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Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

How do I get my WOT addon back? It's being blocked somehow.

  • 13 uphendule
  • 2 zinale nkinga
  • 4 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu John99

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A couple of weeks ago, I ran a comprehensive malware removal process. Thereafter, my WOT (Web of Trust) add-on disappeared from my search function even though it shows that it is enabled. I downloaded it again, to no avail. I don't know if the malware removal process has anything to do with the disappearance of WOT or not. I am reluctant to search online since I don't know which websites are considered "safe". Are there alternative rating programs in addition to WOT and AVG's that are recommended? AVG often conflicts with WOT's ratings so I'd like to get the latter back.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran a comprehensive malware removal process. Thereafter, my WOT (Web of Trust) add-on disappeared from my search function even though it shows that it is enabled. I downloaded it again, to no avail. I don't know if the malware removal process has anything to do with the disappearance of WOT or not. I am reluctant to search online since I don't know which websites are considered "safe". Are there alternative rating programs in addition to WOT and AVG's that are recommended? AVG often conflicts with WOT's ratings so I'd like to get the latter back.

Isisombululo esikhethiwe

Hopefully WOT will update to handle the new Yahoo layout; I'm sure a lot of its users are affected.

Meanwhile, if you are looking at other options, the results on Yahoo actually come from Bing. Two smaller search engines that are placing an emphasis on privacy are DuckDuckGo and Startpage.com.

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All Replies (13)

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This one? https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/wot-safe-browsing-tool/

I think you already confirmed that it shows as enabled on the Add-ons page, but just in case... Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then you should be able to confirm that it is enabled.

In the WOT FAQs, they list this page to use to confirm your WOT add-on settings: https://www.mywot.com/en/settings/searching

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By the way, have you noticed any other odd issues after your malware cleanup? If you changed your security software, it may need to be updated to allow WOT to access the internet.

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jscher2000 said

This one? https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/wot-safe-browsing-tool/ I think you already confirmed that it shows as enabled on the Add-ons page, but just in case... Either:
  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Extensions. Then you should be able to confirm that it is enabled. In the WOT FAQs, they list this page to use to confirm your WOT add-on settings: https://www.mywot.com/en/settings/searching

Thanks for taking the time to post an answer. Unfortunately, I've already checked these things and WOT still isn't appearing. This is the second time that this has happened. I don't recall how I got it back. I think that there might have been a toolbar that was somehow blocking it in the past. At the present, I have only the Firefox toolbar. I lost the Yahoo toolbar when I ran the malware scans. I was thinking of downloading the Yahoo toolbar to see if WOT would reappear. Any other thoughts?

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jscher2000 said

By the way, have you noticed any other odd issues after your malware cleanup? If you changed your security software, it may need to be updated to allow WOT to access the internet.

No, not really. I did recently have a change in the service provider for my Internet service. It's the same company but they must have gotten a different local provider. I don't see any improvement in performance or speed with the change. Do you think this might have any relation to my missing WOT?

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Please ignore this post, as WOT only adds a button to the main toolbar and doesn't show a separate toolbar.

So if WOT shows up on the Extensions list as enabled, does it appear on the toolbar list? You can access the list using any of these:

I'm not sure using the Yahoo toolbar would make any difference.

Okulungisiwe ngu jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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I installed WOT and tested it and it seems to work "out of the box" on Google. (Screen shot attached) What site is it not working on for you?

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jscher2000 said

I installed WOT and tested it and it seems to work "out of the box" on Google. (Screen shot attached) What site is it not working on for you?

I use Yahoo exclusively. I checked my Zonealarm firewall too and WOT was not listed. Nothing has changed as far as my security programs. I have Malwarebytes Premium and their latest update caused some issues which has since been rectified. Again, all of my security software had been in place when WOT was in use and working.

As for Google, earlier in the year, I had downloaded it and it became the source of an ongoing virus/malware attack until I deleted it from my computer. I now know to download from only reputable sources. I am hesitant to download it again otherwise I could use that as my browser for Yahoo.

Again, thanks for taking the time to help me out. I appreciate any and all of your suggestions.

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Okay, that makes sense. Yahoo debuted a new layout recently, starting around the time of the release of Firefox 34 on 12/1/2014. Since WOT hasn't been upgraded for over a year, it probably is not compatible with the new layout. At the end of each title, WOT has added a placeholder for the rating, but the image is never filled in and the placeholder has visibility:hidden, suggesting that some steps are not being performed on the site.

The workaround in this thread doesn't work for me: https://www.mywot.com/en/forum/51930-firefox-v-34-0-search-support?comment=277272

Sorry I don't have better news.

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jscher2000 said

Please ignore this post, as WOT only adds a button to the main toolbar and doesn't show a separate toolbar. So if WOT shows up on the Extensions list as enabled, does it appear on the toolbar list? You can access the list using any of these: I'm not sure using the Yahoo toolbar would make any difference.

I tried these but it didn't help.

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jscher2000 said

Okay, that makes sense. Yahoo debuted a new layout recently, starting around the time of the release of Firefox 34 on 12/1/2014. Since WOT hasn't been upgraded for over a year, it probably is not compatible with the new layout. At the end of each title, WOT has added a placeholder for the rating, but the image is never filled in and the placeholder has visibility:hidden, suggesting that some steps are not being performed on the site. The workaround in this thread doesn't work for me: https://www.mywot.com/en/forum/51930-firefox-v-34-0-search-support?comment=277272 Sorry I don't have better news.

I found a WOT community forum discussion on this very topic. It appears that Yahoo is the main culprit. One commenter suggested the following solution, of which I will try:

If you go directly to https://search.yahoo.com and search from the yahoo website ( I think this is what is meant by regular yahoo) then the WOT ratings appear. If you use the yahoo search from Firefox's tile page, Firefox's home page, or the Firefox fox search box ( with yahoo as the default search) the WOT "traffic light" ratings do not appear.

If the aforementioned doesn't work for me, then I will have to use a different search engine.

Again, thanks much for your time and effort to address my problem. I appreciate it very much. Have a great New Year.

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Isisombululo Esikhethiwe

Hopefully WOT will update to handle the new Yahoo layout; I'm sure a lot of its users are affected.

Meanwhile, if you are looking at other options, the results on Yahoo actually come from Bing. Two smaller search engines that are placing an emphasis on privacy are DuckDuckGo and Startpage.com.

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jscher2000 said

Hopefully WOT will update to handle the new Yahoo layout; I'm sure a lot of its users are affected. Meanwhile, if you are looking at other options, the results on Yahoo actually come from Bing. Two smaller search engines that are placing an emphasis on privacy are DuckDuckGo and Startpage.com.

I didn't realize that Bing was the source for Yahoo's searches. I did try the duckduckgo search engine last night and I was pleased to see that WOT was working. Yeah! I will venture forth and try bing as well.

I did find other users of Yahoo who were equally upset that WOT was no longer working. I can't find a way to contact WOT directly to inform them of this problem. Oh well. I do have a solution to my problem so I'm good.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions and information and the time you spent on my case. Have a safe and enjoyable New Year.

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Hi Petals,

You mentioned you have a solution, so I have taken the liberty of marking the thread solved and marked Jef's post as the solution.

Feel free to unmark or choose another solution if I am mistaken.