How do I stop my start page from being reset to Yahoo every time I reboot my computer?
I believe this only began happening since the last update (FF 38 or 38.0.1).
When I open Firefox, my start page is set to Yahoo (https://search.yahoo.com/?type=282369&fr=spigot-yhp-ff). I can change my start page to show a blank page and delete the Yahoo page from my settings, and it seems to save my decision. I close Firefox, and open it again, and it will show me a blank page instead of the Yahoo page.
As soon as I reboot my computer, however, Firefox thinks I want my start page to be Yahoo again. I have tried deleting the "user.js" file, double-checked that the prefs.js file is not set to be read only, and I don't have any other prefs.js-like files in the folder that holds my prefs.js file.
I do not have any new extensions (the only one I use is uBlock, and I have had that since before the problem started). I checked my addons, and they all look legitimate, so I am fairly certain I don't have any malware installed.
If it helps: The first time I had this happen, my search engine was also changed to use Yahoo instead of Google. I was able to easily switch that back to Google, however, and even though my start page resets to Yahoo after a reboot my default search engine does not get changed away from Google.
الحل المُختار
If you look at that URL, it actually names the culprit: Spigot. You may have cleaned up some unwanted Spigot add-ons (e.g., eBay, shopping, and search-related extensions) but something seems to have been left behind, or is being restored.
Do you have CCleaner or any other utilities set to run at Windows startup that might touch your browser data?
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There is software like Advanced SystemCare with its Surfing Protection feature that can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.
If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see:
الحل المُختار
If you look at that URL, it actually names the culprit: Spigot. You may have cleaned up some unwanted Spigot add-ons (e.g., eBay, shopping, and search-related extensions) but something seems to have been left behind, or is being restored.
Do you have CCleaner or any other utilities set to run at Windows startup that might touch your browser data?
Thanks jscher2000! You were correct: It was unwanted spigot software (which I would describe as malware...) that was causing the problem.
I went to my control panel and uninstalled it, and was able to reboot with no problem. Thanks for the insight.
Also use these;
Bookmark and use this; 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.
Settings Guard for Firefox {web link} Detects and resets changes to settings that are frequently done by add-ons and application installers.