Hi, sorry. The thing is is that your contracting malware that changes your search engine. It would have been included by a program/s you installed prior to the start of this. Always use Custom Install; and just because do that there is still a chance.

You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
• Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller (for more info, see this alternate TDSSKiller download page)
• AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
• Hitman Pro
• ESET Online Scanner

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista if you don't already have one. Windows 8/10 have antivirus protection built-in.

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

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

My_name said

While trying to connect to a page that is no longer available, Firefox allowed Spectrum to silently change my home page to search.spectrum.net with no warning. This seems to have been a problem with Mozilla for many years. Why is this hujacking being allowed? This is a big security risk and enough of a problem to be searching for another browser.

Not really a hijack per say. Some ISP's when you try and connect to a non-existent web address, the ISP may have their own search page of possible results in place of error page.

Some ISP's may let you Opt out on this feature. I managed to opt-out with my ISP years ago though I wonder if they still do this since my IP can change every so often over time.

Pkshadow said

Hi, sorry. The thing is is that your contracting malware that changes your search engine. It would have been included by a program/s you installed prior to the start of this. Always use Custom Install; and just because do that there is still a chance. You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
• Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller (for more info, see this alternate TDSSKiller download page)
• AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
• Hitman Pro
• ESET Online Scanner

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista if you don't already have one. Windows 8/10 have antivirus protection built-in. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article. Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

I installed nothing in the past 45 days. This occurred for no apparent reason and gave no warning!

James said

My_name said

While trying to connect to a page that is no longer available, Firefox allowed Spectrum to silently change my home page to search.spectrum.net with no warning. This seems to have been a problem with Mozilla for many years. Why is this hujacking being allowed? This is a big security risk and enough of a problem to be searching for another browser.

Not really a hijack per say. Some ISP's when you try and connect to a non-existent web address, the ISP may have their own search page of possible results in place of error page.

Some ISP's may let you Opt out on this feature. I managed to opt-out with my ISP years ago though I wonder if they still do this since my IP can change every so often over time.

My understanding is anything that sets itself up on a computer with no knowledge of the user is malware. It still does not explain why it was able to bypass Firefox's security requiring it to ask for permission. This has been ongoing for years according to my search for help with this issue. Something this simple SHOULD NOT be happening on a browser as popular as Firefox. I will see what other browser choice's are available while not holding my breath for Mozilla to fix this dire security problem.

HI, Please there is no need to blockquote everything as remember or can see what has been said. It is a good tool when used properly :

• https://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_blockquote.asp

Firefox is not Security Software it is a Browser. That is why you in Win 10 have Defender to supposedly catch these things. Not the best product. A proper Malware Program like Malwarbytes that is bought so it can run at real time may catch it. These things are hard to catch period Of no fault of Firefox.

The solution to the problem to fix the issue has been provided.

Regardless of OS, It is not due to malware though. Mac and Linux users can this sort of ISP search page in place of error page and some do allow to opt-out.

spectrum.net is a cable television, Internet, and telephone provider.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrum_(cable_service)

I have used all the above advice except Hitman Pro and ESET Online Scanner, and none will stop this from happening. This isn't my first time using Firefox or a computer for that matter. I have used Firefox since version 23 and this is the first time anything like this has happened. If it were as simple as using another piece of software I would not have came here looking into it deeper. A simple cookie opt out still leaves a security risk in it's self. Why can it not be stopped, or is Mozilla now working with other companies to allow them to manipulate this browser to suit them? A simple straight forward answer would be nice, not the typical, found on every web sight, beginners how to remove explanation.

Why is this allowed and why can it not be stopped?