Firefox scam...

[eclark1894]

Every now and then I keep getting a pop-up window that shows the Firefox logo and the words Firefox Urgent update. A moment later, another window will pop up with a download button. Now, I'm not stupid, plus, I've already recently gone to Firefox and upgraded to the latest version, so there's obviously no reason why this window should keep popping up. But I'm not a super savvy guy on the Windows platform since I'm really a Mac guy, but is there something i can do to stop this window from keep popping up on my screen?

 

[Lorraine]

I run NoScript on Firefox. It stops any background scripts running unless you give it the nod. Not sure if Firefox for Mac can install it but it's worth trying. When you first start using it, there would be a lot of things needing to be given permission but as time goes on, and as your usual websites are added, there would be less.

 

[Glitterati3D]

Earl, it sounds like you have a virus. I'd run a virus scanner on your machine immediately.

 

[eclark1894]

Earl, it sounds like you have a virus. I'd run a virus scanner on your machine immediately.

I did. But I guess i could run it again. And Lorraine, this only happens on my PC laptop. I haven't been using my Mac much lately, since it's well... old now and can't run PP11 or any version of DS.

 

[Lorraine]

In that case Earl, NoScript will install fine on your laptop. If you go into Mozilla extensions you'll find it.

 

[Glitterati3D]

Every now and then I keep getting a pop-up window that shows the Firefox logo and the words Firefox Urgent update. A moment later, another window will pop up with a download button. Now, I'm not stupid, plus, I've already recently gone to Firefox and upgraded to the latest version, so there's obviously no reason why this window should keep popping up. But I'm not a super savvy guy on the Windows platform since I'm really a Mac guy, but is there something i can do to stop this window from keep popping up on my screen?

I did. But I guess i could run it again. And Lorraine, this only happens on my PC laptop. I haven't been using my Mac much lately, since it's well... old now and can't run PP11 or any version of DS.

Well, I'm running Firefox, latest edition and that is NOT happening on my computer. It's not the way Firefox indicates there is an updated version available.

 

[Dragonsegg]

I agree that there is something going on with that popup. I do not run no script because it messes up some websites I need to use but I do have an add blocker. Even with add blocking I have run into that popup several times, and I think it has been exclusively on Deviant Art pages. I am running Kaspersky Internet security and it never flags anything when I see it and I always run a full scan afterwards with nothing detected. It is annoying to see it but at least in my case I have no viruses detected and I have done many scans since I first saw it.

 

[Miss B]

I have, on occasion, seen a popup stating FF needs to be updated, but I usually check Help > About, which pops up a window that will tell you what version of FF you're running, and whether it needs to be updated.

I'm currently running 47.0.1, and haven't been nudged for an update in quite a while, and I also usually go to Mozilla to download my updates.

 

[eclark1894]

First time I ever went virus hunting... but the window dud finally pop up again, so I quickly took a screen shot to show you. And for the record, no, I never download.

 

[seachnasaigh]

What is that address? It looks like weengooffers.net?

Next time that pops up, open Task Manager, and see if the popup is an application (application tab). If so, right-click on the listed item and go to process. Otherwise, you might try to figure out which process it is directly in the process tab. In the processes tab, right-click on the item and open file location. Is it in the Mozilla folder? In the Explorer window, right-click on the exe?/dll? and see if you can delete it.

It might take a combination of Process Kill and Registry Assassin to get rid of it.

 

[Lorraine]

That's definitely a baddy, Earl, no way would Firefox have that web address for a download.

 

[Lorraine]

It looks like this is a popup ad type of scam and may be able to be blocked by using an adblocker.

Are these "Urgent Firefox Update" popups bogus?

 

[Miss B]

Yes, I just copied your screencap into Photoshop Earl, and zoomed in to look at the URI. The only times I've had the popup, it was just that, a popup dialog box. Firefox did NOT open a new web page as your screencap indicates.

I use adblocker also, so that may be why I'm not seeing one like you're getting.

 

[eclark1894]

Just so you guys know, I have now installed an ad blocker called "Privacy Badger". It's still learning what to block and what not to block, so i'm not sure yet how it will work on things like the Firefox scam.

 

[Carey]

I almost went for it...

 

[Riccardo]

@eclark1894 , this sounds like some kind of malware. But sometimes antivirus apps have a hard time finding stuff that are not classic viruses. You can try something more "malware oriented", like these:
Free Anti-Malware & Internet Security Software
Stinger | McAfee Free Tools
I do not suggest ComboFix - in this case - as it requires some more "hacking" experience than the average user has.

 

[Carey]

thanks!

 

[Miss B]

I use Malwarebytes, and Spybot Search & Destroy, besides my antivirus software, and they're both pretty good at catching things.

 

[Marsha]

I fell for the orange Firefox screen several weeks ago (it looked so authentic!), and now the update dialog box keeps coming up. Did a virus scan; no problems detected. Tried Malwarebytes; nothing found. There were suggestions on various sites of rather extreme and complex things to do, but so far I have not seen anyone saying that they were able to remove it.

Has anyone been able to get rid of this thing?

 

[eclark1894]

I used Malwarebytes, then Privacy Badger. Haven't seen it since.