How do I get rid of browser search engines? (Firefox 31.0)

john70t · 08-04-2014, 07:39 AM

I's kind of annoying to see a "Bing Search" now displayed on every tab opened.

A few years ago, FF came equipped with integrated search engines.
The user could "remove all", but one still remained...

I'd like to be able to permanently close the drapes to the bedroom.
I'd like to get rid of the arrays of corporate cameras.

Today, Google and Facebook java-script seems to be integrated in most of the websites.
Then I usually reject the entire website.
Too complex. Give me data, not a fireworks display.
If the website doesn't have the capacity to display simple data then it gets placed in the round file.

(As a side note: Automated user-tracking without specific acceptance is a technically a contract by adhesion.)

Looking for a tech fix to break unwanted tracking.
Using FF version 31.0.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Sounds like you installed a search plugin, either accidentally or something else foisted it on you. You should be able to remove it via the plugins/add-ons menu

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

For general browsing, I use FireFox with Adblock Edge Edge (not Adblock Plus), NoScript and FlashBlock

To deal with the Facebook-specific bull5hit I use F.B. Purity - interestingly, Facebook has blocked the F.B. Purity - Clean up and Customize Facebook URL - if you use it in a post it will refuse to post it.

id10t · 08-04-2014, 07:54 AM

Click the drop down next to the search box, at the bottom should be "manage search engines"

Duck Duck Go seems to be popular with teh Free Software extremists

id10t · 08-04-2014, 07:56 AM

As far as tracking goes, the browser sends a "this user doesn't wish to be tracked" message to the web server... but it is up to the individual website to honor this.

You can do things like blocking certain hosts (ie, ad networks or others that appear on many different sites), not accepting cookies (delete all and make read-only, but this causes problems wtih forums, etc. remembering you), etc.

KFC911 · 08-04-2014, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

As far as tracking goes, the browser sends a "this user doesn't wish to be tracked" message to the web server... but it is up to the individual website to honor this.

You can do things like blocking certain hosts (ie, ad networks or others that appear on many different sites), not accepting cookies (delete all and make read-only, but this causes problems wtih forums, etc. remembering you), etc.

Don't know if it's still true (IPv6 makes it a bit more difficult to see with my obsolete knowledge...I don't do that crap no mo

), but a few years ago, if you established an IP connection (always LOTS of connections btw), to Pelican, then you were also being connected to Google servers

. Nuthin' is free

, but in this day and age, you're not gonna avoid being tracked...YMMV.

id10t · 08-04-2014, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

Don't know if it's still true (IPv6 makes it a bit more difficult to see with my obsolete knowledge...I don't do that crap no mo

), but a few years ago, if you established an IP connection (always LOTS of connections btw), to Pelican, then you were also being connected to Google servers

. Nuthin' is free

, but in this day and age, you're not gonna avoid being tracked...YMMV.

Yup. Google Analytics is part of the site, but putting something like

0.0.0.0 google-analytics.com

in your hosts file (/etc/hosts for Mac, Linux, *nix or %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts on a windows machine) and you'll never connect to G-A again (on that computer)

KFC911 · 08-04-2014, 08:39 AM

I don't care anymore

. I've been using Google (probably before most on this site had ever heard of it) and Gmail (since it's inception in beta and you needed an invite). I was an acquaintance of Google employee #66

id10t · 08-04-2014, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

I don't care anymore

. I've been using Google (probably before most on this site had ever heard of it) and Gmail (since it's inception in beta and you needed an invite). I was an acquaintance of Google employee #66

I learned to program wiht Google employee #1 (Craig Silverstein) in an after school program. He was also in my karate classes for a few years.

KFC911 · 08-04-2014, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

I learned to program wiht Google employee #1 (Craig Silverstein) in an after school program. He was also in my karate classes for a few years.

That's cool! My "acquaintance" wasn't a techie...he was their chef

. Seriously...he used to chef for the Grateful Dead and I knew him from following the same hippie jam band all around this country years ago. He'd post his Google menu (from day one) on a music listserv I used to belong too....hence my early exposure. He and his "now wife" were "good people"

john70t · 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widebody911

Sounds like you installed a search plugin, either accidentally or something else foisted it on you.

NoScript, Ghostery, and BetterPrivacy is listed in AddOns.
Bing is not listed.

This browser was downloaded from the official website AFAIK.
Bing/Google/Facebook search was included.
I picked the least of three evils.

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

Click the drop down next to the search box, at the bottom should be "manage search engines"

Tried that already. Thank you.
I deleted all of them, but the last one was 'un-deletable'.

Thanks for the advice.
I'll keep looking.

Rodsrsr · Rodsrsr's Garage

You have to go to your PC and un-install programs. Just scroll down until you see it and un-install.

sammyg2 · 08-04-2014, 03:31 PM

Yeah well, .... i used to hang out with Joe Google himself!

What did I win?

dan88911 · 08-04-2014, 03:35 PM

WOW! BIG BIG thanks Widebody 911, I was also trying to get rid of adchoices over the weekend. I don't know where the hell it came from. I tried every thing program uninstall, downloaded free malware, optout on the browser etc. Nothing same to work.

AdBlock edge, nailed it. Thanks again.

KFC911 · 08-04-2014, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Yeah well, .... i used to hang out with Joe Google himself!

What did I win?

I bet my guy could out cook him though

. In the VERY early years of Google, he'd joke about trading employees "cookies for stock optioins" at 2 am (as they were simply worthless pieces of paper in those days...who knew?) I've long since lost track of him, so I Googled him earlier after this thread topic...seems as if he's doing OK these daze....stinking hippie jam band follower by night...worth 47 million by day and doin' OK I suppose

. Couldn't happen to a nicer couple...