did you use this for an update zeifibadwarebusters.org
I just got a pop up tab saying that firefox had an urgent update and this was the file:
firefox-patch.js from zeifibadwarebusters.org
When I opened the file it opened a dos window and installed something.
Is this legit?
All Replies (3)
Hi
Thanks for reporting a fake update. Please see the article I found a fake Firefox update.
angiew26 said
did you use this for an update zeifibadwarebusters.org I just got a pop up tab saying that firefox had an urgent update and this was the file: firefox-patch.js from zeifibadwarebusters.org When I opened the file it opened a dos window and installed something. Is this legit?
No Mozilla does not use random pages outside of *.mozilla.org for any Firefox downloads.
This is not from Mozilla or the Firefox browser. The fake firefox-patch.exe and firefox-patch.js files can install things like trojans, viruses, unwanted software or to download additional stuff onto Windows based on past reports if the user runs them. The random name of the websites alone should raise a flag that it was not legit.
It is coming from some malicious Ads on some websites.
They are trying to trick less experience Windows and or Firefox users (on Windows) to run this fake firefox-patch.js file. Even if you were to download this firefox-patch.js file it is not a risk unless you were to try and run it.
The Firefox updates have not really changed as they are done internally in Firefox (with a .mar type of file) whether on Windows, Mac OSX or Linux (since Firefox 1.5 about eleven years ago) or by download from mozilla.org like say www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/
You could try using a adblocker extension like uBlock Origin to block theses fake ads if you keep getting them. https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/
Unfortunately this has gone on for a while now with one or two new sites still reported every so often though not as much in last couple months. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/contributors/712056/
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/i-found-fake-firefox-update
angiew26 said
When I opened the file it opened a dos window and installed something.
Since you ran this file without scanning or asking about it first you may want to clean up your Windows.
Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.
You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
- MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
- Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller
- AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
- Hitman Pro
- ESET Online Scanner
Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista if you don't already have one. Windows 8/10 have antivirus protection built-in.
Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.