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A site called abuchak has taken over my Macintosh firefox search, how do I get rid of it and keep my bookmarks?

  • 9 replies
  • 168 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by CandiceOh

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Whenever I type a search word into the google search box on Firefox immediately a new tab opens for a search engine called abuchack and next to the search box it says it's a google program.

Whenever I type a search word into the google search box on Firefox immediately a new tab opens for a search engine called abuchack and next to the search box it says it's a google program.

Chosen solution

You can open the about:config page via the location bar and do a search for abuchak via the Filter at the top of the about:config page.
You can reset all abuchak related prefs via the right-click context menu to their default values.

To open the about:config page, type about:config in the location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key, just like you type the url of a website to open a website.
If you see a warning then you can confirm that you want to access that page.

  • Use the Filter bar at to top of the about:config page to locate a preference more easily.
  • Preferences that have been modified show as bold(user set).
  • Preferences can be reset to the default or changed via the right-click context menu.

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

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Read this answer in context 👍 16

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Chosen Solution

You can open the about:config page via the location bar and do a search for abuchak via the Filter at the top of the about:config page.
You can reset all abuchak related prefs via the right-click context menu to their default values.

To open the about:config page, type about:config in the location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key, just like you type the url of a website to open a website.
If you see a warning then you can confirm that you want to access that page.

  • Use the Filter bar at to top of the about:config page to locate a preference more easily.
  • Preferences that have been modified show as bold(user set).
  • Preferences can be reset to the default or changed via the right-click context menu.

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

See also:

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Thank you cor-el so much for your time! I so appreciate that you took the time and effort to respond to me.

Your suggestions solved my problem!

But, in case it can help others, I want to take the kind of time you took in order to describe the solution in support of your work and other users with the same problem.

Presenting Problem: A search page called "Abuchak ,Powered by Google" appears every time I create a new tab in Firefox on my Macintosh. It produces the following URL: http://abuchak.net/?q=&cx=007715781396609670579:-b-l4uswn7g&cof=FORID:11&ie=UTF-8&conbs&ch=1

Following your first suggestion, to use about:config, I found the following preference, "keyword.URL;http://abuchak.net/?ref=ff.1.1.97&q=" Then I chose "reset" with the right click context menu and it changed to: "keyword default string" Then I restarted my Mac and restarted Firefox. But abuchak still had my computer. Same symptom. Whenever I created a new tab, Abuchak search page appeared. And, when I went to about:config, the same preference had returned: "keyword.URL;http://abuchak.net/?ref=ff.1.1.97&q="

So, instead, I followed your second suggestion: to see if the problem was eliminated in Safe Mode It was. Then I turned off hardware acceleration in safe mode and restart in normal mode. Problem still there. Then, even though I use default theme I checked it. Problem still there. Finally I checked my extensions. Only one was enabled. It was called: "ConnectBar 1.1.97 --every talk, everywhere." I never chose to add this extension, which I have never heard of before, to Firefox. But there it was. What's more, I noticed that it said it had been "updated" on August 23, 2011--the same day my problem appeared! When I disabled it, "Abuchak" disappeared and my problem was solved.

So, again, thanks so much for your help!

I hope your solution, and what I found out by using it, can help anyone else who is infected with Abuchak from this unchosen extension.

Best, Bob

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You're welcome.

Thanks for reporting what was needed to do to solve your problem with Abuchak as it helps others who read this.

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I checked my extensions, as you did. I had the SAME one, called: "ConnectBar 1.1.97 --every talk, everywhere." I never chose to add this extension, which I have never heard of before, to Firefox. But there it was. What's more, I noticed that it said it had been "updated" on August 23, 2011--the same day my problem appeared! When I disabled it, "Abuchak" disappeared and my problem was solved.

The question is WHO/WHAT IS ABUCHAK AND HOW IS ABUCHAK DOING THIS AND HOW CAN IT BE STOPPED?

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Glad it helped you eldge. Don't know who Abuchak is and, unfortunately, I do not have the time to investigate. I hope that someone who does have the time and the skills will be able to.

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Nothing I have read anywhere from anyone has worked to get rid of this pest!!!My husband finally had to take over and get rid of EVERYTHING FIREFOX (uninstall bookmarks,toolbars and everything) and then re-install everything. Now it seems to be gone.

Modified by callielford

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Removing ConnectBar was the answer for me too. But the problem started when I installed Firefox 6, so Mozilla should look into that. Meanwhile, I'm tempted to get rid of all Add-ons ... I stumbled into them and it seemed like some could be helpful, but so far more trouble than worth. Anyone know which one causes thumbnails images to pop up with every search? takes way too much time! Anyway, thanks to Cor-el and Bob.

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p.s. Abuchak claims that they're directing funding to the World Wildlife Fund -- I emailed the organization to let them know. Maybe it was a legit idea that went rogue, but Mozilla should be in touch with them.

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Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!