Computer experts - How did my home page get changed

[A.H.Black]

I'm confused. About a week ago, I opened my Firefox browser to find my home page had been changed. I did not change it. I'm pretty careful about what I click on and don't remember anything that could have changed it. I went to my preferences and got rid of the new one.

Then, I found that my Safari home page was changed to the same site as the Firefox (I'm on a Mac mini). Now I was curious so I opened my Chrome browser and, sure enough, that same thing had happened.

Doesn't this have to come from Apple? Could it be from the latest Yahoo update (which is awful). Do I need to be checking stuff. I get regular updates from Apple and have never had any problems, but this makes me a bit anxious.

Now as I write this and have tried to post it I got the following -

Oops! We ran into some problems.
Security error occurred. Please press back, refresh the page, and try again.

 

[kittyjake5]

Maybe a virus. I am not computer savvy so I can’t help. I would check on any personal info like banking and credit card info.

 

[Spun Silver]

What did it get changed to?

 

[A.H.Black]

What did it get changed to?

The address bar said something like homelights....... It was a blank page with a Yahoo search bar. It didn't feel sinister - more like aggressive marketing.

 

[Prancer]

It sounds like you've downloaded a redirect. Can you copy and paste the URL?

 

[Cherub721]

Go into "tools" and "add ons" and you'll probably see an extension you didn't install. Disable it, google the name of it and follow the instructions for getting rid of it. Sometimes these pop back up a few weeks after you think they're gone.

 

[Susan1]

I'm confused. About a week ago, I opened my Firefox browser to find my home page had been changed. I did not change it. I'm pretty careful about what I click on and don't remember anything that could have changed it. I went to my preferences and got rid of the new one.

Then, I found that my Safari home page was changed to the same site as the Firefox (I'm on a Mac mini). Now I was curious so I opened my Chrome browser and, sure enough, that same thing had happened.

Doesn't this have to come from Apple? Could it be from the latest Yahoo update (which is awful). Do I need to be checking stuff. I get regular updates from Apple and have never had any problems, but this makes me a bit anxious.

Now as I write this and have tried to post it I got the following -

Same thing happened to me - sort of. I turned on my computer and the Yahoo home page was not there. I just clicked on the Yahoo bookmark. I have Firefox too. When I opened the computer later in the day, the Yahoo home page came up. I'm going with a Yahoo or Firefox glitch, nothing sinister! I hope!

 

[A.H.Black]

It sounds like you've downloaded a redirect. Can you copy and paste the URL?

I got ride of the urls when I changed my preferences, but I like your thought of a redirect.

Go into "tools" and "add ons" and you'll probably see an extension you didn't install. Disable it, google the name of it and follow the instructions for getting rid of it. Sometimes these pop back up a few weeks after you think they're gone.

Tried that - can't see anything. The only thing I'm looked at in the last great while was the ad blocker during the Olympics. I just turned it on and off. After a while I didn't have to anymore.

 

[A.H.Black]

Same thing happened to me - sort of. I turned on my computer and the Yahoo home page was not there. I just clicked on the Yahoo bookmark. I have Firefox too. When I opened the computer later in the day, the Yahoo home page came up. I'm going with a Yahoo or Firefox glitch, nothing sinister! I hope!

Glad to hear from someone else who has had this. I HATED the new Yahoo email and went back to the old one. My only concern is I keep getting new little notices at the bottom of my pages. Nothing big, just puzzling. I'm not used to the feeling I'm being tracked on my MAC. For that matter, some of it could be the new upgrade here on FSU since several of those notices are coming when I'm here.

 

[Anita18]

The address bar said something like homelights....... It was a blank page with a Yahoo search bar. It didn't feel sinister - more like aggressive marketing.

Sometimes a Java update will try to get you to set Yahoo as the default search engine. Although "homelights" is kind of weird and suspect.

Try Help > Restart with Addons Disabled and see if there's anything changed? That will restart Firefox as if it's completely new and clean.

Although, if all the homepages changed on all 3 browsers, I'm thinking maybe your homepage now redirects to that new thing. Unless it's some complex phishing scheme...

 

[A.H.Black]

Sometimes a Java update will try to get you to set Yahoo as the default search engine. Although "homelights" is kind of weird and suspect.

Try Help > Restart with Addons Disabled and see if there's anything changed? That will restart Firefox as if it's completely new and clean.

Although, if all the homepages changed on all 3 browsers, I'm thinking maybe your homepage now redirects to that new thing. Unless it's some complex phishing scheme...

I was a little hesitant to try your idea as I'm never sure how it will affect what I have going, but I went ahead. The look of my firefox completely changed. It will take some getting used to. Things seem to be OK though. I had to re-customize my tool bars and stuff.

 

[Anita18]

I was a little hesitant to try your idea as I'm never sure how it will affect what I have going, but I went ahead. The look of my firefox completely changed. It will take some getting used to. Things seem to be OK though. I had to re-customize my tool bars and stuff.

Ah, so that definitely points to some weird thing that a wayward addon changed. Now to enable your addons again one by one...

(I work on WordPress sites, that "disable all plugins and enabling them back one by one" is normal to me....)

 

[A.H.Black]

Any suggestions on a good, free, adblocker for firefox? I lost mine (I guess) when I restarted.

 

[Skate Talker]

I use AdBlocker Ultimate and YouTube AdBlocker

 

[BaileyCatts]

Can I jump on with a computer question? When I got my last computer, I got McAfee. The subscription renews automatically and I know my CC updated so it won't charge to the card if I don't go update my CC expiry date. Is it import to have McAfee on your computer for security? Yes, I am that stupid so let's just let the lecture part go.

Its $99 renew fee so before I update my CC info, its import to have that for the security thing, isn't it? I surf a lot on the internet, Facebook stuff and games. And I order stuff on the internet. Should I renew it? (again, yes, that stupid).

 

[A.H.Black]

Can I jump on with a computer question? When I got my last computer, I got McAfee. The subscription renews automatically and I know my CC updated so it won't charge to the card if I don't go update my CC expiry date. Is it import to have McAfee on your computer for security? Yes, I am that stupid so let's just let the lecture part go.

Its $99 renew fee so before I update my CC info, its import to have that for the security thing, isn't it? I surf a lot on the internet, Facebook stuff and games. And I order stuff on the internet. Should I renew it? (again, yes, that stupid).

It's totally up to you. I don't have anything like that, but I'm on a MAC which is a bit different.

 

[Susan1]

Any suggestions on a good, free, adblocker for firefox? I lost mine (I guess) when I restarted.

I have Ad Block Plus. I don't know if it's any better or worse than anything, but it works fine. I have Firefox too.