Thanks jscher2000 for your suggestions: 1) checked home pg addr: appeared OK 2) Disabled several extension (2 of which were speed dial apps) Still Firefox opened with 2 tabs (home pg and speed dial (displayed)) Tried restoring home pg to default and then re-installed Google as home pg. Really appreciate your help. More info on the New Tab (speed dial) page: You can change the number of tiles on the New Tab page by zooming in or out (Ctrl and + key, or Ctrl and - key). You may also want to keep the same zoom setting when clicking on a new tab: Type about:config into the address bar, press Enter, accept the warning, scroll down to browser.newtab.preload and double click on it to change 'Value' from True to False. 1) Close all desk apps except firefox. 2) Click on 'View'toolbars, then at the bottom click on the 'Customize button'. 3) The next screen displays a whole bunch of icons that you can load on your tool bar. 4) Look and select the 'Speed Dial 3x3 (9 purple squares) without the down arrow or '+' sign. Oct 09, 2012 The convenience of Speed Dial is what makes it so great, and it is better than having a 'bookmarks toolbar' or 'favorites toolbar' that takes up vertical space. Just open the browser, hit a button and go.
Speed Dial is recognized as a potentially malicious browser extension in the browser hijacker family of computer infections. The primary objective of the Speed Dial extension is to modify existing internet browser settings including the homepage, new tab page, and default search engine. Once the settings have been modified the Speed Dial extension utilizes the web to intercept what a user searches for.
When a search is performed in the address bar the browser will first redirect to the interceptor website and then forward the search to a proper search engine such as search.yahoo.com where search results are displayed. This is typically an operation by browser extensions and websites to track what a user searches for online.
The extension has permission to read browsing history, allow several websites to control browser settings, and change search settings to any site it wants. Furthermore, the extension can collect browser history and collect user data in incognito mode.
These are symptoms you may experience when the Speed Dial extension is installed:
- Pop-up advertisements
- Pop-up notifications
- Hijacked homepage
- Hijacked search engine
- Hijacked new tab page
- Constant browser redirects
- Other suspicious browser extensions installed
- Other suspicious software installed
- Slower browser performance
- Slow and sluggish PC
The Speed Dial extension and other extensions similar to it including Heyweb, Genius APP, and Power App utilize unethical, deceptive, and aggressive advertising methods, including malicious advertising networks, in order to get onto a browser. Webpages and advertisements promoting the extension will attempt to force users to install them, or at least make it confusing, by continuously showing error messages.
The use of malicious advertising networks by the extension also means that it may bundle with or be advertised alongside third-party malware, adware, browser hijackers, spyware, ransomware, potentially unwanted programs, and other threats. Third-party threats provide even greater security and privacy risks. It is recommended to scan your computer immediately to remove such threats.
How to remove Speed Dial
Like most browser extensions, the Speed Dial browser extension can be manually removed through browser settings. However, removing the browser extension through browser settings will not remove malware, adware, spyware, viruses, and other threats from an infected computer. To remove malware and other threats from an infected computer, we recommend scanning a computer with reputable security software that is known to detect and remove malware and other threats. Follow the guide below to completely remove Speed Dial and malware from any computer.
How to remove the Speed Dial extension
Google Chrome
1. Open the menu and go to More tools > Extensions
2. Click the Remove button
Mozilla Firefox
1. Open the menu and go to Add-ons
2. Click the Remove button
How to remove malware
1. Download and install Malwarebytes.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, click the Scan Now button to begin scanning the computer.
3. When the scan is complete, click the Quarantine Selected button to remove all threats detected by Malwarebytes.
4. Reboot the computer.
5. Once the computer is rebooted, download and install HitmanPro or HitmanPro.Alert to perform a second-opinion scan and remove the remaining malware (if applicable). To download the executable file, fill out the information on their website (name and email address) and click submit.
6. Once HitmanPro is installed, click the Next button to begin scanning the computer.
7. When the scan is complete, click the Next button to remove all threats detected by HitmanPro.
How to remove tracking files and repair Windows registry
1. Download and install CCleaner Free or CCleaner Professional.
Mozilla Speed Dial
2. Once CCleaner is installed, go to the Easy Clean tab.
3. Click the Analyze button to find trackers and junk files that CCleaner can remove.
4. When the analysis is complete, click the Clean All button.
5. Next, go to the Registry tab and click the Scan for Issues button.
6. When the scan is complete, click the Fix selected Issues… button.
7. As a precaution, click Yes to back up the registry before making changes to it and save the Reg File (.reg) file to your computer.
Speed Dial Download
3. When the scan is complete, click the Quarantine Selected button to remove all threats detected by Malwarebytes.
4. Reboot the computer.
5. Once the computer is rebooted, download and install HitmanPro or HitmanPro.Alert to perform a second-opinion scan and remove the remaining malware (if applicable). To download the executable file, fill out the information on their website (name and email address) and click submit.
6. Once HitmanPro is installed, click the Next button to begin scanning the computer.
7. When the scan is complete, click the Next button to remove all threats detected by HitmanPro.
How to remove tracking files and repair Windows registry
1. Download and install CCleaner Free or CCleaner Professional.
Mozilla Speed Dial
2. Once CCleaner is installed, go to the Easy Clean tab.
3. Click the Analyze button to find trackers and junk files that CCleaner can remove.
4. When the analysis is complete, click the Clean All button.
5. Next, go to the Registry tab and click the Scan for Issues button.
6. When the scan is complete, click the Fix selected Issues… button.
7. As a precaution, click Yes to back up the registry before making changes to it and save the Reg File (.reg) file to your computer.
Speed Dial Download
Speed Dial Chrome
8. Click the Fix All Selected Issues button and then click Close once all problems have been removed.
