Keyword.url set to google, being hijacked by Yahoo anyway

I have checked repeatedly that my keyword search is set to the Google string, but it STILL diverts me to a Yahoo search if I type into the address bar. I hate Yahoo and its entire slow, ugly, buggy garbage of an empire, how can I make it go away?
Also, GetBetterLinks is trash adware, please stop putting crap I have to delete on my computer, mmk?

I set the keyword.URL preference to the Google Search-by-Name URL, changed to the default theme, and then restarted in Safe Mode with add-ons disabled. When I then checked keyword.URL, it had changed back to the "chrome:" setting.
I set keyword.URL again and then disabled all plug-ins, exited Firefox normally, and restarted in Normal Mode. Again, keyword.URL had reverted to the "chrome:" setting.
I then reset keyword.URL, left all the plug-ins disabled, and restarted in Safe Mode. Once again, keyword.URL had reverted to the "chrome:" setting.
Sorry to be so clueless, cor-el, but I'm afraid I don't know what a locale is. I tried to read your link to mozillaZine, but it kept timing out after 30 seconds. Is that because of too much volume? So are you saying that my current locale is supposed to reset the keyword.URL preference from the "chrome:" setting to some valid value, but that isn't happening? What else could cause this besides a bad extension, theme, or plug-in?

Similar Messages

I changed the "keyword url" setting in about:config to allow it to be used as a google search box, but when I exit and restart firefox it reverts to its previous setting.

chrome://browser-region/locale/region.properties
This is the URL that is in "keyword:URL" in about:config in my Firefox 4. I attempted to change it to http://www.google.ie/search?q= so as to use the address bar as a search bar. It works fine while Firefox remains open, but when I exit and come back later to open Firefox and use the address bar for search items I find that it has reverted to the default setting.
Can you please help me resolve this issue?
Thanks

See:
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved
You can start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
* [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]
If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.
* Use "Disable all add-ons" on the [[Safe mode]] start window to disable all extensions.
* Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
In Firefox 4 you can use one of these to start in [[Safe mode]]:
* Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
* Hold down the Shift key while double clicking the Firefox desktop shortcut (Windows)

Safari search set to Google, but I get Yahoo results??

My search engine preference is clearly set to Google. And even when I start typing a topic in the search field, I see it says "Search Google" in blue letters next to what I'm typing, but when I press Return, I see Yahoo search results. why?
I''m running
Mac OS 10.10.1
Safari 8.0

Remove adware using an app.
   Use free AdwareMedic by clicking “Download ” from here
   http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php
   Install , open, and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button   to remove adware.
   Once done, quit AdwareMedic by clicking AdwareMedic in the menu bar and selecting
   “Quit AdwareMedic”.
   Safari > Preferences > Extensions
   Turn those off and relaunch Safari again.
   Turn those on one by one and test.
               or
   Remove the adware manually by following the “HowTo” from Apple.
   http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT6506
   Safari > Preferences > General > Default Search Engine:
   Select Google.

Safari Google search hijacked by Yahoo

Has anyone else found their search function in Safari hijacked by Yahoo? I can't even enter a URL -- it won't load! The Yahoo search box comes up instead and the URL stalls while loading. So then I am forced to do a Yahoo search to find the page I entered a URL for! Is there a solution for this or am I stuck with it?

From the Safari menu bar, select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Extensions
Turn all extensions OFF and test. If the problem is resolved, turn extensions back ON and then disable them one or a few at a time until you find the culprit.

Homepage "google search" hijacked by yahoo

when-ever i try to use the Google search at the home page,
NOT the tool-bar or address but the one which is at the center of the window.
the actual Google search.
the page get hijacked and i am redirected to yahoo results.
tried using malwarebytes and it came up with nothing.
how do i get normal Google results ?

If you are not a trained professional be careful with going into the registry and Master boot Record (as outlined in the above answer) as it can be quite dangerous. I would rather try something like the below solutions, it might be a bit easier and you don't run the risk of permanently damaging your Windows Installation or losing Data.
'''Scan for Malware'''
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 some of the following programs to scan for malware:
* [http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware]
* [http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363 TDSSKiller - AntiRootkit Utility]
* [http://windows.microsoft.com/MSE Microsoft Security Essentials] (A good permanent anti-virus if you don't already have one)
Further information can be found in the [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]] article.
'''Uninstall Programs'''
# Click Start
# Then click Control Panel
# Then find the Add or Remove Programs (Or Uninstall a Program)
# Find any programs with the same name as the issue you are trying to fix (Babylon, funmoods, etc.)
# Uninstall them.
'''Reset Firefox'''
The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information.
Note: ''This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.''
To Reset Firefox do the following:
#Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
#Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
#Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
#Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.
Further information can be found in the [[Reset Firefox – easily fix most problems]] article.
Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

I can temporarily set my Internet keyword search service to Google's Browse by Name service, but how can I make that setting permanent?

