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homepage "google search" hijacked by yahoo

  • 8 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by jrj

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when-ever i try to use the Google search at the home page, NOT the tool-bar or address but the one which is at the center of the window.

the actual Google search. the page get hijacked and i am redirected to yahoo results.

tried using malwarebytes and it came up with nothing.

how do i get normal Google results ?

when-ever i try to use the Google search at the home page, NOT the tool-bar or address but the one which is at the center of the window. the actual Google search. the page get hijacked and i am redirected to yahoo results. tried using malwarebytes and it came up with nothing. how do i get normal Google results ?

Chosen solution

If there is a problem with searching via the default about:home page then try to reset the search engine used on the about:home page.

Reset the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone pref via the right-click context menu to the default on the about:config page and close and restart Firefox to restore the about:home page to its default.

  1. Open the about:config page via the location bar
  2. Type in the Filter bar: mstone
  3. Right-click the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone line and select: Reset
  4. Close and restart Firefox

If this didn't help then delete the delete the chromeappsstore.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder and repeat the above.

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Chosen Solution

If there is a problem with searching via the default about:home page then try to reset the search engine used on the about:home page.

Reset the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone pref via the right-click context menu to the default on the about:config page and close and restart Firefox to restore the about:home page to its default.

  1. Open the about:config page via the location bar
  2. Type in the Filter bar: mstone
  3. Right-click the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone line and select: Reset
  4. Close and restart Firefox

If this didn't help then delete the delete the chromeappsstore.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder and repeat the above.

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the first part about the reset in the about:config did nothing.

and the second part about deleting "chromeappsstore.sqlite" file stop the "Google search" responding. and now it does nothing.

so yes yahoo doesn't hijack the search, but neither does Google.

what now ? the search doesn't work.

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You will have to reset the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone pref and close and restart Firefox to restore the functionality of the about:home page after you've deleted the chromeappsstore.sqlite file.

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Hi, This is not a mere virus and it is a rootkit that monitors your pages, by pseudonaming the original search engines. 1. turn off restore point. Download TDS Killer by Kaspersky and run it, and scan for virus , If any root kit is find it will prompt and you can delete it. 2.Download malware bytes and run full scan. Download it from major geek or malwarebytes com. By running full scan it remove any potentially unwanted programs. 3 Have the installation cd ready, and boot it from the cd drive and wait for starting windows screen Select R to repair the installation. Then enter 1 and pw if any to get to c:windows. There you type FIXMBR to restore the windows to the default master boot record configurations. The virus attack this path by writing unwanted lines. FIXMBR will restore the original setting. If warning of overwrite of MBR, select yes. and then reboot.You will get rid of google redirect virus

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If you are not a trained professional be careful with going into the registry and Master boot Record (as outlined in the above answer) as it can be quite dangerous. I would rather try something like the below solutions, it might be a bit easier and you don't run the risk of permanently damaging your Windows Installation or losing Data.

Scan for Malware

Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.

You can try some of the following programs to scan for malware:

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

Uninstall Programs

  1. Click Start
  2. Then click Control Panel
  3. Then find the Add or Remove Programs (Or Uninstall a Program)
  4. Find any programs with the same name as the issue you are trying to fix (Babylon, funmoods, etc.)
  5. Uninstall them.

Reset Firefox

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.


Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

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Sir, I have already replied to another question in the same manner that I have got rid of the way , I practise. I do not think, that it is a cumbersome process that to go to the registry and changing of master boot record. I am not a computer professional, but i adhered to some advice given by the expert in leading cites. Changing of mbr, only restores the windows default mbr. And the warning of system failure to boot is the normal warning any windows have. I have checked with the articles on the subject and then only I have given the solutions. Regarding registry entries, I take ur advice that it may do some damage, but there is no other way but to delete the registry entries, as they have bearings on the handlings of the programmes, in major HKCU and HKLM. But now malware bytes, a free program can be used to fix this if possible, and also kaspersky's tds killer, rootkit remover will find and remove. Thank you for the remarks , sir.

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Google redirect virus is challenging to get rid of due to its capability to hide deep inside the operating system as well as its potential to eliminate traces and footprints on how it got inside the computer. As of nowadays, not a single security application in the industry can guarantee 100% protection from this infection. This explains, why your pc got infected even having a safety software installed.

Some computer users know that Google redirect virus is just not a virus, but in fact a rootkit. Rootkit infections unlike other virus, spyware or trojan infections are really difficult to get rid of. In most cases, google redirect virus rootkit is seen related to Trojans which makes it a lot more deadly. In accordance with a 2011 report, Google redirect virus have currently infected 45,00,000 computers worldwide, out of which 1/3rd is from US.

Some symptoms that you are having this virus on your PC:

  • Browsers freeze
  • Pages not loading at all
  • Google/Bing/Yahoo searches redirected to malicious site/s
  • Some programs won’t respond
  • Internet connection brakes itself
  • Terrible adds popping on visited webpage/s

If you have these symptoms on your Computer, I suggest using safe and respected software program as the 1 I've provided below. The Google redirect virus removal tool deals with malware infections that lead to Google redirect virus symptoms and are so difficult to detect and fix.

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Hi, evani, sir,

       With due respects, I have mentioned that i got rid of that google redirect virus. I have given solutions regarding mbr and it will definitely kill what ever the third program rewrites on it and it is a best solution. The moderator has also suggested malware bytes and kaspersky rootkit.  This is the only way to gid rid of the so called trojan. Malware bytes is a free useful program, and it is , i think updated to kill these kinds of rootkits. Thank you