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Why does Firefox keep changing my default search engine to Yahoo?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Why does Firefox keep changing my default search engine to Yahoo? I only want to use Google. I go into the preferences, I delete "BrowserDefault," and have it so only Google is shown as a search engine (see screenshot) and everything works fine. But a day or two later--and this has happened a dozen times now--the "BrowserDefault" is back and Yahoo is once again my default search engine. This happens over and over and over again, and I just want Yahoo deleted and gone forever.

Why is Firefox making these changes without my permission?

Why does Firefox keep changing my default search engine to Yahoo? I only want to use Google. I go into the preferences, I delete "BrowserDefault," and have it so only Google is shown as a search engine (see screenshot) and everything works fine. But a day or two later--and this has happened a dozen times now--the "BrowserDefault" is back and Yahoo is once again my default search engine. This happens over and over and over again, and I just want Yahoo deleted and gone forever. Why is Firefox making these changes without my permission?
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The Firefox web browser since 57.0 has not had any Yahoo search so a Firefox download or update from Mozilla.org was not the cause. The Yahoo search being removed was discussed in https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/contributors/712925

It could be due to a extension that was installed or updated recently so check all of your Extensions (especially anything Yahoo related) you have installed in Firefox.

Some form of malware or hijack perhaps. If you are seeing this recently then perhaps something you installed or updated recently on Windows took control. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware

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This is probably an issue with malware.

  • /questions/1266570 I'm using firefox on MacOS: What is BrowserDefault and why does it repeatedly override my search preference for google to yahoo??