So i have the Free version and it keeps changing my browsers search engine to Yahoo (Avast), or is it (Avast) Yahoo … one or the other. Anyway I do not want this, I prefer Google and I’d like it to stay with Google.
How do I stop Avast from switching my search engine please?
Hi
What browser do you use?
Firefox, the latest version
Avast doesn’t change your search engine… (unless possibly you are infected then it removes bad entries and defaults)
Do you have a screenshot?
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=150801.msg1095846#msg1095846
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=150703.msg1096269#msg1096269
Screenshot of what? My browser’s search engine? I promise, it says … Yahoo! (Avast) … So I’m pretty sure it’s Avast doing it. Under Avast Tools it has a Browser Cleanup, which it says gets rid of bad add-ons. However, it straight up says it will NOT remove bad add-ons unless you let it change your Homepage to Yahoo and search engine to Yahoo or Bing.
Once again, I have a hunch it’s Avast
Thank you for the links, but having followed them I do see others have the same problem, but, and maybe I missed it, there isn’t a solution anywhere.
I’m highly considering getting rid of Avast because of this. It’s just too annoying to have to change my search engine back to Google every time I open my Browser.
What exact version of avast do you have installed?
I have the same problem!!! It’s because when the browser clean up attempts to remove the mapsgalaxy add on it says in order to fix this it has to reset my browser homepage to yahoo-avast. I keep changing my home page to google and mapsgalaxy keeps coming back - i would really like a solution to remove the mapsgalaxy add on. 
@jsrose9339 did you check the second link…and read the post from bob3160
I'm highly considering getting rid of Avast because of this.Why not just remove the browser tool.... any module you dont want can be removed Ad/remove programs > avast > uninstall/change > change .....remove what you dont want
I did read bob3160’s post, and replied to him in it. His reply back to me was that it turned out not to be fixed after all and he’s still getting the same problem.
Also, I did remove the browser tool, along with a couple other things I don’t need, and still it switches my search engine
It only changes it if you let it… It doesn’t continue to do it on it’s own.
I can confirm that I still run into the request to delete the Google search protection.
More details on avast feedback section:
https://feedback.avast.com/responses/removal-of-google-search-protector
I just updated avast! Free to the latest version: 2014.9.0.2020
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1403707103646-49366.png
Went to the browser Cleanup tool and here is my choice.
Chrome is my default browser and Google is my default search engine.
I was told this problem was corrected.
Bob, I suggest to post this in the beta section.
I ran into the same thing just once, and following suggestions here I simply removed the browser cleanup tool … since I’ve little or no use for 3rd-party toolbars, no big deal having to double-check options when installing stuff. No problems with it since then.
Why ??? this shows that the problem is still around even in the latest release.
As 9.0.2020 is a RC, it might get more attention from the devs there.
@Asyn,
It’s already receiving lots of attention at:
https://feedback.avast.com/responses/removal-of-google-search-protector
I’m not really looking for attention. Just a simple resolution. 
Finally after weeks of searching and not finding any help online I’ve been able figure out where the problem was.
Avast had changed the coding in a file that was affecting the reloading of Firefox. There is a file called “sessionstore” its a Java Script (js) file. Along with “sessionstore.bak”
Located:
C:\Users(username)\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Subfolders for me were named gxmb0960.default & m7ryhpl1.default
the js file and .bak file were located in both. I deleated both and problem solved
i hope this helps to those that need it
Avast, you can shove it up your @$$. since corporation are people and you love sh–ting all over people you must have one massive a–ho-e.
If avast would just listen to every one asking for help this would have been resolved months ago
On my system, I only found the .bak file which I’ve removed.
Since I’ve also not had any of the problems for some time, I think it
was probably the sessionstore file causing the problem.
That’s only a guess on my part.