Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

how do i stop ad-aware security search from being my search engine?

  • 9 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 17 views
  • Last reply by McCoy

more options

every time i launch Firefox,my search engine changes to ad-aware security search. If i open another tab google will be default again. I have even deleted ad-aware from the search engines in the settings

every time i launch Firefox,my search engine changes to ad-aware security search. If i open another tab google will be default again. I have even deleted ad-aware from the search engines in the settings

All Replies (9)

more options

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 “ ad-aware “ Anything.

Also remove 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.

more options

Thank you, but none of these programs or extensions exist on my pc

more options

If the problem is not caused by one of your extensions -- if you don't remember installing any of them or why, disable or remove -- here are two other things you could check:

(1) Connection Settings

You can check on those here:

  • Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
  • Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
  • Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
  • Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

In the search box at the top of the page, type proxy and Firefox should filter to the "Settings" button, which you can click.

The default of "Use system proxy settings" piggybacks on your Windows/IE "LAN" setting. "Auto-detect" can lead to a flaky connection. You may want to try "No proxy".

Any difference?

(2) Program Folder Infection

Could you check for alien script files in your Firefox program folder? In particular, in these locations (varies for 32-bit / 64-bit):

  • C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\defaults\pref

Caution: Do not double-click script files! The default action for a script file it to execute as a Windows system script. (Typically this would just not work, but why risk it.)

Make sure Windows is showing hidden files: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files

A file named channel-prefs.js is normal. Any other file in this folder is suspicious -- for example, dsengine.js (added by Lavasoft/AdAware Web Companion). Remove any such files to a neutral location for further analysis at your leisure.

more options

JohnMentz said

every time i launch Firefox,my search engine changes to ad-aware security search.

Hello JohnMentz,

Am I right assuming that you're talking about "Ad-Aware Secure Search"  ? If so, would you please take a look at this article :

https://www.bugsfighter.com/remove-adaware-secure-search/

And also :

http://www.free-uninstall.org/how-to-uninstall-remove-adaware-secure-search/

In addition : it might be wise to run all malware scans that are mentioned in this article (what one doesn't pick up, the other might) :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware

(edit : typo ... )

Modified by McCoy

more options

thank yo all, i have tried everything you said and it still launches at my first tab on firefox... its like a ghost program i cant find it nowhere...

more options

JohnMentz said

I have even deleted ad-aware from the search engines in the settings

I overlooked this .....

Does this mean that you found it in Options => Search, under "One-Click Search Engines" (and removed it)  ?


As it still opens at startup (when your home page should open), would you please go over this article :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/wrong-home-page-opens-when-i-start-firefox-how-fix

By the way : did you run those malware scans  ?

more options

There was nothing to delete... I run antivirus scans, should i do malware scans too?

more options

Malware is different from viruses. Some anti-virus can detect some malware, but they might miss something.

Further information can be found in this article; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

more options

JohnMentz said

There was nothing to delete...

In your original post you say :

"I have even deleted ad-aware from the search engines in the settings "