How do search engines work?

How come none of my search engines work on firefox?

• when ever i search something on firefox and click on a link, the link will redirect me to some random page. this happens to all search engines google yahoo ask

• Answer:

  The reason this happens is that you are infected with a very common virus, known as the "Search Redirect Virus". There isn't anything wrong with your internet browser, it is a virus that will redirect you from your desired search result link to an advertisement or other random website. Whilst this virus has infected thousands upon thousands of computers, it is extremely difficult to remove. Whereas a "normal" virus would attempt to install a piece of software on your computer that would comprise the system, this virus can infect a few system files and change their settings, allowing it to hide away and avoid detection. This virus works by taking advantage of how a search engine works. The search engine normally redirects you before taking you on to the actual site anyway, but the virus manages to intercept this step. It can do this because the system file it infected was the protocol used by the system to communicate with the internet via the web browser. In my experience of removing this virus, the only way I can suggest that you can remove it is to use ComboFix. This program is free but very powerful, so use this tutorial to guide you through without causing any damage to your system: http://www.personalcomputerfixes.com/spyware/how-to-remove-the-google-redirect-virus/