I want to change homepage but every time it reverts to findwide.com. I've done this change dozens of times in the past but it reverts every time I switch off.
My computer is back from an upgrade with a new mother board etc. Working brilliantly and is virus protected (Bullguard). Search.findwide.com was the default on Explorer - I've deleted that and tried again but Firefox still reverts to it every time I switch off. I've changed my homepage lots of times in the past with absolutely no problem. Also noticed that I can't get through to Google - telling me it is an untrusted connection without a proper security certificate!! This is also a new problem.
Did a Bullguard full scan and found tracker cookies but nothing else.
Chosen solution
Hi coolrider502000, a user.js file usually is created by external software, but why any software would add that old pre-Bing search URL is a mystery.
Read this answer in context 👍 2All Replies (5)
Let's do Findwide first. You have some unwanted software to remove.
You can start in the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a program. Click the Installed On column heading to sort all the most recent installations to the top. You should be able to find and remove the Findwide program, and I would be very skeptical of anything installed on or around the same date.
Next, check Firefox for any nonessential or unrecognized extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable.
Usually 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.
Next, check for a possible user.js file that was created to override your home page at every start up. This article has the steps to track it down: How to fix preferences that won't save.
Finally (!), you should be back in control of your home page.
Now, on to Google.
Could you check your Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program, for something called BrowserSafe or BrowserSafeguard? This has been identified as blocking Google in some past threads:
The peculiar characteristic of this software (malware?) is that when you inspect the untrusted certificate, it says FiddlerRoot DO NOT TRUST. More detail in the above-linked threads.
If that doesn't apply to your system, could you post back on whether you have this problem with other secure sites other than Google? For example:
Thanks for the prompt reply.
There was no sign of search.findwide.com on the Uninstall list. There was a programme called Albrechto (logo: black circle with segment cut out at bottom) which I uninstalled and I can now change and save the new homepage that I want. Also no sign of a user.js file.
The Google problem is still there. Can't see any sign of Browsersafe etc. The Google problem only occurs with my (administrators) log-in. The new users (wife and daughter) log-ins are fine. Goes straight through to the search string no problem.
Sorry about the previous post!!
Have had another look at the Troubleshooting page and there IS a user.js file that was directing me to search.live.com.
I've reset Firefox using the button and the user.js file is now gone. I can both change the homepage and search using Google.
What a silly ass I've been. Thanks once again for all your help.
How did that user.js file get there in the first place?
Chosen Solution
Hi coolrider502000, a user.js file usually is created by external software, but why any software would add that old pre-Bing search URL is a mystery.