The conversation should also include why updates change a persons preferences. My Homepag has been nytimes.com for ages. Why? Because I read the newspaper BEFORE I start working or searching the net. Why do insist on changing my homepage? Can someone please tell them any company that changes my computer preferences in likely to lose a customer!

I agree! Ticks me off when a piece of new software changes my preferences to what the programmer thinks is defaults everyone wants! This comes from someone who spent much of his life as a professional programmer.

In most cases, a change of search engine or home page takes place with user consent.

See screenshot for an example. If you don't remove the checkmarks before clicking "Next", then you only have yourself to blame when you're suddenly presented with "Ask" as your default search engine.

You'll find a few more listed here: Bundled software with free apps

Thank you all. The fix worked.

To try to remove the malware ASK.COM, I have used the about:config tip, I have eliminated any references in the CONTROL PANEL/UNINSTALL routine, I have even searched the registry via REGEDIT, and searched my system using the FIND program from the start menu. Nothing has helped - whenever I try to search, the ASK search engine appears as the default, even when GOOGLE appears in the upper right as the default. This ASK.COM program is one nasty virus!

So it's the users fault when malware like ASK.COM installs via a buried checkbox default, and then refuses to be removed by any means? You sure have a strange sense of "fair".

@ DFoster, did you start on page 1 of the replies for this question and work your way down.