Search Helper Extension
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: November 16th, 2004, 5:59 pm
Search Helper Extension
Just restarted Firefox after doing the Widows Update and got the notice from Firefox that a new extension had been added - Search Helper Extension. Does anyone know what the heck this is? To the best of my knowledge, I haven't opted to install anything like that.
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- Joined: February 11th, 2010, 12:27 pm
Re: Search Helper Extension
Tools > Addons
Right-click on the listing for the extension and then click on "Visit Home Page".
Right-click on the listing for the extension and then click on "Visit Home Page".
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- Posts: 1223
- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 10:52 am
Re: Search Helper Extension
Do you have the Bing toolbar installed? Perhaps, not by your choice, if so.
It also seems to masquerade as "Search Helper Extension".
Seems as though M/S likes to 'force-feed' this when updating Windows.
It has been noted as problematic.
See:
viewtopic.php?p=8301325#p8301325
http://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_fo ... &forumId=1
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/531033
http://forum.worldstart.com/showthread.php?t=146801
[There is a "SearchHelper" listed in extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/46209/ though likely not the issue. "Enhances Google search results".]
It also seems to masquerade as "Search Helper Extension".
Seems as though M/S likes to 'force-feed' this when updating Windows.
It has been noted as problematic.
See:
viewtopic.php?p=8301325#p8301325
http://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_fo ... &forumId=1
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/531033
http://forum.worldstart.com/showthread.php?t=146801
While solid advice, from what I was reading in the 'complaints' from other folks, the link just took them to M/S homepage. I searched some the vastness that is MicroSoft, but was not able to discover much of any relevant info.gordons gecko wrote:Right-click on the listing for the extension and then click on "Visit Home Page".
[There is a "SearchHelper" listed in extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/46209/ though likely not the issue. "Enhances Google search results".]
Ab subabsurda numquid ad veritas. "From the somewhat absurd possibility to reality."
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: November 16th, 2004, 5:59 pm
Re: Search Helper Extension
No, no Bing toolbar. The right click link took me to a Microsoft page. Y'know, I really, really resent MS mucking around in Firefox. I've disabled the extension and will likely uninstall it shortly.
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- Posts: 1223
- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 10:52 am
Re: Search Helper Extension
That's for certain.kygin wrote:Y'know, I really, really resent MS mucking around in Firefox.
What makes M/S think that people will be 'happy' by these 'unauthorized additions' to their systems...might just as well call it malware...seems to fit.
Ab subabsurda numquid ad veritas. "From the somewhat absurd possibility to reality."
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- Location: Pennsylvania
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Re: Search Helper Extension
I found the extension! It was located in:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\
I deleted the Firefox Extension folder I found there there, and the extension was gone from Firefox.
(It may be hard to delete. I used Unlocker to delete it.)
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\
I deleted the Firefox Extension folder I found there there, and the extension was gone from Firefox.
(It may be hard to delete. I used Unlocker to delete it.)
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- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 10:52 am
Re: Search Helper Extension
Thanks for relating your success!RickyK wrote:I found the extension! It was located in:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\
I deleted the Firefox Extension folder I found there there, and the extension was gone from Firefox.
I noticed, in my research of this, that they [M/S] were managing to 'bury' this; so as to make it quite difficult to uninstall. BillG.
Ab subabsurda numquid ad veritas. "From the somewhat absurd possibility to reality."
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- Joined: April 14th, 2010, 10:52 am
Re: Search Helper Extension
Might just be worth a careful clean-up in the Registry, as well, to rid all possible remnants of 'Bill's Beast'.RickyK wrote:It may be hard to delete. I used Unlocker to delete it.
Ab subabsurda numquid ad veritas. "From the somewhat absurd possibility to reality."
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- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
I'm from Russia. The same problem. Vista Home Edition. I've updated it some hours ago and this plugin was installed without my permission.
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- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
I also want to say, that I don't see any new functionality after installing this plugin. May be it is some spyware by Microsoft? Also, why Mozilla Firefox permits to install plugins without questions to user? Of course, it shows us addons window, but already after installing! I think it's vulnerability of FF.
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- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
Hi everyone, i am the Marketing manager of SimilarWeb, the owner of the FF add-on "Search Helper" (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/46209/) which provides opening Google search results in multiple tabs. The problem described by Kygin is not related in any way to our add-on. It is not in our nature to install add-ons without an explicit permission from the user. the extension you are talking about is probably what RickyK had found - C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\. please contact me if you have any questions at info@similargroup.com
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- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
I found this too after rebooting after the MS update this morning. I find it odd that MS felt they had to install a plugin into a competitors product. I didn't delete the folder. I renamed it, along with any DLL's and a JS file in that folder. It's gone now until I find out more information about this Addon.
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- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
I am sooo impressed with M$ - the audacity is inspirational! They create an extension for a competing product, insert it seamlessly without informed consent, no explanations, no apologies. What's it doing? How EXACTLY is it 'helping' me search?
A big Thank You to RickyK for the whereabouts of the Microsoft Malware. This will be gone from me system today.
A big Thank You to RickyK for the whereabouts of the Microsoft Malware. This will be gone from me system today.
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- Guest
Re: Search Helper Extension
same problem here
i DONT use bing bar / live search bar or anything like this
win 7 x64
Is this legal? I mean to modify a 3rd Party software without the knowledge of the user?
This is the knowledge base article on this update:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982217
this must be really a joke – you cant find information on what exactly this addon does....
hey microsoft: how about an official statement ??
i DONT use bing bar / live search bar or anything like this
win 7 x64
Is this legal? I mean to modify a 3rd Party software without the knowledge of the user?
This is the knowledge base article on this update:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982217
this must be really a joke – you cant find information on what exactly this addon does....
hey microsoft: how about an official statement ??
- mikeeve
- Posts: 6
- Joined: July 25th, 2003, 4:27 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
Re: Search Helper Extension
Dang! I just restarted my computer today and this extension popped up. Very irritated at whoever did this.
And now I've just found some Russian website left a msg fom 'profilicus' in my PM box here at these forums. I'd put both perpetrators in the same class.
I'm not so sure MS did this. The links to Microsoft web page and placing it in the Microsoft folder could just be misdirection to conceal the real hacker, a form of identity fraud This extension might be much more sinister than just 'search helper'.
Edit: OK. The jury is in. MS done did it.
And now I've just found some Russian website left a msg fom 'profilicus' in my PM box here at these forums. I'd put both perpetrators in the same class.
I'm not so sure MS did this. The links to Microsoft web page and placing it in the Microsoft folder could just be misdirection to conceal the real hacker, a form of identity fraud This extension might be much more sinister than just 'search helper'.
Edit: OK. The jury is in. MS done did it.
Last edited by mikeeve on June 12th, 2010, 11:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.