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How do I stop a rogue search link opening up on new web pages instead of Firefox's page of favourite links?

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by Happy112

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I am on Mac OS 10.7.5. I was sourcing a map and was asked to download an application to access it. Now when I open a new web page, that provider's search page opens up instead of my home page (still unaffected) or the Firefox "favourite links" page. Clicking "Open new web pages with my home page" in Firefox preferences does not change this.

I am on Mac OS 10.7.5. I was sourcing a map and was asked to download an application to access it. Now when I open a new web page, that provider's search page opens up instead of my home page (still unaffected) or the Firefox "favourite links" page. Clicking "Open new web pages with my home page" in Firefox preferences does not change this.

Chosen solution

Hi   ! Too bad you couldn't provide a link to that browser hijacker (for that's probably what it is). If you can give us a link or a name, that would be great. But it sure sounds like you've got malware, and here's what you should do :

Go to the 3-bar menu => Addons => Extensions and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious looking extensions, like e.g.:

SafeSearch Incognito SearchAssist Incognito

When you find any :   remove them.

Also look in : 3-bar menu (or 'Tools') => Options => Advanced => Network tab => Under : 'Offline Web Content and User Data'

However :   most malware will be 'hiding' somewhere , so let's run malware scans :

Further information can be found in this article :
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners.
They all work differently   -   what one program doesn't pick up, the other might.

Especially for Mac : https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/

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All Replies (3)

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Chosen Solution

Hi   ! Too bad you couldn't provide a link to that browser hijacker (for that's probably what it is). If you can give us a link or a name, that would be great. But it sure sounds like you've got malware, and here's what you should do :

Go to the 3-bar menu => Addons => Extensions and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious looking extensions, like e.g.:

SafeSearch Incognito SearchAssist Incognito

When you find any :   remove them.

Also look in : 3-bar menu (or 'Tools') => Options => Advanced => Network tab => Under : 'Offline Web Content and User Data'

However :   most malware will be 'hiding' somewhere , so let's run malware scans :

Further information can be found in this article :
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners.
They all work differently   -   what one program doesn't pick up, the other might.

Especially for Mac : https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/

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Hi Happy112, your suggestion worked a treat!

Very many thanks

terrystone

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terrystone said

Hi Happy112, your suggestion worked a treat!

So glad everything is back to normal  ! Well done  !

Very many thanks

My pleasure  !