How do I prevent google custom search from taking over when I only want google classic search?
I have repeatedly removed google search and re-added it, but every time I make a google search, the file google-default.xml is written to my profile folder ...Profiles/bldr53jrsoz/searchplugins/ and this changes the behavior of the google search when I type into the search bar. Instead of getting the classic google search I get something called "google custom search" which does not contain links to maps, shopping, pictures, videos, etc which I value in my google search.
In practical terms this means I get only one clean search before I have to remove google search file and reinstall it again.
I have already verified there are no malware programs installed, so it must be something that doesn't show up as an installed program in my operating system. How do I prevent this from happening?
37.0.2
All Replies (4)
Is this on your Windows 8.1 system? (For some reason your post is slotted under FirefoxOS, which is a smartphone operating system, so most likely we need to move your post.)
How did you verify there is no malware?
I suspect a bad add-on (or other malware). Here's my suggested procedure for tracking down and removing bad add-ons. I know it seems long, but it's not that bad.
(1) 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 bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Don't be fooled by seemingly innocent or important names if you do not remember choosing to install them. Take out as much trash as possible here.
(2) Open Firefox's Add-ons page using either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
- in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste
firefox.exe "about:addons"
In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions. (Note: you might not be able to manually Disable extensions in Safe Mode because they are disabled automatically.)
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.
Any improvement?
(3) You can search for remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.
Success?
By the way, could you copy/paste the full URL of the Custom Search results page? Maybe one of the parameters will point to the culprit.
there is something in there called yourtv.link but I can't find any application on my computer or any file in my computer that has the characters yourtv in it.
I see a fresh thread on BleepingComputer about this, not yet solved: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/574094/search-engine-redirect-to-yourtvlink/
Any improvement after scrutinizing add-ons?