Hi, please try working through Remove Ask Toolbar and Ask.com Search by Malware Tips.

Note that not all removal programs will detect all malware, so you may need to run several or all of them.

After removal you may need to reset your home page and search, which you can do by running the add-on SearchReset.

If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you.

This was tried earlier with no success. What's even more frustrating is that I tried replying to your email earlier this morning with no luck! Here was my email(s):

Ok, I don't have an "Ask Tool Bar" so it does not show up when I go to uninstall it. This is very aggravating and just started occurring. I can guarantee you that I did nothing to make this occur. I have got to get other stuff done right now and am not happy that I have wasted half of my morning dealing with this BS. If this is an issue with "Ask.com" then Mozilla or Firefox or whomever needs to go after them because I put this on you guys for allowing it to happen. It is not right!!!

Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.

You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
• Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller
• AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
• Hitman Pro
• ESET Online Scanner

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one. Windows 8 has antivirus built-in already.

Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

No it didn't help! I have an older version of IE on the same desktop with no issues. This is my first few months of using Firefox after years of using IE and I am not impressed.

I have not visited any sites that I haven't visited in the last year and don't have the time to deal with this issue that I shouldn't have to deal with. Going back to IE!!!!!

The fact that I don't have this issue with IE but do have with Firefox tells me that Firefox is vulnerable and I am done! I have used IE for 2 decades without issue!

Plain and simple........The burden of fixing this should not be on me!!!

I will be upgrading IE on Monday.......Thanks!!!!

Oh yes, and I love how you can email me but I cannot reply.........NICE CUSTOMER SERVICE THERE PEOPLE!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?????

I have the same problem, which is that ASK takes over from firefox Mozilla and I don't see any solution. Does that mean that firefox Mozilla does not have an answer or doesn't care?

Hi novsmo

You can create a new profile if you can't fix this issue in your current profile.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

You can check in "Windows Control Panel > Programs" for recently installed programs to see if any suspicious software shows up.

• Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall or change a program
• Click the Installed column to sort by this heading

Hi novsmoz, you have a different issue than the one in this thread. The original poster was infected with an annoying add-on that keeps trying to revert your home page.

For your situation, you can remove the Ask software from your system, remove any Ask add-ons, restore your preferred home page if necessary, and restore your preferred default search engine, if necessary.

Do you run Windows? Here is my suggested procedure for tracking down and cleaning up bad add-ons and other hijackers. I know it seems long, but it's really not that bad.

(For Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10; XP is somewhat different)

(1) Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Be suspicious of everything you do not recognize/remember, as malware often uses important or innocent sounding names to discourage you from removing it. Take out as much trash as possible here.

(2) Open Firefox's Add-ons page using either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
• in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste
  firefox.exe "about:addons"

In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions. All extensions are optional; none come with Firefox.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?

(3) You can search for remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.

For future reference if relevant:

• How to set the home page
• Change your default search settings in Firefox

thank you jscher. I have Mac and not windows. If that makes any difference, perhaps you could speak to that. If not I will try the first part of your reply.

cor-el said

Hi novsmo You can create a new profile if you can't fix this issue in your current profile. See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

You can check in "Windows Control Panel > Programs" for recently installed programs to see if any suspicious software shows up.

• Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall or change a program
• Click the Installed column to sort by this heading

Thank you cor=el I will try your advice and let you know the result