First, you need to remove the intruder. Here's my suggested procedure for tracking down and cleaning up bad add-ons, hijackers, and other troublemakers. I know it seems long, but it's not that bad. (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. Take out as much trash as possible here. (If in doubt, feel free to post a screenshot.) (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 <br><code>firefox.exe "about:addons"</code> 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. ''Bear in mind that all extensions are optional.'' 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. ---- Once you are back to Firefox's normal new tab page, your next project is to override that with the Google home page. It's important to make sure interfering extensions are removed as "when add-ons fight, you lose." Here are some options: * ''If you already use either the "Classic Theme Restorer" or "Tab Mix Plus" extension:'' There is an option somewhere (!) in its extensive settings dialogs to select a different new tab page. * ''If Google is your home page:'' Try https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/new-tab-homepage/ * ''If Google is not your home page:'' Try https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/new-tab-override/ * ''If you want the cursor to move into the search box automatically:'' Try https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/custom-new-tab/ ''Please only use one of these methods at a time, otherwise there may be conflicts and dysfunctionality.'' '''Setting up New Tab Override and Custom New Tab''' After installing one of these extensions, you need to use its Options page to set the desired new tab page (instead of using about:config). Open the Add-ons page using either: * Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Cmd+Shift+a) * "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons In the left column, click Extensions. Then on the right side, find the extension and click its Options button. From there you can set https://www.google.com/ as your desired new tab page.