firefox grrrrr...

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #1 08-05-2014, 07:33 PM

I have tried to make firefox my default browser at least 6 times today

and every time I go to the box , 'make firefox your default browser' I get bombarded by at least 15 different popups , downloads start by them selves , my AGV is having a hernia trying to stop the flood of spam , man its like the bad old days

,,, a free for all until I disconnect from the net .
You al know the type ,, your computer is running slow ,,, running scan you have 4897654 known problems , go away !!! heaps of spam!!!! .

I have spent hours uninstalling about 70 things that 'FIREFOX !!!! ' deposited into my computer ,, all today 8/5/2014 ,, total carp , its BS .

The only reason I want firefox is that it downloads the large photos on IIS where as IE stopped doing that a while ago for no reason ,,, computers grrrr.

Help and thanks in advance .

Brian.

JB80 (Jarrod) · #2 08-05-2014, 08:21 PM

The best thing if you haven't already done it is download and install malwarebytes http://www.malwarebytes.org/lp/lp4_r...Fe3JtAod4QUALw

It's probably the best free anti malware software you can find, after installing it run a full system scan and quarantine anything that comes up, repeat if needed and then from there if you have more issues it can be narrowed down.

You may have to do all this in the computers safe mode if you can't download from the malwarebytes site.

Astro_Bot · #3 08-05-2014, 08:29 PM

To be fair, that doesn't sound like a Firefox problem - it sounds like a malware problem, with your default browser being set to something else by malware (along with pop-ups) while Firefox asks you about the default only if it isn't already set.

After you've cleaned up, try installing NoScript - an add-on for Firefox - that will stop scripts from running unless you specifically authorise it. Over time, you gradually authorise a "whitelist" of trusted sites (or portions thereof) so that only wanted scripts will run. (Most malware is deposited by a script that runs in the background when you visit a compromised website).

Regulus (Trevor) · #4 08-05-2014, 09:19 PM

Not FF Brian, unless u got it from a non-Mozilla site because it downloads clean and is the least spam based browser I have met. Mind u a lighter version (Palemoon) is as good and takes all the same plugins.
I reckon u have some Malware.
Bloody annoying, and authors of this crap, along with Lawyers and Hairdressers, will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes :-)

OzStarGazer · #5 08-05-2014, 09:24 PM

Malwarebytes is pretty good, I agree.

PS: Re IE, I used it the other day because I was on another computer and I noticed the problem mentioned here by many members. Then while the image was not opening and the circle was spinning I just clicked on it and the image opened fine. I don't know "why", but it worked!

mithrandir (Andrew) · #6 08-05-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

After you've cleaned up, try installing NoScript - an add-on for Firefox - that will stop scripts from running unless you specifically authorise it. Over time, you gradually authorise a "whitelist" of trusted sites (or portions thereof) so that only wanted scripts will run.

NoScript is good but not perfect. Try to stop it blocking things it considers cross-site scripting but which you know are OK and you'll wind up tearing out whatever hair you have left.

Lee · #7 08-05-2014, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

Bloody annoying, and authors of this crap, along with Lawyers and Hairdressers, will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes :-)

Why hairdressers?? Lawyers and malware authors I can understand...

brian nordstrom (As avatar) · #8 08-05-2014, 09:50 PM

All right , Brian reporting here from the new and cleaned out firefox ,, no BS anymore . Thanks to all , I downloaded Melwarebyts anti-melware , free and did a scan and blardy hell it found 26 things adware !!!, all cleared up . I also added noscript to the browser . Sweet and thanks to all .
Brian.

Starless (Brian) · #9 08-05-2014, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regulus

...
Bloody annoying, and authors of this crap, along with Lawyers and Hairdressers, will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes :-)

You can add accountants and politicians to that list.

PCH (Paul) · #10 08-05-2014, 11:50 PM

Hey Guys,

not wishing to hijack the thread, but since Brian's issue seems cleared up I figure it's ok to ask a related question.

Is 'Malwarebytes' just another AV scanner? I have Trend Micro AV scanner - so I'm guessing I don't need MWB as well - right?

