# What are these green links in my browser?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-green-links-in-my-browser/599022>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 8, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-green-links-in-my-browser/599022 "2011-10-08T20:28:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-green-links-in-my-browser/599022/1 "2011-10-08T20:28:15Z")

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I’m running Windows 7, and Firefox is my browser (7.0.1). I’ve started seeing green links on multiple websites, including the Dope. They lead to commercial websites selling the things that are linked. Where did this come from and how do I get rid of it?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-green-links-in-my-browser/599022/2 "2011-10-08T20:39:49Z")

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Probably some spyware. Try running Malwarebytes.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-green-links-in-my-browser/599022/3 "2011-10-08T20:39:52Z")

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Never mind, folks! I found the add-on in Firefox (which I did NOT consciously approve or download) and disabled it.

I don’t like that you can’t actually remove some add-ons in Firefox, just disable. I would really prefer to have it completely gone…

Incidentally, if anyone starts to see these things, the add-on extension was called “FaceTheme”.

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-green-links-in-my-browser/599022/4 "2011-10-09T03:54:33Z")

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You may have to do a little more work. [http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/753965](http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/753965)

> [@](#):
>
> I have been fighting the same problem with the same results. It turns out that startsearcher was loaded in with a template from [facethemes.com](http://facethemes.com). If you bring up Firefox:Tools:Add-ons you can see “Facethemes” listed as an extension, but the Uninstall button is greyed out. “Disabling” had no effect. Fortunately however, the operating system (Vista on my computer) can uninstall it. Go to the control panel:Programs and Features select Facethemes and uninstall it.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-green-links-in-my-browser/599022/5 "2011-10-09T04:22:56Z")

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It doesn’t come up in my Control Panel: Programs and Features.