my new tab page does not load as before, instead Bing's page loads. How can I restore that without losing anything customized?
When I open a new page, conduit.com/ loads - provided by Bing . I read related threads in a forum and did not resolve the problem. I followed directions through about:config, changed the setting to false and no win. I checked and changed the same in IE which I never use, no gain. I deleted Bing as a search engine and nothing. I would use restore to fix this but I do not want to lose my settings, plug ins, add on-s, etc. It will require a massive amount of time to recreate them. Is anything else available too fix this problem? I thank you in advanced for your help and a BIG thank you for your awesome browser!
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hi IsisW, first please see if the problem can be fixed by installing the search reset addon - it will revert the most common adware customizations in firefox back to the default: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/
if this did not work and the changes don't 'stick' after a restart of the browser, please look out for any suspicious extensions (like 3rd-party-toolbars or things you have not installed intentionally) presently installed under firefox/tools > addons > extensions or the programs section of the windows control panel and remove those entries.
in case this doesn't solve the issue either please try this: go to firefox > help > troubleshooting information > profile folder - "show folder", then a new window will open up. in this window look out for a file named user.js (it might be used to overwrite your custom settings). in case it is present , delete or rename this file and restart firefox afterwards.
Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page
How to fix preferences that won't save
a full scan of your system with different security tools like the free version of malwarebytes and adwcleaner won't be a bad idea either to make sure that adware isn't present in other places of your system as well.
Hi Philip: Sorry for the delayed response. I've done what I could as time permitted, which has not been much. Thank you for your response. I followed your instructions and somehow I succeeded. However, let me explain my experience because I believe this is something new. When I figured the change made by conduit, I read loads of threats to take care of it. I never found a program in my add/remove that resembled being the culprit. There was nothing in my task bar either, no button. bar, addons, extensions, etc. All I saw the preferred search engine was conduit. When I opened a new page, that was the default page. After the suggested changes found in several forums. I removed the search engine from my list of options. I did this after a complete AV scan of my drive. I used Constant Guard (Norton). Nothing found. After reboot, I found a program Search Protect in the add/remove list. I removed it after checking Restore Default Engine in Mozilla and IE. Rebooted there were no entries related. I removed one from IE though. I double checked everything and at reboot, although the default engine was google, new page is empty. Went to options and clicked "use default". Same results after reopening Mozilla. That after following your directions. So far, it seems Conduit and Search Protect are gone. However, I am unable to restore the original new page that showed my most used sites. How can I restore this one? However, this the worse part of this mystery. I have not installed any programs. A week before I added a Dictionary from Mozilla's add on page. A day before I noticed this change I updated Mozilla from the previous update. How could this problem get into my system? The added dictionary, Mozilla's update? Frankly, something should be done about these "terrorist" invasions! Not that it is Netscape's job but unwanted and unsolicited programs in a system, questions the safety in the internet nowadays. If this happening now, what can we expect later? Thank you for your help and if you have further advise to restore the new page I will appreciate it much. Isis
Did you install the Search Reset extension after uninstalling the Conduit Search Protect program from the Control Panel?
Search Reset extension runs upon installation and then uninstalls itself. That extension would need to be installed (again if necessary) after getting rid of garbage like Conduit..
I did and did not work. I did it again, problem remains. Hopefully, it is not a matter of resetting the entire browser or reinstalling it. I've done what you guys suggested me, after trying the advise from several users in your forums. Is this a new way to take over by Conduit? Thanks for your advise. Isis
You can check for problems with preferences.
Rename or delete the prefs.js file and possible numbered prefs-##.js and user.js files to reset all prefs to the default value.