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Yahoo has hijacked Firefox and I cannot use Firefox.

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I have tried solutions suggested elsewhere and nothing helps, not even System Restore. Each time I try to load Firefox, Yahoo loads instead, even though Firefox is my default browser. I cannot stop Yahoo. I have downloaded and installed the latest version of Firefox, which works, buit have lost all previous bookmarks and add ons. I just do not know what to do! Can someone please help?

I have tried solutions suggested elsewhere and nothing helps, not even System Restore. Each time I try to load Firefox, Yahoo loads instead, even though Firefox is my default browser. I cannot stop Yahoo. I have downloaded and installed the latest version of Firefox, which works, buit have lost all previous bookmarks and add ons. I just do not know what to do! Can someone please help?

All Replies (5)

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Hi dunolde02, where are all the places Yahoo shows up?

  • Replaced home page at startup and new window (Ctrl+n)
    • Check whether you can reset your home page or whether an extension is controlling the setting: How to set the home page
  • Replaced new tab page (Ctrl+t)
    • Check whether an extension is controlling the setting (same area of the Options page as the home page setting, so see previous article)
  • Hijacks searches to Yahoo even though your default search site is Google or DuckDuckGo, etc., and Firefox shows in the address bar drop-down that it is going to use your default search site
    • Investigate extensions as described below:

One possible culprit would be an extension. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.

Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything that mentions search, or looks suspicious, or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove) -- don't let strange extensions run in your Firefox!

Any improvement?

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Thanks for trying but none of your suggestions helped.

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Are you able to answer my questions about what is affected on your Firefox?

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Yahoo has just taken over. When I click on the FireFox Icons, Yahoo comes up, not Firefox. Several entities with the Pentagon have recommended FireFox! Not Bing, not Google Chrome, Not Internet Explorer, FireFox and that is what my vets are trying to do.

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Hi Zine, the first page you see upon starting Firefox may vary from:

  • built-in Firefox Home page
  • home page set to custom URL on the Options/Preferences page
  • home page taken over by an add-on
  • URL specified by a modification of your Firefox shortcut

As a starting point, check the home page setting on the Options/Preferences page. This article will get you started:

How to set the home page


One possible culprit would be an extension. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.

Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything suspicious or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).

Any improvement?