Firefox address bar question

[AlmondMilk]

Hi. So I downloaded this program, and this spyware program got downloaded too. I was able to remove it from Firefox. The problem is that now when I type a word in Firefox, it automatically adds a ".com" to it thinking I want to go to the website. Before this whole incident, if I typed in a word or a couple of words, it would put those words in a google search. Now, if I type a sentence like "I lost my book," the "Domain not found" page comes up rather than automatically putting me through a google search of "I lost my book." Can anyone help me? o.o

The thing got installed on my Chrome browser, but I really don't use it that much.

 

[trinket]

Hmm. You might try to check out this page - there's a section describing Firefox's "Internet keyword search" where you can default it back to Google as a search engine, and also the "Domain Guessing" functionality where it will try to add a suffix. At the very least, you can see if residue is left in those settings from when you uninstalled the spyware.

Also check out "Removing Unwanted Firefox Add-ons" just to ensure you've completely removed the pieces of this add-on spyware. That post near the end links to a Mozilla page on more extensive removal if you need that. I might also suggest doing a "Full scan" of your system with Malwarebytes' free version if you haven't already just to see if you've gotten everything (you mentioned it's still in Chrome).

The other thing I'd add is that even if your address bar direct-searching is acting strangely, as a backup you can still use the dedicated search bar, right? It's the one usually defaulted at the top right like so:

 

[AlmondMilk]

Thanks! Malwarebytes took care of the spyware. As far as the Firefox search, I'll look into the page you suggested. Thank you once again!

 

[White Eagle]

I came over here to see if anyone could help with video but saw this and it is exactly what my problem is. I had ad aware put on to clear out spyware. I removed that and downloaded Malwarebytes and ran a scan and it went through the reboot ok and the opening page came up. But it is just setting there black screen with a mouse pointer in the middle. That has been for 20 minutes. I'm sure I installed it ok and followed all the suggestions. Any idea what happened?

Hmm. You might try to check out this page - there's a section describing Firefox's "Internet keyword search" where you can default it back to Google as a search engine, and also the "Domain Guessing" functionality where it will try to add a suffix. At the very least, you can see if residue is left in those settings from when you uninstalled the spyware.

Also check out "Removing Unwanted Firefox Add-ons" just to ensure you've completely removed the pieces of this add-on spyware. That post near the end links to a Mozilla page on more extensive removal if you need that. I might also suggest doing a "Full scan" of your system with Malwarebytes' free version if you haven't already just to see if you've gotten everything (you mentioned it's still in Chrome).

The other thing I'd add is that even if your address bar direct-searching is acting strangely, as a backup you can still use the dedicated search bar, right? It's the one usually defaulted at the top right like so:

- - - Updated - - -

I came over here to see if anyone could help with video but saw this and it is exactly what my problem is. I had ad aware put on to clear out spyware. I removed that and downloaded Malwarebytes and ran a scan and it went through the reboot ok and the opening page came up. But it is just setting there black screen with a mouse pointer in the middle. That has been for 20 minutes. I'm sure I installed it ok and followed all the suggestions. Any idea what happened?

Ok, belay that! It just came up. Go figure. But thanks for the info on Malwarebytes.

 

[White Eagle]

I do have a question about Firefox. Have you had the problem of closing FF and then trying to open it again and it says that a FF is still open, you need to close it or reboot? Every time. I found a page that lets you put in a suggestion, but I'm not sure I will get a reply.

 

[trinket]

Ok, belay that! It just came up. Go figure. But thanks for the info on Malwarebytes.

Glad it worked out for you. If it happens again, where it's sitting there with the symptom you describe, try a reboot into Windows' "Safe Mode". Then run the Malwarebytes scan under your Safe Mode. Sometimes the stubborn stuff requires Safe Mode (which loads a minimal set of drivers), running Malwarebytes, reboot into Windows' normal mode when done, then a run of Malwarebytes again to be safe (the "Complete" scan where you can pick entire drive letters).

I do have a question about Firefox. Have you had the problem of closing FF and then trying to open it again and it says that a FF is still open, you need to close it or reboot? Every time. I found a page that lets you put in a suggestion, but I'm not sure I will get a reply.

This means the Firefox process is still running. Even when you close the application, it can take a few seconds for Firefox . exe to clean up after itself. Especially if it's consumed a lot of resources (and/or is memory leaking), or you're running extensions, RSS feeds, etc. On even a reasonably fast PC I've seen Firefox . exe take up to 20-30 seconds to close while you see Firefox in the task manager reducing the amount of RAM it's consuming every few seconds before it finally closes entirely. Less commonly, you might have an aspect of Firefox still open (like the little download window) that causes Firefox . exe to still be active.

You can run the Windows Task Manager (Control-Alt-Delete then "Task Manager", or right click your bottom Windows bar and choose "Start Task Manager"). Then try closing Firefox and notice that Firefox . exe may still remain active. (Punch the process name bar to sort and look for the F's.) Once it disappears entirely you should be good to restart it. Or, if you don't want to do this, just wait 30-60 seconds to be safe after closing Firefox in the normal way.

 

[White Eagle]

Glad it worked out for you. If it happens again, where it's sitting there with the symptom you describe, try a reboot into Windows' "Safe Mode". Then run the Malwarebytes scan under your Safe Mode. Sometimes the stubborn stuff requires Safe Mode (which loads a minimal set of drivers), running Malwarebytes, reboot into Windows' normal mode when done, then a run of Malwarebytes again to be safe (the "Complete" scan where you can pick entire drive letters).




This means the Firefox process is still running. Even when you close the application, it can take a few seconds for Firefox . exe to clean up after itself. Especially if it's consumed a lot of resources (and/or is memory leaking), or you're running extensions, RSS feeds, etc. On even a reasonably fast PC I've seen Firefox . exe take up to 20-30 seconds to close while you see Firefox in the task manager reducing the amount of RAM it's consuming every few seconds before it finally closes entirely. Less commonly, you might have an aspect of Firefox still open (like the little download window) that causes Firefox . exe to still be active.

You can run the Windows Task Manager (Control-Alt-Delete then "Task Manager", or right click your bottom Windows bar and choose "Start Task Manager"). Then try closing Firefox and notice that Firefox . exe may still remain active. (Punch the process name bar to sort and look for the F's.) Once it disappears entirely you should be good to restart it. Or, if you don't want to do this, just wait 30-60 seconds to be safe after closing Firefox in the normal way.

I guess I'm being impatient. My partner passed away in sept and I've had to shut down some things so I could afford the internet. So, in doing that I've stopped the Roadrunner faster internet thingy. So I guess I'm just not giving it enough time to close. I will try the safe mode and see what that does. It gives me more info. My partner was the tech around here. Thank you.

 

[White Eagle]

I thought I had more probs with that PC. ALL links to JUB would go to just one page of JUB. One that shows all the porn links. Nothing else would open. But I closed FF and just went to JUB to see what that page was and FF came back up without having to reboot and the links are all ok now. Go figure, AGAIN!
Thank you again.