Considering that Firefox 13 doesn't show a "search engine" in a new tab page, I am going to assume that you changed about:newtab to about:home for the new tab page.

With the about:home page loaded, paste this in the Location Bar and hit Enter.

 
javascript:{localStorage["search-engine"]="{\"name\":\"Google\",\"searchUrl\":\"http://www.google.com/search?q=_searchTerms_&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a\"}";void(0);}
 

Tanks for the suggestion but chatzum is still here!

Did you try Safe mode to be sure that it isn't caused by an extension?

• Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode

If there is a problem with the build-in about:home page then try to reset the search engine used on the about:home page.

Reset the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone pref via the right-click context menu to the default on the about:config page and close and restart Firefox to restore the about:home page to its default.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

1. Open the about:config page via the location bar
2. Type in the Filter bar: mstone
3. Right-click the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone line and select: Reset
4. Close and restart Firefox

If this didn't help then delete the delete the chromeappsstore.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder and repeat the above.

Type

about:config

in Navigation Toolbar

Search for

chatzum

You should get 4 entries.

Right-click on each entry and select

reset

reload Firefox

Should be sorted!

Hi there everyone. I found myself having the same problem with this Chatzum hijacker and I found only one sure fire way to remove it.

Trying to go into directories to delete the malware will not work as it has rooted into your temp and windows files. And the same applies to removing the hijack from you firefox.

It's one simple step. all you have to do is think back to when you first noticed the chatzum, and the restore your computer to a point before it took hold. Your computer will not see this as a document so it will be rolled back.

After hours of troubleshooting this was the only option that worked for me. I hope you have the same result as I did.

P.S. - Don't try and search for a removal tool. If you put the word chatzum into a search engine most of the results are connected to very malware that is already on you computer.

For Firefox: The "about:config" route suggested above, to removal of chatzum works but you need other actions:

1) You need to search for "chatzum" as well as "searchsafe" when using the about:config option. The sneaky change of address hides many things. (in all, I deleted 4 lines of code (actually only disabled them.....remnants of it remains)

2) Uninstalling chatzum via control panel (program removal option) is not enough. But you have to do that.

3) Removing from search toolbar (or search box) is a bit tricky as chatzum will have taken over and there is no chatzum logo, but its there as part of browser toolbar (if activated)......only the words "search safer" (or search safe appears in that search box). Click on the left logo area of the search box, get dropdown list of search engines. Click option "Manage Search Engine"...........remove "searchsafe", (and Yahoo if you want to next choose Google as the default. Otherwise if you have a YTD or yahoo toolbar, somehow they will prevent you going Google in the Search box! Afternote: This however may be because I did not restart the browser..........seems to have resolved itself even with the Yahoo option left in the list......actually I removed it, but somehow it re-installed itself there in the list!).

4) all that should have removed it. But if it appears as home page when you turn on browser: You have to change it to default opening in blank page (about:home) or go to Google search and make that your home page. Go to google search first then by clicking on browser "tools" option and setting your home page from there.

So this removes chatzum when new tab is activated. Removes it as default in Search engine bar. Removes it from home page of browser!

so far I have covered some of the appearances of chatzum..........who knows what other dirty tricks are hidden......It should be considered malware (by definition = unwanted, disruptive, undemocratic) by all the antivirus programs, but it is not. Stay tuned.

I am using Windows 7 and your reply solved my problem. However, instead of the 4 entries, I found approximately 12-15 on my system and reset each and everyone. So far so good as we say.