(1) New Tab Page search bar

If you don't use the bar, then nothing is submitted to the search engine, it just sits there waiting...

You can suppress the display of this extra bar by applying a custom style rule to the page. There are a couple different ways to apply custom style rules in Firefox. Please see this thread for more information:

i have to remove the search engin option from the place where i am pining my favorite site links

If you would like to see some configuration options for the page, you can submit suggestions here: https://input.mozilla.org/feedback

(2) Kaspersky SSL Scan ("Scan Encrypted Connections")

You don't need to disable this feature if you like having Kaspersky intercept your secure connections for filtering. However, you need to set up Firefox to trust the fake certificates that Kaspersky presents to Firefox when you use this feature.

Here is some documentation that I've seen earlier this year, not sure it's the latest or matches your product exactly:

• General SSL scan setting: How to scan encrypted connections in Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012?; How to scan encrypted connections in Kaspersky PURE 2.0? (except: turn it off instead of on)

• Making an exception for a specific program (e.g., Google Chrome): Encrypted connections scan by Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 in Google Chrome; Scan of encrypted connections in Google Chrome and Opera (KIS 2013)

• Kaspersky PURE 3.0: http://support.kaspersky.com/us/9927#block1

Firefox as always is customisable so there are other things you could easily do. For instance

• Pick another page to open as your own New Tab.
  I will not give full details here but the pref browser.newtab.url is set to about:newtab by default setting it to about:blank opens a blank page, or use any url you prefer.
  • I guess you are already familiar with http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config
• Use whatever search bar you want.
  This is very easy. Just change the search engine selected in the searchbar to another preinstalled, or any search engine you wish. All other Firefox searches including the addressbar and newtab search bar also change.
  • Search bar - add, change and manage search engines on Firefox

Issues with connecting to secure sites in Firefox 31 and later can be caused by switching to libPKIX.

• https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2014/04/24/exciting-updates-to-certificate-verification-in-gecko/

You can test that by disabling libPKIX support in Firefox, but it is not recommended to leave it disabled on the long run for security and vulnerability reasons.

• about:config page: security.use_mozillapkix_verification = false

It is possible that websites will correct this issue shortly, so make sure to check regularly if this workaround is still required by resetting the pref and see if you can connect. You may have to reload and bypass the cache via Ctrl+F5 after toggling this pref.

You can contact the website and bring this article under their attention. See "Behavior Changes" and "Things for CAs to Fix":

• https://wiki.mozilla.org/SecurityEngineering/mozpkix-testing

Add code to the userChrome.css file below the default @namespace line to hide the search bar on the new tab page.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/userChrome.css

@namespace url("https://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul"); /* only needed once */

@-moz-document url(about:newtab){
#newtab-margin-top, #newtab-search-container { display:none !important; }
}

The customization files userChrome.css (user interface) and userContent.css (websites) are located in the chrome folder in the Firefox profile folder.

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

You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)

• Create the chrome folder (lowercase) in the <xxxxxxxx>.default profile folder if this folder doesn't exist
• Use a plain text editor like Notepad to create a (new) userChrome.css file in the chrome folder (file name is case sensitive)
• Paste the code in the userChrome.css file in the editor window
• Make sure that the userChrome.css file starts with the default @namespace line
• Make sure that you select "All files" and not "Text files" when you save the file via "Save file as" in the text editor as userChrome.css. Otherwise Windows may add a hidden .txt file extension and you end up with a not working userChrome.css.txt file

Thank you for the suggestions. I use the business version of Kaspersky called Endpoint Security and after much digging I found a solution here: Kaspersky and Firefox SSL Bug

The fix requires submitting a support request for patch PT133 in KES 8.1.0.1042 - the previous version of KES 8 (v.8.1.0.831) must be upgraded before the patch can be installed.

As for the search bar, giving a box to tick or untick for this unwanted feature would be most diplomatic, but thanks for the workaround.