A Firefox search bar virus has taken hold of my system and wont let go! Is there any way I can avoid uninstalling Firefox every day to get rid of this?
The situation: Whenever I go to use the address bar or the small search toolbar (which is set to google) in my window, the search engine used instead is "search.searchcompletion.com", which returns very shitty search results and is annoying.
The things I have tried to fix this:
First, I disabled and deleted all my add-ons, changed my homepage back to google and updated my search engine to google. Tested search bar, *still infected* RESULT: NEGATIVE
Second, I downloaded a anti-virus/anti-malware program called Malwarebytes. It did good, catching 28 virus's in various files, quarantining them, and deleting them. I tested the search bar, *still infected* RESULT: NEGATIVE
Third, I read about typing in "about:config" into the Firefox address bar and changing a few things, as explained <a href="http://deletemalware.blogspot.com/2011/09/remove-startsearch-and.html">here</a>. I tested the search bar, *still broken*. RESULT: NEGATIVE
Fourth, I read you can "manually delete the virus from your registery". I followed the instuctions carefully, deleting these strings: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main “Start Page” HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\Control Panel “HomePage”. Tested the search bar, *still infected* RESULT: NEGATIVE
Fifth, someone somewhere installed a special add on that blocked certain sites. Whatever I did it did not work, the site (search.searchcompletion.com) just lost it's formatting, but still did not let me search using google. RESULT: NEGATIVE
Fifth, I just uninstalled everything having to do with Firefox from my computer. I reinstalled it and tested the search bar and it worked!....
For 24 hours. When I turned on my computer today, the search.searchcompletion virus is back, and short of uninstalling Firefox, I do not know what to do.
I have no add-ons. I have deleted temp internet files I have virus protection I have tried everything.
Help me.
All Replies (5)
If your cleanup results are reversed after a restart, this usually indicates that you have an unwanted add-on. It's also possible that you have external software that pushes the settings back into Firefox.
- Another good free scanner you might want to run first is:
SUPERAntiSpyware : http://www.superantispyware.com/
- To check for unwanted add-ons, open these pages. Disable ALL nonessential add-ons and restart Firefox:
orange Firefox button or classic Tools menu > Add-ons > Plugins category
orange Firefox button or classic Tools menu > Add-ons > Extensions category
- Once you have Firefox restarted, you can return to about:config and filter on searchcompletion to reset any preferences that were customized by the add-on.
- Then please test all 3 search features and indicate which, if any, require further cleaning, since each is rigged a bit differently:
(1) Search box on the toolbar
(2) Address bar
(3) Default Firefox home page (about:home) if you use it.
Nice try but all you did was give me things I've already tried. Of course this did not work.
Please read my question thoroughly, I spent some time writing it, the least you can do is read it.
I dont have any add ons or extensions, I just got rid of everything
I did read your question several times, and I assumed you might have overlooked some add-ons because your "More system details..." shows numerous plugins.
The fact remains that something on your computer is modifying Firefox. If it does not appear in any category of add-ons, which would be unusual, you will need to find it elsewhere.
As a temporary workaround and faster way to reset the address bar and search bar search engines, you could keep a link to this add-on handy: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/searchreset/
I can't figure out how to actually "delete" all my add-ons and plugins.... even when I uninstall Firefox those things stay on my system.
Beyond that, I did as you said and for now my homepage is set normally, but the search bar and address bar search are both still bugged
searching "searchcompletion" does nothing in the about:config doesn't turn up any results
that extension does not work at all to fix this problem
Plugins usually are installed externally to Firefox. However, you can disable them in Firefox so that Firefox does not use them.
SearchReset is supposed to automate the task of resetting certain preferences, but you still can edit them manually if necessary.
Address Bar Search
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(2) In the filter box, type or paste keyword and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Right-click keyword.URL and choose Reset. This should restore Google as the default for address bar search.
Does that work?
Search Box
Usually it works to choose your preferred search engine from the drop-down. To remove an unwanted search engine plugin, usually the Manage Search Engines... choice at the bottom of the drop-down takes care of it.
Do either of those work?
There might be another way to hijack that search box; I think some of the other frequent responders probably are more familiar with it than I am.