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Firefox Browser Hijack

KingBubba

KingBubba

"Too Much Stuff"
I was wondering if anyone else has been having browser hijack issues anytime recently. The issue I am about to describe is happening to people with Internet Explorer and also Chrome.

My home page on my Firefox browser has constantly, but irregularly, been hijacked by the AVG Secure Search/Google search page. I use the Sync function in Firefox; so when this happens to one of my computers, it happens to all. My homepage has to be reset to my.yahoo. I have Googled and searched elsewhere about this issue and find that lots of people are getting screwed by AVG on this hijack. There is apparently more than one way for this to happen. I, for one, have never installed any AVG products on any of my computers. There is no sign of AVG on any of my computers in any form. I have even checked my registry. Secure Search can be one of the choices you are given as your default search engine, but it is not on any of my lists. I have not installed any new software; so it has not come in under the shadow of any software company's EULA, as it has for many complainants on the web. There is nothing AVG in add remove or programs in Win 7. This has effected one Win2k, 2 XP and one Win 7 machines.

My suspicion is that it is sneaking in with all the Java and Flash Player updates that have been happening lately, but I have no way to prove it.

If anyone has this, or knows anything about this, or how to get rid of it, I would appreciate assistance of any kind. Thanks.
 
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AVG made its way into my PC when I installed Chrome to try and compare. It's been hell to get rid of and I'm not sure I have done so yet. I'm a complete PC novice but I looked up "uninstall AVG" on Google and found a couple sites that gave a complete explanation of how to get rid of it. No one I've seen has been real happy about this and it seems to be hit and miss. I'd be interested in more comments in this thread as well.
 
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The problem is I do not have any AVG on my computer so I have nothing to get rid of. Whatever this is, is happening inside the browser. I have also been inside the Firefox config and have been unable to find anything there that is obviously AVG or Secure Search.
 
I'm trying to remember, but it came in as part of the Chrome Download and runs there but manages to hijack Firefox. As I recall it is not obvious as a program. I'm getting deeper than I'm qualified. I'm sure others will chime in, but I think there is hope. It took me half a day to get it halfway right, then more tweaking after that but not sure I could recreate the steps.
A lot of what I see on the web says how good an anti-virus program it is, but I never ordered it. I think it was in one of the "uncheck if you don't want it" box when I installed Chrome.
 
Thanks Glen65, but there is nothing there to remove from Firefox. There are no references to AVG anything, anywhere in my computer or browser.
 
Open Firefox, look at Addons and under Extensions you will probably see the AVG Safe Search which you should be able to disable if not remove.
 
Yes it probably did get added with a Java or Adobe update. They are nefarious for having "install this piece of malicious crap software" automatically checked when you do an update.
 
Not sure what you have running on your box but there have been major security issues with JAVA. I think there are lots of people that are unaware of this. be sure to go into the windows remove programs and remove all old versions of JAVA unless you have a specific need for them. Then download the new versions. but be careful to keep your eye on them as they seem to be getting compromised about every two weeks or so.

http://www.informationweek.com/secu...e-java-zero-day-vulnerabilities-eme/240149468

New JAVA downloads.
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
 
The Java and Adobe updates have a McAfee AV, not AVG, program that must be unchecked so it doesn't install.
 
Find and run a free copy of "HiJack This". It will locate the offending program and help you shut it down.
 
adobe reader update installs itself to automatically update itself, and that avg crap is a deliberate UN-check box that defaults to run on the update, if i remember my latest battles clearly.

why adobe reader? it IS part of firefox, it will open an adobe reader in a window or tab.
 
I run AVG and Firefox all day long, and have never seen this more than a few times. The Safe Search screen will pop up if the URL is bad or it can't be found. That's the only time I've seen it do anything.
 
Uninstall Java, it is pretty much the gateway for viruses. I hate it. If you don't want to go that route run NoScript, AdBlock and Ghostery all the time.
 
I've noticed a odd browser issue lately as well. When i open IE or firefox and type something into search, it will search it. But when i click on the links turned up by the search, it opens a new tab or window. I've gone through both browsers config settings and turned things on/off and it has ZERO effect. Now, in the upper right corner of each browser i have a google search bar. If i type into this and then click on the links it finds, no problem. The link opens like normal and i can back out of it when done. Is this the same thing or something else?
 
I use all the security add ons mentioned. Just for clarity to Ubuntu users; Ubuntu now is sending tracking info from your computer to three different servers. The entire Linux/Ubuntu community is up in arms. Ubuntu is not what it used to be.
 
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