How to remove My Web Search from Firefox

The other day I came across a program that would automatically create web avatars based on your photograph.  I figured that wouldn’t be a bad thing to try out, so I downloaded it.  I expected that it would be a traditional executable file that I would use like any other application.  Instead, it was an automatically-installing Firefox plugin.

This plugin, called “My Web Search” not only puts an unwanted toolbar in Firefox, but also changes your default page, and who knows what else.

I don’t like deception such as this, because only spyware and other malware use these types of tactics to run their software.   I went to uninstall this new “My Web Search” toolbar from Firefox, but the “uninstall” button was greyed out.  The only option available was to disable the toolbar… but this means that the software is still resident, doing who knows what.

Since you can’t uninstall this plugin directly through Firefox’s normal Add-on screen, you have to take a few more steps.

1. Change your Firefox Home Page back to original.  Click on Tools and then Options.  Then click the Main tab and change your Home Page back to whatever it originally was.  You can click the “Restore to Default” button if you wish.
2. Open up Programs and Features (click on Start, Control Panel, and then Programs and Features).  XP users will look under Add/Remove Programs
3. Find “My Web Search” in the list of installed programs, then right-click and select “uninstall”.  You may also want to check if there are any other “My Web…” applications or other programs that you didn’t authorize.
4. Reboot your computer.
5. Once back in, open up File Explorer (Win + E) and navigate to your “Program Files” directory. (64-bit users will look under “Program Files (x86)”).
6. Delete the folders “FunWebProducts” and “MyWebSearch”.

MyWebSearch should now be completely removed from your Windows-based computer.

There may be some leftover registry keys, but any malware checker like Spybot Search and Destroy or Windows Defender should be able to take care of this.  You are using a malware screener, right?…