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when making search, the chosen search engine does not work

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  • 1 has this problem
  • 23 views
  • Last reply by DazzFTZ

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i'm having 2 different type of search problems:

1) i made firefox have google as the default search engine so that whatever i search, the results will come from google. but yet the search results comes from safefinder, yahoo and such... (2 images given)

2) when you have visited the same site number of times, the address bar suggests those sites if u type the first letter right? but when i press enter it goes to the wrong page (third image as example)

i'm really having a big problem dealing with these, so please help me!!

i'm having 2 different type of search problems: 1) i made firefox have google as the default search engine so that whatever i search, the results will come from google. but yet the search results comes from safefinder, yahoo and such... (2 images given) 2) when you have visited the same site number of times, the address bar suggests those sites if u type the first letter right? but when i press enter it goes to the wrong page (third image as example) i'm really having a big problem dealing with these, so please help me!!
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Hi, please try working through https://malwaretips.com/blogs/isearch-safefinder-net-removal/ by Malware Tips - the article is a little old but the steps should still work, and don't forget to check you shortcut icons as shown in the 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 and search, which you can do by running the add-on SearchReset.

This may fix both your issues, but if not feel free to come back.

If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!

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Chosen Solution

Hi, please try working through https://malwaretips.com/blogs/isearch-safefinder-net-removal/ by Malware Tips - the article is a little old but the steps should still work, and don't forget to check you shortcut icons as shown in the 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 and search, which you can do by running the add-on SearchReset.

This may fix both your issues, but if not feel free to come back.

If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!

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Usually this kind of problem is caused by an extension, but there are some cases where external malware intercepts and modifies your browsing results. I'm not sure where this one lurks, but here's what I suggest to track it down:

(For Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10; XP is somewhat different)

(1) Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help surface undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Be suspicious of everything you do not recognize/remember, as malware often uses important or innocent sounding names to discourage you from removing it. Take out as much trash as possible here.

(2) Search broadly with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.

See also: Constantly redirected by annoying malware "Safe Finder Yahoo Search"

(3) Open Firefox's Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste
    firefox.exe "about:addons"

In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions. All extensions are optional; the troublemaker might not have SafeFinder in the name.

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.

Back to normal?

See also: https://malwaretips.com/blogs/search-safefinder-com-removal/ (you usually do not need to use Refresh if your plugins and extensions are clean)

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thank you to both of you! it seems that just removing safefinder was enough to fix the problem.....i guess there won't any further problem :)