Firefox Users
Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:09 pm
Anyone who uses Firefox browser and has recently installed the latest batch of Microsoft/Windows updates should check to see if Microsoft installed an addon into Firefox WITHOUT asking permission or informing you what they were doing. They did on my PC but not on my laptop, funny really. 
Open Firefox -> Tools -> Addons -> Extensions.
Look to see if there is an extension called 'Search Helper Extension'. If it is there, it was put there by Microsoft.
It can be Disabled, which you should do and restart Firefox, but the uninstall button is inoperative.
A rather sneaky thing for MS to do.
It can be removed but it is in the C:\Programs folder.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\
Once you have disabled it in the Firefox Addons list, close Firefox:
Open My Computer -> double click the C: drive icon -> double click Program Files [(x86) if you have a 64bit OS] -> double click the Microsoft Folder and work your way to the 'Search Helper' folder and right click and select Delete.
Close all the windows and restart Firefox and check that it has gone from your Addon list.
The following does NOT need to be done but can be if you feel confident.
I have removed the whole 'Search Enhancemant Pack' with no adverse effects but to remove it, it must be Stopped in Services first, then removed from the C:\Program Files by right clicking and selecting Delete.
To get to Services in XP -> Start -> Run type services.msc -> OK
In Vista and Win 7 search for Services and clikc to open.
Once opened, scroll down the list to Search Enhancement Pack and double click it.
In the window click to STOP the program and in the start up list select Disable.
Then go back to the instructions above and right click on the Search Enhancement Folder and select Delete.
I have not been able to discover which of the Windows Updates (KB******) was resp[onsible for installing it, so I could not remove the update. I will watch to see if it tries to update it again when it next c hecks for updates.
dave
Open Firefox -> Tools -> Addons -> Extensions.
Look to see if there is an extension called 'Search Helper Extension'. If it is there, it was put there by Microsoft.
It can be Disabled, which you should do and restart Firefox, but the uninstall button is inoperative.
A rather sneaky thing for MS to do.
It can be removed but it is in the C:\Programs folder.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\
Once you have disabled it in the Firefox Addons list, close Firefox:
Open My Computer -> double click the C: drive icon -> double click Program Files [(x86) if you have a 64bit OS] -> double click the Microsoft Folder and work your way to the 'Search Helper' folder and right click and select Delete.
Close all the windows and restart Firefox and check that it has gone from your Addon list.
The following does NOT need to be done but can be if you feel confident.
I have removed the whole 'Search Enhancemant Pack' with no adverse effects but to remove it, it must be Stopped in Services first, then removed from the C:\Program Files by right clicking and selecting Delete.
To get to Services in XP -> Start -> Run type services.msc -> OK
In Vista and Win 7 search for Services and clikc to open.
Once opened, scroll down the list to Search Enhancement Pack and double click it.
In the window click to STOP the program and in the start up list select Disable.
Then go back to the instructions above and right click on the Search Enhancement Folder and select Delete.
I have not been able to discover which of the Windows Updates (KB******) was resp[onsible for installing it, so I could not remove the update. I will watch to see if it tries to update it again when it next c hecks for updates.
dave
