hello, could you go to firefox > help > troubleshooting information, copy the contents of that page and paste them here into a reply on the forum? this might give us a clue what is going on...

Such hijackers come with freeware/shareware program, which installs 2 components : The hijacker "extension" itself, which changes the browser settings and some sort of legitimate browser settings freezer, that keeps the settings that way. So, when you uninstall the extension, the settings remain frozen (or revert after browser restart). What you need to do, is to uninstall the second component from control panel. It might be named browser protect or similar, there are many versions. Try running Adwcleaner, Junkware removal tool or spyhunter , they might identify which program freezes the settings. Source.

This is from the troubleshooting information page

Application Basics

Name  Firefox
Version  21.0
User Agent  Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.2; WOW64; rv:21.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/21.0

Extensions
Name  Version  Enabled  ID
English (Australian) Dictionary 2.1.2 true en-AU@dictionaries.addons.mozilla.org
Norton Toolbar 2013.3.5.1 true {2D3F3651-74B9-4795-BDEC-6DA2F431CB62}
Norton Vulnerability Protection 11.3.0.9 - 5 true {BBDA0591-3099-440a-AA10-41764D9DB4DB}
TopArcadeHits 1.0 true {0113D088-8ED1-468C-B225-585A9C53B5E3}

Important Modified Preferences
Name  Value
browser.cache.disk.capacity 358400
browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run false
browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max false
browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value 358400
browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion 4
browser.startup.homepagehttp://start.search.us.com/v/2/?guid={57D051C3-199E-4DE4-9AC7-5694B9254CC9}&serpv=5
browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID 20130511120803
browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone 21.0
dom.w3c_touch_events.expose false
extensions.lastAppVersion 21.0
gfx.blacklist.direct2d 3
gfx.direct3d.prefer_10_1 true
network.cookie.prefsMigrated true
places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages 104858
plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types application/pdf
privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs true

user.js Preferences
Your profile folder contains a user.js file, which includes preferences that were not created by Firefox.

Graphics
Adapter Description AMD Radeon HD 7670M
Adapter Drivers aticfx64 aticfx64 aticfx64 aticfx32 aticfx32 aticfx32 atiumd64 atidxx64 atidxx64 atiumdag atidxx32 atidxx32 atiumdva atiumd6a atitmm64
Adapter RAM2048 
Device ID0x6840
Direct2D Enabled Blocked for your graphics driver version.
DirectWrite Enabled false (6.2.9200.16433)
Driver Date 8-8-2012
Driver Version 8.982.7.0
GPU #2 Active false
GPU Accelerated Windows 1/1
Direct3D 9
Vendor ID0x1002
WebGL Renderer Google Inc. -- ANGLE (AMD Radeon HD 7670M)
AzureCanvasBackend skia
AzureContentBackend none
AzureFallbackCanvasBackend cairo

JavaScript
Incremental GC true

Accessibility
Activated false
Prevent Accessibility  0

Library Versions
Expected minimum version      Version in use
NSPR      4.9.6               4.9.6
NSS       3.14.3.0 Basic ECC  3.14.3.0 Basic ECC
NSSSMIME  3.14.3.0 Basic ECC  3.14.3.0 Basic ECC
NSSSSL    3.14.3.0 Basic ECC  3.14.3.0 Basic ECC
NSSUTIL   3.14.3.0            3.14.3.0

I have done so now

You can check for problems with preferences and rename or delete the prefs.js file and possible numbered prefs-##.js files and a possible user.js file to reset all prefs to the default value.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Resetting_preferences

hello Pondi, there are two things that need your attention:

1. there's a user.js file present in your profile folder, which is often used by adware to override your custom preferences. in order to fix that 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, in case it is present , delete or rename this file and restart firefox afterwards. How to fix preferences that won't save
2. the TopArcadeHits 1.0 extension that you've installed is also likely adware. though other users have reported it is difficult to remove, at least keep it disabled: Disable or remove Add-ons

Hey just thought I would say I appear to have fixed the issue. There was a program called 'Wild Tangent Games' that was hiding away, I found it and deleted it. Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it. Cheers!

oh hy hy pondi,,,

I just remove the user file & now its as per my style,,

Thanks,,, SWC

For me, I followed these steps and now it is removed. Other articles suggest some other programs along with the one I discussed, you really don't have to install them.

• moeamine.com/how-to-remove-search-us-com-toolbar

THIS WORKED.

Hi there, are these user.js files that should be deleted listed as JScript Script file in the type of file column under the name of the following prefs, prefs-1, session store, session store-1, -2 and -3

Also have files called prefs.js.bak, prefs.js.new search.json file and search.sqlite (what are these)

Thanks

Yes. Windows hides some file extensions by default.
Among them are .html and .ini and .js and .txt, so you may only see a name without file extension.
You can see the real file type if you open the Properties via the right-click context menu

Thanks, so should I delete these files that I have mentioned from my firefox

You can delete all prefs and user files to reset all prefs to their default values.

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

Hello Everyone,

Editing Firefox's user.js file is a last resort in the event the Search.us.com uninstaller in Windows Control Panel, and the standalone Search.us.com uninstaller (ResetBrowsers.exe) does not work. ResetBrowsers.exe can be downloaded for free from http://support.search.us.com/uninstall.php.

If all else fails, please don't hesitate to email contactus at search.us.com for free assistance. Search.us.com representatives will never ask you for payment, nor should you need to pay for software or services to change your browser search engine, home page, and tab settings.

