This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Search engine keeps getting changed and my home page keeps getting changed - I AM ABOUT READY TO GO BACK TO USING IE

malk1007
malk1007
more options

if my home page keeps getting changed - I will no longer be using Firefox. It is bad enough that my search engine keeps getting changed but leave my home page alone. I have used Mozilla for years and I am tired of having to change things back to what I want it as. FIX THIS OR LOOSE ME AS A USER

if my home page keeps getting changed - I will no longer be using Firefox. It is bad enough that my search engine keeps getting changed but leave my home page alone. I have used Mozilla for years and I am tired of having to change things back to what I want it as. FIX THIS OR LOOSE ME AS A USER

All Replies (3)

philipp
philipp
  • Moderator
more options

hello malk1007, if those settings change on their own, this is usually a sign of adware/malware that is active on your system. so please perform all these steps:

  1. go to the firefox menu ≡ > addons > extensions & remove any suspicious entries (toolbars, things that you have not installed intentionally, don't know what purpose they serve, etc).
  2. also go to the windows control panel / programs and remove all toolbars or potentially unwanted software from there.
  3. finally, run a full scan of your system with different security tools like the free version of malwarebytes & adwcleaner, which are specialised in adware and browser hijackers.

Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
more options

Your More System Details doesn't show the URL of the changed Homepage setting. Specifically, what does your Homepage and default Search Engine get changed to?

simplysuz214
simplysuz214
more options

I downloaded the latest version of Firefox from the Mozilla website and it automatically installs "ixquick" as the default home page. THIS IS A VIRUS. I keep changing my default home pages and it will randomly change it back to ixquick.com. I installed BlockSites and blocked the webpage but it still changes it. I have tried the removal tools that I have found online and it still hasn't worked. (Malwarebytes and Spy Hunter - can't afford the paid version and that's what it takes to remove this virus) http://www.2-spyware.com/remove-ixquick-com.html 

I LOVE Firefox but I think I am going to have uninstall it on all my computers.  (It's happened on my laptop and my PC).

HELP!!!!! When I go to the Firefox knowledge base it says that ixquick.com is this awesome secure search engine - but all my research says that it's a virus that hijacks your computer. http://blog.doofix.com/how-to-get-rid-of-ixquick-com-redirect-virus/