How can I remove the Similar Items plugin? It doesn't show up in addons
The Similar Items addon is back, and it seems they have gotten trickier in how they are installing themselves. All of the previous instructions for removing it no longer work. Has anybody figured this out yet?
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Can you confirm it is injected one of your extensions? you could test the same activit in Firefox's Safe Mode. That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.
You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
Not all add-ons are disabled: Flash and other plugins still run
After Firefox shuts down, a small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).
Any difference?
If that kills it, then scrutinize your extensions. It could be one you don't recognize, or it could be a feature of one of the seemingly innocent ones. For example, in a 2012 post, someone mentioned Awesome Screenshot as having "similar items" ads you had to turn off.
More generally, because bad extensions often arrive in a bundle, I suggest starting here:
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 in smoking out undisclosed items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.
Next, in Firefox, open the Add-ons page using either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
(1) In the left column, click Plugins. If you find a plugin that you don't recognize or which doesn't sound essential, try setting it to "Never Activate". (The most essential Plugin is Shockwave Flash. You can use most sites without the others.)
(2) In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions.
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.
Finally, you can "mop up" remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools suggested in this support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.
Success?