Help! Google takes me to "ASK"

Life Technology
1

Lately when I try to find something, I get taken to what appears to be a search engine called “ASK”. This gives me some weird results.
Anybody know what’s up with that?

2

Maybe someone / something installed the ASK toolbar.

Remove Ask Toolbar | Safe and Easy How-to Guide | Avast.

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If I go to “extensions”, all I can see is my adblocker.

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I don’t have a link right now but you can check your default search engine in your browser preferences

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It says Google Chrome is my default browser.

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In Google Chrome, what is your default search engine?

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Remove Windows and install Linux :slight_smile:

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Yep, That could be the other possibility. Here’s how to check:

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You took the words right out of my mouth.

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11

Yeah… good one. But please remember that some of our fellow Forumosans may not be digital natives, and/or just want a PC that works the same way as they learned. Shitty OS and all.

Disclaimer: I hate windows. And computers. Yet, here I am, working in IT :roll:

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Fair point. If a user doesn’t know the difference between a browser’s search bar and the browser’s default search engine from google, then they are unlikely to be willing to install a different OS. I resolve these types of issues for my parents by giving them computers that only have Linux on them, so they don’t ever get hijacked by spam-ware they unknowingly installed themselves.

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And indeed that is a great idea - if they learn something new anyway, why not a well pre-configured Linux? Lucky people that have someone to provide this, as well as family tech support :+1:

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15

My default search engine is Google Chrome.

I went to Manage Search Engines, and saw that ^&%$ ASK there.
Followed the directions:

  • Delete : To the right of the search engine, click More and then Remove from list

It’s gone from the list now, but it’s not deleted. It still opens when I open Chrome.

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Have you checked your homepage. In Chrome click on the setting option (top right for the pull down menu) then scroll down to Appearance. I have mine set for https://www.google.com/ncr as without the ncr at the end it defaults to Google Taiwan and a Chinese version.

If it opens an ASK window not just on start up but every time you open a tab, that is likely the problem. Can also click the home icon and see if it takes you there. (top left looks like a house)

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Do I type in that exact URL?

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If you want it to be your homepage, yeah.

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No luck, I’m afraid. I ran the check for unwanted programs and they said I’m fine???

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