I'm using Firefox 5.0. In about:config, keyword.enabled is set to "true," but keyword.URL is set to chrome://browser-region/locale/region.properties I can modify it to http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&q= but when I exit and then restart Firefox, the keyword.URL is back the way it was. How do I permanently fix this? With keyword.URL set to chrome://browser-region/locale/region.properties, if I attempt an Internet keyword search, I get the error message, "File not found. Firefox can't find the file at jar:file:///C:/Program Files/Mozilla Firefox/omni.jar!/chrome/en-US/locale/browser-region"

I set the keyword.URL preference to the Google Search-by-Name URL, changed to the default theme, and then restarted in Safe Mode with add-ons disabled. When I then checked keyword.URL, it had changed back to the "chrome:" setting.
I set keyword.URL again and then disabled all plug-ins, exited Firefox normally, and restarted in Normal Mode. Again, keyword.URL had reverted to the "chrome:" setting.
I then reset keyword.URL, left all the plug-ins disabled, and restarted in Safe Mode. Once again, keyword.URL had reverted to the "chrome:" setting.
Sorry to be so clueless, cor-el, but I'm afraid I don't know what a locale is. I tried to read your link to mozillaZine, but it kept timing out after 30 seconds. Is that because of too much volume? So are you saying that my current locale is supposed to reset the keyword.URL preference from the "chrome:" setting to some valid value, but that isn't happening? What else could cause this besides a bad extension, theme, or plug-in?

Keyword.URL settings not saving

The keyword.URL setting in about config resets itself upon firefox 4.10b restart. It goes to a file in a chrome url.

chrome://browser-region/locale/region.properties is the default for complex prefs that are installation depended. You shouldn't see such values on the about:config page, but see the locale setting of the pref instead. The pref keyword.URL is an empty string in current Firefox 4 releases.
Are you using the default theme (Tools > Add-ons > Themes)? 
Which Firefox locale do you have installed?
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
See:
* [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]

Do they have a seperate firefox 4 for google and one for yahoo?

my location bar (navagation bar) keeps sending me to yahoo
not google. iv'e changed the about:config keyword url back to google,and even dropped the http into the location bar.
no matter what i change i'm still redirected to yahoo.
i'm running a mcafee pro the keyword url reads http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p= does the new fox4 support mcaffe for google, if not this might be the cause.
i tried setting in google on the url but it still redirected me to yahoo. (confused not complaining) thank you.

See:
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

I've edited the Keyword URL so it shouldn't be Google doing autocomplete in the Location Bar but it still is. How do I stop Google dominating my searches?

At first when I made the change it did go to the alternative search engine that I had under Keyword URL & it is still set as that (I've checked) yet when I type in website such as wikipedia & hit return its found & brought to me by Google. Note this is a location bar not search box issue.

See also http://kb.mozillazine.org/keyword.enabled

When I try to change the keyword.url settings in about:config to do a "I'm Felling Lucky" Google search, it just resets to chrome://browser-region/locale/region.properties whenever I restart Firefox.

I just installed Firefox 4 today. When I try to change the keyword.url settings in about:config to do a "I'm Felling Lucky" Google search, it just resets to chrome://browser-region/locale/region.properties whenever I restart Firefox.

Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
* Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
See:
* [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]
See also:
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

I changed my keyword url from aol back to google but aol still comes up how do i fix this?

went into about:config changed keyword url from aol to goggle closed down firefox restarted and searches still com up in aol

Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
*Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Yahoo is the default autosearch from address bar, despite altering about:config and keyword.URL

