# Help needed for PC malware extension

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 17, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950 "2025-07-17T01:25:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/23 "2025-07-19T22:47:36Z")

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From what I’ve read, Edge is too integrated with other apps to safely uninstall.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/24 "2025-07-20T10:33:20Z")

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Makes sense. So, try Firefox and use that to download safe versions of various anti-virus software.

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/25 "2025-07-20T10:50:02Z")

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I just ran a complete Bitedefender scan and it didn’t detect the virus either. ☹ I used AVG browser.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/26 "2025-07-20T10:52:34Z")

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So, some malware changed your search defaults and made itself an administrator so you can’t change it back, do I have that right?

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/27 "2025-07-20T23:37:06Z")

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I’m not sure; I don’t completely understand what it did myself. I just know that when I use Edge, it won’t allow any Google searches.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/28 "2025-07-21T09:58:55Z")

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I’m basically out of ideas. I’ve never seen the problem you’re having, where you cannot change the search engine back, and I’ve cleaned up a few virus-riddled machines.

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/29 "2025-07-21T11:22:27Z")

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Here’s the weird thing. I didn’t change anything, but I can now use Google on Edge. And when I look at the installed extensions on my computer, this one is no longer listed.  
I appreciate your trying, RitterSport.

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**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/30 "2025-07-21T12:07:07Z")

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Looks like one of the anti-malware programs you ran did something.

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-needed-for-pc-malware-extension/1020950/31 "2025-07-21T23:33:47Z")

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I won’t count on it!

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