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Get rid of yahoo search

  • 6 replies
  • 23 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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I have tried everything I can find to get rid of the Yahoo search... refresh, delete extensions/add-on, remove *yahoo* from my whole C drive, unistall any programs with "yahoo" in them, run multiple malware and anti-virus software scans of different flavors, etc., etc., etc., It is getting down right ridiculous that all you brainiackes out there can't control this. Screw Yahoo!!!

I have also tried everything I can find on how to make Firefox start faster, it is slow as hell.

If there is no way to permanently get rid of these problems, as much as I like Firefox, I will have to get rid of it permanently.

I have tried everything I can find to get rid of the Yahoo search... refresh, delete extensions/add-on, remove *yahoo* from my whole C drive, unistall any programs with "yahoo" in them, run multiple malware and anti-virus software scans of different flavors, etc., etc., etc., It is getting down right ridiculous that all you brainiackes out there can't control this. Screw Yahoo!!! I have also tried everything I can find on how to make Firefox start faster, it is slow as hell. If there is no way to permanently get rid of these problems, as much as I like Firefox, I will have to get rid of it permanently.

All Replies (6)

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Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> A)

In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Remove “ yahoo “ Anything. Also look for SafeSearch or SearchAssist Incognito.

Now do the same in the computer’s Programs Folder.

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the Applications folder. Linux: Check your user manual.

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Specifically, please explain where you are having Yahoo appear while you are using Firefox.


Yahoo is the default search engine in Firefox for the USA and has been since Firefox 34.0.5 was released. There are other included search engines, too - and vary depending upon the localized version that the user installs.

All the included search engines are "protected" and can only be temporarily removed, i.e., the next Firefox update installation will replace the file where those protected search engines are placed. IOW, they reappear in the user interface even if the user "removed" them.

Yahoo pays Mozilla "beacoup bucks" for "default placement" of their search engine is the USA version of Firefox, so Mozilla is protecting their revenue stream so that Mozilla can continue to operate and expand.

Mozilla doesn't "force you" to use Yahoo search. It is very easy to change the default to a different search engine. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-your-default-search-settings-firefox

Or maybe your real problem is that you managed to pickup some Malware that has "locked in Yahoo search" as your default search engine for Firefox, and maybe other web browsers, too. https://malwaretips.com/blogs/malware-removal-guide-for-windows/

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Try to start Firefox in Safe Mode to see whether that makes Firefox start faster

  • Windows: hold down the Shift key while starting Firefox
  • Mac: hold down the Options key while starting Firefox

You can check for problems with preferences.

Delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases.

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Firefox on my computer does force Yahoo. I can select Google to search, or even go directly to the Google web page. It doesn't matter. All searches become Yahoo searches.

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Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> A)

In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Remove “ Yahoo “ Anything.

Also look for SafeSearch, SearchAssist Incognito, FileConverter Addon, SearchLock, DiscreteSearch, WebSearch, Findwide Search Engine

Now do the same in the computer’s Programs Folder.

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the Applications folder. Linux: Check your user manual.