== Issue
==
I have another kind of problem with Firefox
== Description
==
The name says it all. Keyword.URL is set to default, "http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q="
It brings me to a Yahoo results page when I type a Non-URL into the addressbar.
"http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=searchterm&fr=greentree_ff1&ei=utf-8&type=374563"
How can I set it back to Google's "I'm feeling lucky" default?
== This happened
==
Every time Firefox opened
== Recently, no new addons however.
==
== Troubleshooting information
==
Application Basics
Name Firefox
Version 3.6.6
Profile Directory
Open Containing Folder
Installed Plugins
about:plugins
Build Configuration
about:buildconfig
Extensions
Name
Version
Enabled
ID
1-ClickWeather 1.1.9.1 false
Adblock Plus 1.2.1 true
AVG Safe Search 9.0.0.825 true {3f963a5b-e555-4543-90e2-c3908898db71}
Download Statusbar 0.9.7 true
DownloadHelper 4.7.4 true
Fast Dial 2.23b1 true [email protected]
Flash Game Maximizer 1.3.6 true {258735dc-6743-4805-95fc-f95941fffdad}
Google Reader Watcher 1.2.2 true [email protected]
Java Console 6.0.13 true
Java Console 6.0.14 true
Java Console 6.0.15 true
Java Console 6.0.17 true
Java Quick Starter 1.0 true [email protected]
Logitech Device Detection 1.0.176.0 false [email protected]
Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant 0.0.0 false {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}
Morning Coffee 1.33 true morningCoffee@shaneliesegang
SearchPreview 4.6 true
Tab buttons 0.2.8 false [email protected]
TorrentBar 0.9.1.10 false {7b821b0e-b102-4f9b-b6e3-433ede1fe379}
WOT 20100503 true
Search Settings Plugin 1.2.3 true [email protected]
Skype extension for Firefox 4.2.0.5198 true
Java Console 6.0.20 true
Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20100408Wb1 false {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c}
Modified Preferences
Name
Value
accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar 0
browser.fixup.alternate.enabled false
browser.history_expire_days.mirror 180
browser.places.importBookmarksHTML false
browser.places.importDefaults false
browser.places.leftPaneFolderId -1
browser.places.migratePostDataAnnotations false
browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion 2
browser.places.updateRecentTagsUri false
browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone rv:1.9.2.6
browser.tabs.warnOnClose false
extensions.lastAppVersion 3.6.6
general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)
network.cookie.prefsMigrated true
places.last_vacuum 1279237415
print.print_printer Auto hp deskjet 940c on RVDM1
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_bgcolor false
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_bgimages false
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_command
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_downloadfonts false
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_edge_bottom 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_edge_left 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_edge_right 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_edge_top 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_evenpages true
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_footercenter
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_footerleft &PT
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_footerright &D
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_headercenter
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_headerleft &T
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_headerright &U
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_in_color true
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_margin_bottom 0.5
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_margin_left 0.5
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_margin_right 0.5
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_margin_top 0.5
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_oddpages true
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_orientation 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_pagedelay 500
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_paper_data 1
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_paper_height 11.00
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_paper_size_type 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_paper_size_unit 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_paper_width 8.50
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_reversed false
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_scaling 1.00
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_shrink_to_fit true
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_to_file false
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_unwriteable_margin_bottom 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_unwriteable_margin_left 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_unwriteable_margin_right 0
print.printer_Auto_hp_deskjet_940c_on_RVDM1.print_unwriteable_margin_top 0
privacy.cpd.cache false
privacy.cpd.downloads false
privacy.cpd.formdata false
privacy.cpd.history false
privacy.cpd.sessions false
privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs true
privacy.sanitize.timeSpan 0
security.warn_viewing_mixed false
== Firefox version
==
3.6.6
== Operating system
==
Windows XP
== User Agent
==
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.6) Gecko/20100625 Firefox/3.6.6 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)
== Plugins installed
==
*-Office Plugin for Netscape Navigator
*np-mswmp
*Musicnotes Viewer plugin 1.17.0 For more information visit Musicnotes.com
*DivX Web Player version 1.5.0.52
*npdivxplayerplugin
*The QuickTime Plugin allows you to view a wide variety of multimedia content in Web pages. For more information, visit the QuickTime Web site.
*Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.3.2"
*NPRuntime Script Plug-in Library for Java(TM) Deploy
*Default Plug-in
*Shockwave Flash 10.1 r53
*Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5
*Delivery Network Acceleration by BitTorrent™
*GEPlugin
*4.0.50524.0
*BlackBerry WebSL Browser Plug-In
*Google Update
*Java(TM) Platform SE binary
*Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_20 for Mozilla browsers
*Npdsplay dll
*DRM Store Netscape Plugin
*DRM Netscape Network Object

