why is ask.com my default home page?

Check in about:config for this setting: browser.startup.homepage - that should be set to your preferred home page.

Ask may have gotten on your system as a "ride-along" on some software that you downloaded and installed. Look carefully when installing software as there is frequently an opportunity to un-check/opt-out of installing such "extras". Follow all of the steps below to try to rid your system of Ask. #Remove Ask Toolbar (if you have it installed): #*http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Uninstalling+add-ons #*http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Cannot%20uninstall%20an%20add-on #*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_toolbars #Reset your home page (if the Ask search page is displayed when starting Firefox): http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page #*You can reset to the default by clicking "Restore to default" on Options > General > Startup > Home page. Be sure to set "When Firefox starts" to "Show my home page" on that same panel. #Reset your Location Bar search engine (if typing a few words in the URL/Location Bar takes you to Ask search): #*type '''''about:config''''' in your Location Bar, like typing a web site address, and press the Enter key #*ignore warning and choose to continue #*in Filter, type '''''keyword.URL''''' #*in lower part of screen, if it is '''bold''' and shows "'''user set'''", right-click keyword.URL and choose "Reset" #*in Filter, type '''''Ask''''' #*any items in lower part of screen in '''bold''' and showing "'''user set'''", right-click and choose "Reset" #*close about:config tab #*See: #**http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config #**http://kb.mozillazine.org/Location_Bar_search#Location_Bar_search_.28external_-_search_engine.29 #**http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keyword.url #**http://www.techrena.net/computers/address-bar-search-provider-firefox/ #If Ask is shown in your Search Bar and you want to remove it: #*https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Search%20bar '''If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when <u>signed-in</u> to the forum.''' ------------------------- Not related to your question, but... You may need to update some plug-ins. Check your plug-ins and update as necessary: *Plug-in check: https://www-trunk.stage.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ *Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Shockwave%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-shockwave Installing ('''''or Updating''''') the Shockwave plugin with Firefox] *Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Adobe%20Reader%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-and-updating-adobe-reader Installing/Updating Adobe Reader in Firefox] *Shockwave Flash (Adobe Flash or Flash): [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Managing%20the%20Flash%20plugin#w_updating-flash Updating Flash in Firefox] *Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Java%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-or-updating-java Installing or Updating Java in Firefox]