Today, we have been getting this strange message, while simply launching Firefox. The Firefox default homepage is http://en-us.start2.mozilla.com/firefox%3Fclient%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official.

The message:

We’re sorry …… but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application. To protect our users, we can’t process your request right now.

We’ll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon. In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software.

If you’re continually receiving this error, you may be able to resolve the problem by deleting your Google cookie and revisiting Google. For browser-specific instructions, please consult your browser’s online support center.

If your entire network is affected, more information is available in the Google Web Search Help Center.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope we’ll see you again on Google.

So, I typed into the address bar only www.google.com. After doing so, the following message reappeared with the appendum on the bottom of the message.

After typing in the requested characters, all worked as expected.

The cause for this is not yet known, however, the work-a-round provided the means to continue internet browsing.