this sounds like a problem possibly caused by adware on your pc (oracle is bundling the ask-toolbar in its critical security updates if you're not careful an disselect it for example).

please go to firefox > addons > extensions & remove any suspicious entries (toolbars, things that you have not installed intentionally, don't know what purpose they serve, etc). also go to the windows control panel / programs and remove all toolbars or potentially unwanted software from there. Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page

afterwards install the search reset addon - it will revert the most common customizations those adware programs do in firefox back to the default: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/

It has also happened to me. Thanks for the info.

I tried the reset but it didn't work. Ask keeps coming up as the search engine on the home page. ASK is not listed in the search engine list in the top right search area

If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

Current Firefox versions use the default search engine (pref: browser.search.defaultenginename) to set the search engine that is used on the about:home page.

Check the browser.search.defaultenginename pref on the about:config page and make sure that it is set to the default value Google.

• browser.search.defaultenginename

Currently selected search engine:

• browser.search.selectedEngine

Had same problem - Moazella help solved it - THANKS

Now, since I DO NOT LIKE "ASK" and see no need to ever use it, is there a way I can block this unwanted, unappreciated, intrusion from ever happening again.