How do I remove Babylon from my PC?
Babylon has added itself to my Firefox browser as a search engine. So if I type a search term in the URL window, Babylon comes up. I know it is a tracking device and it 'found' me when I used their site for translation. BIG mistake! I have uninstalled it, removed then reinstalled FF and it still is there. How do I get rid of it?
Solution eye eponami
Any search toolbar and changes to search engines can take place by downloading and installing software; usually "free" software from the internet. Babylon can be downloaded and installed by itself or as a "ride-along" when installing/updating some software from the internet. Always look for an opportunity during the installation to un-check boxes that will install "ride-along" items that you do not want. Firefox installation does not include such "ride-along" items.
- Remove Babylon Toolbar (if you have it installed). The most complete removal is to remove it from your system using (Windows) Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs): http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_toolbars#Uninstalling_via_Windows_Control_Panel
- Reset your home page (if the Babylon search page is displayed when starting Firefox): http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page
- You can reset to the default by clicking "Restore to default" on Options > General > Startup > Home page. Be sure to set "When Firefox starts" to "Show my home page" on that same panel.
- Reset your Location Bar search engine (if typing a few words in the URL/Location Bar takes you to Babylon search):
- type about:config in your Location Bar, like typing a web site address, and press the Enter key
- ignore warning and choose to continue
- in Filter, type keyword.URL
- in lower part of screen, if it is bold and shows "user set", right-click keyword.URL and choose "Reset"
- in Filter, type babylon
- any items in lower part of screen in bold and showing "user set", right-click and choose "Reset"
- close about:config tab
- See:
- If Babylon is shown in your Search Bar and you want to remove it:
If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.
Not related to your question, but...
You may need to update some plug-ins. Check your plug-ins and update as necessary:
- Plug-in check --> http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
- Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: Installing (or Updating) the Shockwave plugin with Firefox
- Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape: Installing/Updating Adobe Reader in Firefox
- Shockwave Flash (Adobe Flash or Flash): Updating Flash in Firefox
- Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: Installing or Updating Java in Firefox
All Replies (10)
If it is a search engine in the search bar, see the Search bar article for details of how to remove a search engine.
If you have the Babylon Toolbar, follow the procedure in the Uninstalling add-ons article, in particular the section on uninstalling extensions and themes
Solution eye oponami
Any search toolbar and changes to search engines can take place by downloading and installing software; usually "free" software from the internet. Babylon can be downloaded and installed by itself or as a "ride-along" when installing/updating some software from the internet. Always look for an opportunity during the installation to un-check boxes that will install "ride-along" items that you do not want. Firefox installation does not include such "ride-along" items.
- Remove Babylon Toolbar (if you have it installed). The most complete removal is to remove it from your system using (Windows) Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs): http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_toolbars#Uninstalling_via_Windows_Control_Panel
- Reset your home page (if the Babylon search page is displayed when starting Firefox): http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page
- You can reset to the default by clicking "Restore to default" on Options > General > Startup > Home page. Be sure to set "When Firefox starts" to "Show my home page" on that same panel.
- Reset your Location Bar search engine (if typing a few words in the URL/Location Bar takes you to Babylon search):
- type about:config in your Location Bar, like typing a web site address, and press the Enter key
- ignore warning and choose to continue
- in Filter, type keyword.URL
- in lower part of screen, if it is bold and shows "user set", right-click keyword.URL and choose "Reset"
- in Filter, type babylon
- any items in lower part of screen in bold and showing "user set", right-click and choose "Reset"
- close about:config tab
- See:
- If Babylon is shown in your Search Bar and you want to remove it:
If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when signed-in to the forum.
Not related to your question, but...
You may need to update some plug-ins. Check your plug-ins and update as necessary:
- Plug-in check --> http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
- Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: Installing (or Updating) the Shockwave plugin with Firefox
- Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape: Installing/Updating Adobe Reader in Firefox
- Shockwave Flash (Adobe Flash or Flash): Updating Flash in Firefox
- Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: Installing or Updating Java in Firefox
Ezalaki modifié
Thank you!
- 3 solved the problem.
Babylon is now gone and Google is in its place. With a bit of luck ESET Nod 32 will no longer find it as a threat. I appreciate all responses and thank you for your help. Without your help I would still be annoyed at being caught-out on this. Cheers!
Babylon is installed from CNET downloads via the cnet installer refuse babylon you still get it. Safe downloads sites are MAJORRGEEKS and FREEWARE FILES I have tried all the suggested methods without success although they worked before. The malware scanners delete the toolbar but the small search box was resistant
MY SOLUTION Download and REINSTALL Firefox and it has Google search in the little search box on the right as well
Ezalaki modifié
Here is a solution that worked for me running Windows XP Babylon exists in a file under C drive/Program Files/Mozilla firefox/searchplugins There you will see that you have many search engines. Drag Babylon to the trash. Restart your computer. There is a box that gives you the option to restart with add-0ns. NO. Restart with straight Restart.
Babylon disappears and Google returns. It even cured a problem going back to Comcast.net email I had.
Your method only removes the Babylon search engine from the Search Bar. You should be able to do the same with the "Manage Search Engines" in the Search Bar drop down. The original poster's question involved searches performed when typing a few words into the Location/URL bar.
I have gone through this entire process 3 times now, and it works, but babylon manages to find its way back onto my computer and sets itself as my default search engine time and again. I have a couple of questions: 1. is there anyway to set any of the firewalls and or ESET NOD32, to catch and destroy babylon? 2. Is there some higher internet power I can complain to? Certainly it must be unethical if not illegal to keep coming back after being removed? 3. Is there anything I can do to get rid of completely besides setting my computer on fire?
Ezalaki modifié
Brilliant - thanks for this this is the only solution that worked for me. Still don't know where Babylon came from though!
Total luck here, but installing free programs Malwarebytes and Spywareblaster, running both scans, restarting system, Babylon had gone.
It may or may not work for you. I think it was the settings in Spywareblaster that killed it, but I don't know for sure.
I HAVE JUST BEEN A VICTIM!!!!FIREFOX for the love of GOD make it stop! i tried EVERYTHING! I deleted Firefox, guess what? Babylon attached itself to Internet Explorer. I even had to do a "system restore" twice! Didn't work either!! After two hours of searching for a "cure" from this virus (just like herpes), I finally was able to wipe it out. Thanks MOZILLA (sarcastic) for allowing this horrible, evil program to find it's way to your poor unsuspecting users. If you guys are so wonderful, how bout finding a way to get rid of this computer plague??? Read all your members posts, it happens to A LOT of people. It can't be ignored.