Cheers guys,

mithrandir (Andrew) · #11 09-05-2014, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCH

Hey Guys,

not wishing to hijack the thread, but since Brian's issue seems cleared up I figure it's ok to ask a related question.

Is 'Malwarebytes' just another AV scanner? I have Trend Micro AV scanner - so I'm guessing I don't need MWB as well - right?

No it's not an AV like Norton (spit), AVG, etc. Look at Malwarebytes as a complementary scanner checking for different undesirables. CCleaner is another one similar to Malwarebytes.
Good practice is to have an active scanner like AVG and run Malwarebytes/CCleaner every now and then. Have those download their database updates before each scan.

PCH (Paul) · #12 09-05-2014, 12:37 AM

Thanks for that Andrew, i have both but wasnt sure whether it was needed or not.

Pinwheel (Doug) · #13 09-05-2014, 08:17 AM

Fire fox also have a Pop-up ad filter & Tracker stopper. Since installing these add-ons to my Firefox browser, life on the net is a total joy. Nothing bothers me while surfing anymore.

Regulus (Trevor) · #14 09-05-2014, 08:25 AM

Lee

Douglas Adams in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy had Lawyers and Hairdressers at the top of his list and I'm adding to it.

PCH (Paul) · #15 09-05-2014, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinwheel

Fire fox also have a Pop-up ad filter & Tracker stopper. Since installing these add-ons to my Firefox browser, life on the net is a total joy. Nothing bothers me while surfing anymore.

Hey Doug,

care to share the names of the add-ons please?

Cheers buddy,

Pinwheel (Doug) · #16 09-05-2014, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCH

Hey Doug,

care to share the names of the add-ons please?

Cheers buddy,

Sure the ones I use are-

FireFox 29.0
Bluhell Firewall 2.1
DoNotTrackme 3.2.1083

All woking great with AVG free.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #17 09-05-2014, 10:44 AM

This will help also ..... just scroll down and read the various settings and decide what helps you.

http://www.winhelp.us/securing-mozilla-firefox.html

I did them all ... no conflicts with web browsing and never had any ' nasty ' encounters while surfing the web.

I purchased the Premium Version of Malwarebytes using PayPal .. well worth having ... extra features .... blocking compromised web sites etc ... prevents unintentional downloading of Malware ( piggy backing ) on other programmes.

Col.....

LewisM · #18 09-05-2014, 01:16 PM

A few hints:
1. Malwarebyte AV. Don't even consider Spymantec/Norton anything (I'll send the link for full Spymantec software removal tool if anyone was conned into this piece of crud software!).

2. AdBlock Plus. Get it in the Applications section of FF. It blocks most everything not needed - side bar ads, random generated ads etc. OK, it costs revenue with click throughs for this site, but....

3. DoNotTrackMe. GET IT.

If you did not get FF from mozilla.com, you got a hacked version.

Terry B · #19 09-05-2014, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisM

A few hints:
1. Malwarebyte AV. Don't even consider Spymantec/Norton anything (I'll send the link for full Spymantec software removal tool if anyone was conned into this piece of crud software!).

2. AdBlock Plus. Get it in the Applications section of FF. It blocks most everything not needed - side bar ads, random generated ads etc. OK, it costs revenue with click throughs for this site, but....

3. DoNotTrackMe. GET IT.

If you did not get FF from mozilla.com, you got a hacked version.

Interestingly I have just bought a couple of new computers to replace old XP boxes.
The first thing I did was open II and search google for "firefox"
The top result is not the Mozilla site but one from some EZ download company. I don't know if it has spyware in it as I realised and then used the official site.
You have to be careful.

Terry

PCH (Paul) · #20 09-05-2014, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisM

A few hints:
1. Malwarebyte AV. Don't even consider Spymantec/Norton anything (I'll send the link for full Spymantec software removal tool if anyone was conned into this piece of crud software!).

2. AdBlock Plus. Get it in the Applications section of FF. It blocks most everything not needed - side bar ads, random generated ads etc. OK, it costs revenue with click throughs for this site, but....

3. DoNotTrackMe. GET IT.

If you did not get FF from mozilla.com, you got a hacked version.

Isn't it mozilla.org?

Maybe you got the hacked version Lewis