How can I get rid of a web switcher?
Sometimes when I am logging onto Firefox, it sends me to one of these websites. Then I have to go into about:config and have to change my startup.url and newtab.url to the regular correct urls. It is very annoying, I can't find it in my program files and MalwareBytes doesn't pick it up. I got it a few months ago and it is very annoying. I have done 2 resets and it still shows up. I need help.
Imgur link for you: http://imgur.com/hHhXp7A,i9Tprgw,qKMcA7B
All Replies (5)
You may have ad / mal-ware. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.
Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.
After the issue is fixed, Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.
Automated tools can be useful, but it would be helpful to also check the following by hand:
(A) Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help you spot undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Be suspicious of everything you do not recognize/remember, as malware often uses important or innocent sounding names to discourage you from removing it. Take out as much trash as possible here.
(B) Open Firefox's Add-ons page using either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
- in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste
firefox.exe "about:addons"
In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions. Bear in mind that all extensions are optional, none come with Firefox.
Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
Any improvement?
If you use Advanced SystemCare, beware of its feature to roll back your settings changes when you close Firefox and start it up again. You probably need to disable that until Firefox is all set up properly.
It only happens when I restart/turn on my computer so I will get back to you on this, the plugins are java, video codec, flash, and primetime. I only have 2 extensions. I have tried the uninstalling the program multiple times and never found anything that I would seem as malware
Alright I am back on Firefox and it did it again, I did what you said to do and I have almost no plugins or extensions and I just want this gone
Microsoft has a utility which generates huge lists of everything scheduled to happen at startup. I'm not sure whether this will be useful in surfacing the culprit, but if you can't think of any other way to discover the information, it's worth a look. You can read more about it and download it from this page:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
I suggest starting with the Logon tab, and you might also check the Scheduled Tasks.