Do a malware check with some malware scan programs. You need to scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of the database before doing a scan.

• http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• http://www.superantispyware.com/ - SuperAntispyware
• http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx - Windows Defender: Home Page
• http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Spybot Search & Destroy
• http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php - Ad-Aware Free

See also "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked and Searches are redirected to another site

I had tried Iobit Malware fighter pro ($20)

.....and already HAD Iobit Adv. System Care Pro (20) ...

....and had spent several very unsatisfactory days banging about with FF "help"....

....and so I am grateful that SuperAntispyware did the trick.

Thanks!

Also scan with Malwarebytes because its important, and if your problem solved then please mark my post as a solution so everyone will know about it