Some installers are known to change user settings without the user knowing. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Settings Guard for Firefox {web link} Detects and resets changes to settings that are frequently done by add-ons and application installers.

Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backup of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences

I don't know for sure exactly what happened. Its not like crazy or anything with browser hijacks although I did, if my memory serves me, get rid of most options as to search and they all seemed to be back (duck duck go etc) - DOES ANYONE know about this pop-up thing - I wished I'd been more alert, 2 or 3 times it kept taking me back to SAVE THE INTERNET something - I didn't take any action based on it but when I closed it out it would go back.

I'll just keep an eye on it now, if it was malware it wasn't vicious malware (some of it really wreaks havoc) So I guess I have my own rating system for malware although anything that redirects my computer - IT IS MY COMPUTER AFTER ALL - I resent very much.

Try to copy that web address and post it here.

Also, run most or all of the mal-ware scanners listed.

Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

I will see if I can find the website. Since my earlier post I see significant changes to my settings on Firefox. For instance, I used to have "tell websites I do not want to be tracked" and just few minutes ago I saw it set to "do not tell websites anything about my tracking preferences." I've had all kinds of sites popping up behind the scenes slowing down the computer. Whenever I found one of those sites I changed all the permissions to blocked and removed the passwords. it looks to me like everything I had done in that regard has been undone, no record of anything at all. I am going to do some more checking into this and if I find the website i will post it here, this really tics me off because whoever is responsible presented themselves as Firefox, totally unacceptable.

Adblock Plus {web link} Blocks annoying video ads on YouTube, Facebook ads, banners and much more. Adblock Plus blocks all annoying ads, and supports websites by not blocking unobtrusive ads by default (configurable).

BlockSite {web link} BlockSite is an extension, which automagically blocks websites of your choice. Additionally, this extension will disable all hyperlinks to these websites, by just displaying the link text without the clicking functionality.

I am still working my way through this but I have discovered that all of the blocks I had set up on my Firefox Account were wiped out and my preferences had been changed to accept all cookies and that my preference stating I did not want to be tracked had changed.

I can't believe something like this happened under the ALLEGED AUSPICES of firefox and that I'm the only one. Somebody went to a lot of trouble to set up a website that appeared to be firefox about taking action because we are going to lose internet because of government restrictions. They could very well be right about the threat to our access to internet but I doubt that Firefox is responsible - because I'm very unhappy with the fact that all my Firefox settings to deal with advertisers and sites that seriously slow my computer are gone. i don't believe that firefox is responsible because that would not be good PR for the security of their browser.