I guess that is a last resort workaround, but I'd really prefer a way to fix the situation so that I can search in the address bar as I always have.

Thanks.

Try to disable HTTPS Only mode for this website and click the padlock in the location bar and create an HTTPS-Only 'Off' exception for this origin.

• Settings -> Privacy & Security -> HTTPS-Only Mode -> Manage Exceptions

Note that creating an HTTPS Only mode exception might not work if you have set network.trr.mode to 2 or 3 (0 should work) on the about:config page and Firefox insists in forcing HTTPS.

WARNING: Changing preferences through this interface not officially supported Hidden settings edited using the about:config tool are explicitly not supported, which means that Mozilla makes no guarantees they will be supported in the future, or that Mozilla will fix them if they break. Mozilla does not test these preferences, and will not in the future. That includes security and performance testing which these preferences may affect.

[Warning added by moderator]

• about:config => network.trr.mode = 0:off; 2:TRR first 3:TRR only; 5:explicit off;

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/https-only-prefs

Hello cor-el,

Thanks for your reply. But if I follow your suggestion, wouldn't my search inquiries still be directed to the searchbaron.com website instead of google? My goal is to use the google search engine. It seems that somehow searchbaron.com has installed software that overrides my FIrefox preference. I have used Malwarebytes but nothing shows up, nor can FInder discover anything called searchbaron, or baron.

I'm hoping that someone else has dealt with this and solved it somehow.

Thanks again.

You can check for recently installed suspicious or unknown extensions.

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or userChrome.css is causing the problem.

• switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
• do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/diagnose-firefox-issues-using-troubleshoot-mode
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems

Hello cor-el,

Ok, I have tried this but still no solution. I have discovered though that I am being redirected to the Yahoo search engine. I read both support documents you sent and followed the instructions. I have no extensions installed and the theme is the default one. I have even dragged the installed version of Firefox to Trash and reinstalled it. Still no help. Very frustrating.

Mark

Did you try Troubleshoot Mode as some malicious extensions are able to hide their presence in regular mode and will only appear in Troubleshoot Mode ?

You also can check this on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-troubleshooting-information-page-fix-firefox

Yes, I did ttry Toubleshoot Mode. I have no extensions at all, and I also chose the default Theme.

I looked at the More Troubleshooting Information page and do not see anything unusual, but I am not technically knowledgeable so I might be missing something.

Also, the problem is unchanged in Troubleshoot Mode.

You can do a malware scan just to be sure.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware

Thanks but I've already done that multiple times. I think my next step is to attempt to install an anti-virus program to see if it finds anything.

Until I discover the root cause of the redirect, here is the workaround I'm using.

I leave setting "Enable HTTPS-Only Mode in all Windows" turned on, but insert as an exception, "google.com". Now when I search in the address bar it takes me to the google search engine.

Again, thanks for trying to help.

Hi mnfriedman1, This can happen if you have visited a site and clicked on an "Install" link. In most cases, using troubleshooting mode will not remove the behaviour; you'll need to refresh Firefox. This will purge a lot of your Firefox files, while retaining most of your personal data. For instructions, check out the following article: Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page