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Firefox Defaulting Link Clicks to Google Searches

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Today, something has changed in my Firefox browser. When I click on a link in my gmail inbox, it opens a new tab, as would be expected. But, the browser commits a google search to that link... this breaks the link! I have turned off Google as the default browser in settings, but still no luck.

Example: Link in gmail: https://accounts.firefox.com Link created in new browser tab: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://accounts.firefox.com

Today, something has changed in my Firefox browser. When I click on a link in my gmail inbox, it opens a new tab, as would be expected. But, the browser commits a google search to that link... this breaks the link! I have turned off Google as the default browser in settings, but still no luck. Example: Link in gmail: https://accounts.firefox.com Link created in new browser tab: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://accounts.firefox.com

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Just an update: Am convinced Firefox is infected with something, but a scrub and reinstall isn't helping.

I receive a daily exchange rate alert via email which I would check on most days, and the page typically resolves as normal to indicate the data. It's a page that I trust and I visit it daily.

However, yesterday, I noted that the link went to another location PRIOR to the aforementioned URL resolved, which makes me think the journey was jacked before landing at the desired page. (The page I went to was clearly commercial and one I have never visited).

It then happened again later in the day with an entirely different journey (I forget the page and email I clicked on).

My previous instance of Firefox appeared compromised, so I deleted it and used my antivirus software to completely scrub the existing files.

How can it be that the issue remains despite doing a complete scrub and installation?

Firefox is my trusted browser and I don't want to move away, but this is a concern.

gary.howes modificouno o

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