Firefox – Keep Yahoo From Hijacking Google

Firefox | larrytalkstech.com

Yahoo Is Hijacking Google….

After my latest Firefox update (47.0), I began a search for some material for an upcoming article.  Instead of Google doing the search, Yahoo was now working in its place.  I got out of Firefox, and reloaded it, same thing:  Yahoo had become my default browser.  A trip to Firefox’s preferences, and Google was clearly shown as my default browser.  So, I tried another search, and Yahoo was still doing the searching.  At this point, I thought maybe some malware might be in play.  I fired up another Mac, loaded Firefox, again with the newly updated version 47.0 of Firefox, and that Mac also had Yahoo as its default browser.  On both machines, I could use the “Search” box and select Google, and do my search.  After the search, Yahoo would still remain the default browser.  I had not downloaded anything recently, and Firefox updates are automatic on both machines.  I was still betting on a malware problem, so I decided to do some more research and found a probable cause, and a solution.

A Smoking Gun And A Silver Bullet From Firefox

After some digging around on the Internet, it seems that some “coding” issues may have been the cause of this, and the good folks at Mozilla, have a very elegant solution:  the SearchReset add-on.  Here is what the SearchReset add-on does:

– reset “browser.startup.homepage” pref to its default value
– reset “keyword.URL” pref to its default value
– reset “browser.search.defaultenginename” pref to its default value
– new in version 0.2: resets browser.newtab.url to its default value
– restores the build’s default search engine if it was removed
– moves the build’s default search engine into first position and selects it

Mozilla summarizes the add-on workings:  “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.”

To get the SearchReset add-on, click Here

Now, once you are on the page, click the “+ Add to Firefox” button.

The SearchReset add-on worked perfect for both of my Macs.  After reading some of the reviews, it seems that it might work on other browser hijackings as well.

 

By prometheus

Husband. Father. Grandfather. World class Geek.

2 comments

  1. yahoo has hijacked my win 10 firefox, and i can’t get rid of it. How to
    get firefox back as my default browser. I have tried everything i know of.

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