Thank you!

start.search.us.com removal instructions:

http://deletemalware.blogspot.com/2013/06/remove-startsearchuscom-homepage.html

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/search-us-com-virus/

Thanks Neil, but I have Malwarebytes anti-Malware programme installed and have run a full scan many times but still have search.us on my computer. It does not exist anywhere in control panel and programmes

You can delete the prefs.js file and possible numbered prefs-##.js files and a possible user.js file to reset all prefs to the default value.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Resetting_preferences

Hello irishinasia,

As cor-el mentions, you'll want to remove the following lines from Firefox's user.js file (if ResetBrowsers.exe does not work for you).

First verify that the Search.us.com add-on is removed from Firefox (http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/disable-or-remove-add-ons). You can then exit Firefox, and edit Firefox's user.js file located in:

C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\wd69kojw.default\user.js

Like the Windows "YOUR_USERNAME" part, the "wd69kojw" part is unique to your installation of Firefox so it'll look similar, but the characters will be different. Remove the following lines from the user.js file, and save your changes:

user_pref("browser.newtab.url", ""); user_pref("keyword.URL", "http://search.us.com/serp?guid={a bunch of letters & numbers}&action=default_search&k="); user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://start.search.us.com?guid={more letters & numbers}"); user_pref("browser.startup.page", "1"); user_pref("browser.newtab.url", "file:///C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Local\TNT2\2.0.0.1234\pinnedSearch.htm");

You should then be able to enter about:config into Firefox's address bar to Reset its browser.startup.homepage, and keyword.URL Values.

Please email contactus at search.us.com if you need additional assistance. We provide free support to users who haven't been able to remove the Search.us.com toolbar via Windows Control Panel, or our standalone ResetBrowsers.exe uninstaller.

Official Search.us.com representatives will never ask you for payment, or other sensitive personal information.

removing user.js worked! Thanks!

Application Basics

       Name
       Firefox

       Version
       23.0

       User Agent
       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:23.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/23.0

       Build Configuration

         about:buildconfig

 Extensions

       Name

       Version

       Enabled

       ID

       DAP Link Checker
       1.0.1.8
       false
       daplinkchecker@speedbit.com

       Download Accelerator Plus (DAP) extension
       10.0.5.1
       false
       {F17C1572-C9EC-4e5c-A542-D05CBB5C5A08}

 Important Modified Preferences

     Name

     Value

       accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar
       0

       browser.cache.disk.capacity
       358400

       browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run
       false

       browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max
       false

       browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value
       358400

       browser.newtab.url
       file:///C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\TNT2\Common\pinnedSearch.htm

       browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion
       4

       browser.startup.homepage
       http://start.search.us.com/v/2/?guid={D3FDBAB6-6514-4FD3-8446-B555EDF8C019}&serpv=5

       browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID
       20130730113002

       browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone
       23.0

       browser.startup.homepage_override_url
       http://www.google.com

       dom.mozApps.used
       true

       dom.w3c_touch_events.expose
       false

       extensions.lastAppVersion
       23.0

       gfx.direct3d.last_used_feature_level_idx
       0

       gfx.direct3d.prefer_10_1
       true

       keyword.URL
       http://search.us.com/serp?guid={3E915F23-9D7A-4E5F-B062-F985346ED12F}&action=default_search&serpv=5&k=

       network.cookie.prefsMigrated
       true

       places.database.lastMaintenance
       1376887247

       places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages
       104858

       plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types
       application/pdf

       plugin.importedState
       true

       privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs
       true

       privacy.sanitize.timeSpan
       0

       storage.vacuum.last.index
       1

       storage.vacuum.last.places.sqlite
       1375852061

 Graphics

       Adapter Description
       AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series

       Adapter Description (GPU #2)
       Air Display (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM v1.1)

       Adapter Drivers
       aticfx64 aticfx64 aticfx64 aticfx32 aticfx32 aticfx32 atiumd64 atidxx64 atidxx64 atiumdag atidxx32 atidxx32 atiumdva atiumd6a atitmm64

       Adapter Drivers (GPU #2)
       AirDisplayWDDM

       Adapter RAM
       1024

       Adapter RAM (GPU #2)
       40

       Device ID
       0x683d

       Device ID (GPU #2)
       0xbeef

       Direct2D Enabled
       true

       DirectWrite Enabled
       true (6.1.7601.17514)

       Driver Date
       9-27-2012

       Driver Date (GPU #2)
       4-11-2013

       Driver Version
       9.2.0.0

       Driver Version (GPU #2)
       1.8.7.0

       GPU #2 Active
       false

       GPU Accelerated Windows
       1/1 Direct3D 10

       Vendor ID
       0x1002

       Vendor ID (GPU #2)
       0x1337

       WebGL Renderer
       Google Inc. -- ANGLE (AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series)

       AzureCanvasBackend
       direct2d

       AzureContentBackend
       direct2d

       AzureFallbackCanvasBackend
       cairo

 JavaScript

       Incremental GC
       true

 Accessibility

       Activated
       false

       Prevent Accessibility
       0

 Library Versions

       Expected minimum version

       Version in use

       NSPR
       4.10
       4.10

       NSS
       3.15 Basic ECC
       3.15 Basic ECC

       NSSSMIME
       3.15 Basic ECC
       3.15 Basic ECC

       NSSSSL
       3.15 Basic ECC
       3.15 Basic ECC

       NSSUTIL
       3.15
       3.15