Something added "Yahoo Internet search" to my internet experience...

[truedelphi]

I want to get rid of it. It sits as an icon on far left hand side of Firefox.

We are using a Windows XP.

And I know it is the "yahoo search" gizmo because yesterday on some web page, I saw it appear like a ballooon and hover across the text. It seems to want to know what expressions I look for. I was reading an article about "Obama" and the word"Obama" seemed t0o make it think it needed to take over. The system really slowed to a crawl as the "yahoo search" ballooon appeared.

Most of the time, the balloon is not apparent - but the slowness is.

Any one here know how to help me get rid of the "yahoo search"

AVG scan, and normal adware scanners don't remove it - I am thinking it might have been factored in as part of an AVG update.

Or else maybe an Adobe Reader new installation or a new Firefox installation (or updates) ??

[canetoad]

1. It's not the Firefox update

that installed it as I manually updated mine yesterday. Adobe Flash tries to get you to install McAfee, I think Google earth foists something Yahoo onto you.

I found this:

http://remove-malware.com/antimalware/anti-malware-reviews/avg-80-security-toolbar-includes-yahoo-search/

Looks like AVG is the culprit. Link includes removal instructions.

[truedelphi]

2. Thank you canetoad. I will read the link

oen other thought that occurred to me is that I could set the protocol back so that the system uses whatver was on it six months ago when it acted right.

I forget how to do that though. SO if you know how to do it, please let me know.

[Berserker]

3. This will do it

http://help.yahoo.com/l/mye/yahoo/toolbar/troubleshootff/toolbar-55.html

[truedelphi]

4. Here's what that link says abt removing Yahoo search

My comments are in BOLD:

There are two ways to remove the Yahoo! Toolbar for Mozilla Firefox.

The easiest way is to use the "Uninstall" menu item:

1. Click the Pencil menu.
2. Click "Uninstall".
3. Enter any feedback you'd like to send to Yahoo! about why you're uninstalling the toolbar.
4. Click "Uninstall".
5. Restart your browser.

I have no idea what or where the "Pencil" menu is. It doesn't show itself anywhere where I can see it... Can you offer a hint as to where I might find it?

If that doesn't work, you can also use the Extension Manager in Firefox to remove the Yahoo! Toolbar extension:

1. Click the "Tools" menu in the Firefox browser.
2. Click the "Extensions" menu item.
3. In the Extensions Manager window scroll until you find the Yahoo! Toolbar extension.
4. Click the Yahoo! Toolbar extension.
5. Click "Uninstall".
6. Click "OK" in the "Uninstall Yahoo! Toolbar" window.
7. Exit Extensions Manager and restart your browser.

Either one of these methods will uninstall Yahoo! Toolbar from your browser. If neither works, your user profile is corrupt. You might need to create a new user profile for your browser.

The "extension" under "Tools" is extremely brief and says only this: Skype Extension. That is it. it doesn't show anything other than its offer to let me open and add on Skype. No mention of programs I already have, like the unwanted Yahoo Search toolbar.

[canetoad]

5. Sorry, I'm clueless

about 'Pencil' menu or how yahoo search (and I believe there is a new version of it that supposedly 'protects' you from malicious pages) installs itself into Firefox.

Can you do a system restore to a point before you updated AVG. It's pure supposition that the AVG update added this new and unwanted pest. Hell, I absolutely loathe anything that installs on your computer without your knowledge or having to read fine print.

I'd also be considering complete removal of AVG and Firefox and reinstallation of both. You can save your Mozilla settings and bookmarks with MozBackUp (free).

[Earth Bound Misfit]

6. Java bundles the Yahoo Toolbar

unless you "untick" the box.

The infamous "pencil" looks like this:



CCleaner tries to get you to install Yahoo toolbar in a similar fashion.

[canetoad]

7. This kind of crap is a very good case

for not allowing ANYTHING to automatically update.

When you first install Java, jushed.exe (the auto updater) puts itself in your list of startup programs. It's a good habit to check Startup via msconfig periodically to see what has been added there without your knowledge.

[truedelphi]

9. We tried to not allow automatic updates, and that worked for about 1 month,

And then something got configured somewhere (and somehow) and from that point on, the system spent half my time on the computer "reminding" me that I was not allowing updates.

So in the end, I went back in and allowed for updates.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

10. I HEARTILY second that.

I don't allow ANYTHING to auto-update, not only for this reason (bundled CRAP) but for the plethora of Malware that disguise themselves as the real thing:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/mmpc/archive/2010/09/01/rogue-msil-zeven-wants-a-piece-of-the-microsoft-security-essentials-pie.aspx

I also advise to ALWAYS select "Custom Install" when installing new programs--if there's no custom option, I won't install it.

[truedelphi]

8. This is good information. Thank you. n/t

[Earth Bound Misfit]

11. You're welcome, I hope it helps.