See if changing 4 options in AVG corrects the problem with Yahoo search:
http://www.avg.com/special-toolbar-how-to-disable-search-tlbrf.tpl-mcr1
'''''Other Issues''''': ~~red:You have installed plug-ins with known security issues. You should update them immediately.~~
'''Install/Update Adobe Reader for Firefox (aka Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox)''': your ver. 9.3.2; current ver. 9.3.3 (important security update release 06-29-2010; see: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-15.html)
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox#Installing_and_updating_Adobe_Reader
~~red:''You may be able to update from the Adobe Reader installed on your system''~~ instead of going to the Adobe site and downloading. Start > Program Files, find and click Adobe Reader to open, click Help, click Check for Updates.
''If you go to the Adobe site to download the current Adobe Reader:''
-'''use Firefox to download''' and '''SAVE to your hard drive''' (save to Desktop for easy access)
~~red:-See the images at the bottom left of this post to see the steps to take on the Adobe site~~
-exit Firefox (File > Exit)
-check to see that Firefox is completely closed (''Ctrl+Alt+Del, choose Task Manager, click Processes tab, if "firefox.exe" is on the list, right-click "firefox.exe" and choose End process, close the Task Manager window'')
-double-click on the Adobe Reader installer you just downloaded to install/update Adobe Reader
*'''NOTE: On Vista and Windows 7''' you may need to run the plugin installer as Administrator by starting the installer via the right-click context menu if you do not get an UAC prompt to ask for permission to continue (i.e nothing seems to happen). See this: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/run_as_administrator.htm
*'''NOTE for IE:''' Firefox and most other browsers use a Plugin. IE uses an ActiveX version. To install/update the IE ActiveX version, same instructions as above, except use IE to download the ActiveX installer. See: [[ActiveX]]
*Also see: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Adobe_Reader ~~red:'''''AND'''''~~ [[How do I edit options to add Adobe to the list of allowed sites]]

My browser is being hijacked by Snap-Do. How can I get rid of it?

I have tried unsuccessfully to reset keyword:URL as suggested. PLEASE can some one post simple instructions for not very 'computer literate' person to dispose of that damned SnapDO.
I am using Windows 7 on a Toshiba laptop

after reading all of the methods to remove SNAPDO none of which helped.
I tried various things and this seems to work for me.
I am using windows 7.
1. click onto the three bars at the top of the tool bar, choose settings then under the heading...on startup...select open a specific page or set of pages
then choose the blue set pages button. As you move your mouse over the startup pages listed a cross appears at the right hand side.
click this and remove the pages until none remain. I then typed in my preference which was AOl.co.uk then click ok.
2.Under the.. appearance.. heading choose show home button and then click on the blue change button.
Select open this page, highlight and delete anything in this box and replace it with the address you want I used AOL again.
3 go down to the search heading and select the manage search engines button.
This will open a drop down menu with various search engines, move you mouse over each one and they will highlight blue and show default at the right hand side
to give you the option to select one as a default, again I used AOL.
4.I decided to log out and restart and everything seemed to have worked.
I have to say that I am not brilliant with computers so my terminology might not be right. This method seems to have solved the problem for me at least for the time being I hope it may help some of you.

Keyword.url gets changed to slirsredirect

Some process is changing keyword.url in about:config to the following URL....
http://slirsredirect.search.aol.com/slirs_http/sredir?sredir=2685&invocationType=tb50ffwinampab&query=
I've tried uninstalling WinAmp, but the issue is not resolved.
I can browse the internet fine - problem is I want to customize keyword.URL with a different URL. Every time i quit firefox and restart it, the slirsredirect URL reappears in keyword.url .
please assist.
thanks,
Harry

To revert to Google as your preferred search engine, please do the following. 
* In the location bar, type '''about:config''' and hit Enter. 
* In the filter at the top, type: '''keyword.URL''' 
* Double click it and remove whatever's in there and replace it with http://www.google.com/search?q= 
The URL to add in "keyword.URL" becomes a link in this post, so right click it and choose "Copy Link Location" to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Then hit CTRL+V to paste it. Saves you having to type the whole thing.
'''To reset your home page, do the following'''. 
* Go to the site you want to set as your homepage. 
* Click the orange Firefox button and go to '''Options '''| '''Options '''| '''General''' 
* Make sure it says "''Show My Homepage''" in the first dropdown menu. 
* Click the button called "'''Use Current Pages'''" to set the homepage to the one you have on the screen. 
After you complete the above steps, install this add-on to prevent another search engine from modifying your preferences: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/browserprotect/

Keyword.url + Browse By Name is broken in FF23

My Mac's Firefox is notifying me that it wants to be updated to v23. But the keyword url string breaks in FF23 on Windows and as I use both mac and Pc, I need it to work on both every time.
Keyword.url and Google's Browse By Name is how I use the internet, it's not a feature, it's a requirement.
What can be done to resolve this?
Thanks!

Its... close but not completely solved yet.
keyword search only works for one word which is only half of what I do.
I need multi-word browse by name.

Keyword.url set to google, being hijacked by Yahoo anyway

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