results.
Sometimes I really think I get things, but then I'm amazed by what I don't know...Because I thought Firefox was my search engine? But then when you gave me that answer I put into Firefox a web site and you're right it goes to Yahoo. So doesn't firefox do the same things as Yahoo or Google? So now my question is: Firefox is my browser, right? But it's not a search site? what does a browser do and why is it different, or does it have to be? I get that you're a volunteer and doing this out of kindness and I must sound exceptionally lame and that's all I can say, I have no excuse. But if you could just shoot me back a really quick answer to the browser vs. search site info (in very layperson's terms) (obviously) I'd really appreciate it. And thank you for responding so quickly to my original question. Much appreciation Sid
Chosen Solution
A browser is a computer program for displaying web pages. Usually a browser has a set of pre-defined behaviors, such as sending your search requests to one particular site. Usually these "default" settings can be changed if you like. There's a lot about Firefox that you can customize.
cor-el said
You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar and search for prefs that refer to marinsm. You can reset user set (bold) prefs via the right-click context menu to the default value.
Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php- AdwCleaner:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml- SuperAntispyware:
http://www.superantispyware.com/- Microsoft Safety Scanner:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx- Windows Defender:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender- Spybot Search & Destroy:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html- Kasperky Free Security Scan:
http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scanYou can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
- Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446See also:
- "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked
Thank you so much for your prompt response. I love having all that scanning the bad stuff info, because usually when I hear about a web address to do a scan, I end up seeing I have 1,000 things wrong and to fix them I will need to pay 94.99 or 49.98 or whatever! So it's cool to get them from you, since you're obviously an unbiased resource. When I tried to click on the rootkit scan, it gave me a 404 error, but do I need to do a rootkit scan? I don't know, obviously from my correspondence you can see I'm not extremely computer literate, although ironically I'm the one all my friends go to so that's very scary! Thanks again for your help!!