Hi Tygrusa,

This is Jason from Mindspark Customer Support,

With select versions of the My Web Search, Firefox search settings are not restored to their default value when uninstalling. To manually restore your browser's settings please follow the directions below:

1. Open your Firefox browser and type the following into the addressbar: about:config

2. You may see a warning message, please click the "I'll be careful, I promise" button

3. You will see a long list of browser settings, scroll down the page until you find keyword.URL (listing is in alphabetical order). Alternately you can use the filter search box near the top of the page to find the keyword.URL setting. The keyword.URL should reference mywebsearch in its value.

4. Highlight this line by left clicking on it once, and then rightclick to bring up the menu options

5. Select "Reset" from the menu, and entry will be reset to its default value (www.google.com/search...)

6. Close the browser, and reopen it

7. To verify that you have successfully restored your browser's default settings: -Type 'ebay' (without the quotes) into the addressbar and hit enter. Your browser should redirect to www.ebay.com instead of showing a page with search results.

If you are still seeing the search results page, please contact customer support at customersupport@help.smileycentral.com

I don't see what uninstalling has to do with this question. The 'mywebsearch' page the user is unhappy with is his or her ISP hijacking failed requests. The desired behavior is presumably the way 3.6.x worked, where typing "ebay" and hitting return would automagically load the site, without any .com etc. [This is a good discussion of how to restore that (1st section)]

Tried it, no joy.

Save all of this in a MS Word file (or an equivalent software)

• Close All Web Browsers
• go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs -> check to see if you have any of the following programs from "Web Products" installed -> click "Remove" (if you find any/all of these):
  • My Search Bar,
  • MyWay Speed Bar,
  • My Web Search Bar,
  • Fun Web Products Easy Installer

-> See this: PC Hell - My Web Search Removal Instructions

• http://www.safer-networking.com/removemywebsearch.php
• http://helpint.mywebsearch.com/intlinfo/help/toolhelp.jhtml#q3

-> Uninstall an Add-on

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Cannot%20uninstall%20an%20add-on#w_uninstall-from-firefox-safe-mode

-> Troubleshooting Plugins

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting%20plugins

-> Removing a Search Engine from Search Bar

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Search%20bar#w_removing-a-search-engine

-> Open Firefox

• Type about:config in the address bar and press Enter key
• When you see a warning, click I'll be careful, I promise!

• in the Filter bar type mywebsearch
  • right-click all preference entries related to mywebsearch and click Reset

• in the Filter bar type keyword.enabled
  • right-click on keyword.enabled and click Reset

• in the Filter bar type keyword.URL
  • right-click on keyword.URL -> click Modify and type http://www.google.com.my/search?q=

-> Close about:config tab -> Close Firefox -> Restart your System -> Restart Firefox

Check and tell if its working.

I used mha007 s' solution on one computer, and used MindsparkCS s' solution on another. Both worked . Also used the link sent by blacksmithtb to re-enable intelligent browing ( i.e. type fedex in the address bar to go to fedex.com).

Thank you all VERY VERY VERY much

I installed antisuperspyware and it identified mywebsearch but did not remove it. Not only that, they are very cunning as they do not even appear on my control panel to delete. Nor does coupon alert. I cannot even get into my own email accounts properly now so I am using Chrome instead. Also I kept putting back Adblock but it didn't work but it did on chrome. This has all come about because I went to a site to watch a free movie and now this stupid thing has invaded my computer. Help I hate it and I reported it to spyware and they are going to get back to me as well as Firefox

Hi Zoey,

I suggest you start your own thread by asking a new question.

• Follow the links and prompts from /questions/new
• you may wish to cross link back to this thread
  https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/784519

I suspect some with some of these add-ons it suits the profit making business model to make it less than straightforward to uninstall them.

Also see

• uninstalling toolbars
• cannot uninstall an add-on

It took all of that to rid myself of this filthy piece of spyware. I wonder why firefox has not made some sort of vaccine against this filthy pest? I don't know which add-ons was the likely culprit, because when I install or add anything, I watch for those sneaky inconspicuous "Agree to add Our spyware, yes?" check boxes--firefox should make a large and gaudy pop-up warning everyone whenever one of these filthy intrusions attempts to ingrain and insinuate itself into their browser--none of my so-called antispyware programs caught it.

Dear Chas: Thank you for your input, and I found out another thing, when I got my German friends to download Mozilla and put it right I was all happy again, then I did a thing of upgrading as they seem to ask you every five minutes when you are on here and then I did without thinking ahead and low and behold the sneaky bastards were on again. I have Avira from Germany and have them for three and half years and have been happy with them as they do a fine job on my computer and the more spyware you have on it slows down your computer. So you only need a minimum they say and my son as well. Anyway, mywebsearch was on again so I deleted the whole Mozilla again and then put it on again and instead of being right there on my google page they are in the browser page instead again. So I figured out that if I press the google box to the right it brings up the black tool bar and then I search through google instead of mywebsearch. You know it is facebook and all those sites that are doing this now, they are everywhere. Also, every single day a thing comes on my computer to clean it up. It was in my works where it says "all programs" and as soon as I said no it went off of my computer but it comes on every single day to say, you have 935 problems and we wish to clean it up! So when I have the time, I am going to tell Germany again to clean it up for me. Although they do watch all the time and say that my computer is fully protected. I always had Adaware on my computer but Avira took it off. Oh well, it is annoying to have to push that little box in the corner every time I look for something but if I go on Chrome I don't have to as the tool bar is there and I search through google automatically. But I am so glad that I have my adblock on both browsers though and do not see any of those flashing adverts anywhere, not even in Facebook or anything. Thank you very much for showing an interest in what I complained about and do have a nice day!

You need to be careful what is downloaded and installed. Upgrading Firefox (Assuming it is an official copy, not form some bogus site) does not install MyWebSearch or any additional search/adware toolbars.

By default Firefox uses Google for all its searches from the location bar, and has additional options including Google from the search bar. There should normally be no need to uninstall and reinstall Firefox just to remove adware or toolbars that have been inadvertently installed.

Replying to self: after digging around in the registry (I didn't find any trace of the 'my web' bar, and uninstalling/re-installing firefox, and going through my 'add-remove programs--I thought I had rid myself of this scourge. Several hours later, I'm doing a search, and guess what pops back up? That's right. So, unfortunately, I've removed firefox and maybe I'll reinstall it. Someday. Thanks to all who've given suggestions.

Hi chas993,

You may no longer wish to use Firefox, if so good luck with Chrome or whatever, although you may miss some of Firefox's features and software extensions.

It should be possible to remove unnecessary software that you have installed, any downright malware is harder to remove, and may need specialist advice.

If you have a problem with something you are unable to remove from Firefox

1. start your own new thread by asking a question
   you will then be able to provide full details of your own problem, and receive detailed advice on a solution to your own specific problem.
   • Please remember others saying me too may have slightly different or totally different problems, that happen to cause apparently similar symptoms.
   • use links and prompts from /questions/new
2. post in this thread once you have done that
   readers of this thread are likely to want to see your comments and progress

You may find it is often totally unecessary to dig around in the Windows registry to solve Firefox problems. (Although Windows Registry obviously affects plugins, and what Windows utilises Firefox for)

Thanks John99--part of the problem is one of time--I often don't get enough of that to troubleshoot these types of vexing problems--they don't happen very often; this recurrance has never happened, and in the meantime I need a browser. When I get around to it, I'll take your advice-- Thanks for the help! cs