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In version 62.0, how can I permanently set Google as default search engine?

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  • Last reply by David

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It seems that default search engine reverts to Yahoo every time Firefox is upgraded. Can't find instructions to reset default in current version to Google.

It seems that default search engine reverts to Yahoo every time Firefox is upgraded. Can't find instructions to reset default in current version to Google.

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contacted norton since i have a subscription, and they opened a remote session. the problem appeared after i did a query on google maps. i was asked if i wanted to install a firefox google maps tab that would always appear in firefox. that tab automatically redirected searches to yahoo instead of my preference of google. tab removed and problem went away. i need to read the fine print

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Google is actually the default search engine in Firefox, not yahoo. So it should be staying as Google.

I bet you have malware switching your search engine back to Yahoo. Can you go to about:support in your address bar, and copy the section called "Extensions" here?

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Don't know how to copy and paste that section, but the only options are Last Pass and Maps Tab. I remember the last time I dealt with this issue, there was some unrequested add-in/extension/malware that I could disable, but I do not now have the ability to disable. Should I just uninstall and re-install?

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I'd run a scan with Malwarebytes (www.malwarebytes.com) and then see if it works. If it doesn't, we can refresh Firefox

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Hi, note the name may have changed as well as the locations so please do a search for the files also :

This could be an issue caused by AdAware or Web Companion from Lavasoft. Uninstall it if in Programs and Features which is still in WIn10 if search.

You can look for a file named dsengine.js in these locations. You should only find channel-prefs.js in the "defaults\pref" location. Any file found here apart from channel-prefs.js is suspicious. You can check the content of the file in a text editor (use open with and do not double-click the file).

  • C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref\
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref\

You can look for a file named dsengine.cfg in the main Firefox program folder.

  • C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\

Delete the dsengine.js and dsengine.cfg files when present.

Please download and give your self a scan : https://www.malwarebytes.com/

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Firefox from mozilla.org does not even come with Yahoo as a search engine option anymore since Fx 57 and later due in part with the legal dispute with Yahoo.

Something else it adding in a Yahoo search engine. There is was case of a Yaahoo malware if I recall.

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Seçilmiş Həll

contacted norton since i have a subscription, and they opened a remote session. the problem appeared after i did a query on google maps. i was asked if i wanted to install a firefox google maps tab that would always appear in firefox. that tab automatically redirected searches to yahoo instead of my preference of google. tab removed and problem went away. i need to read the fine print

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Glad you found out the problem Please Mark beside your post Solved (left top corner of answer) so that others can find it for a solution.

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That extension is malware and we will be blocking it later today. Glad things are working better for you!

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i have also reported this to google.