A hacker has used my browser to turn off my Windows Defender Firewall and my anitvirus. Refreshing Firefox gets rid of it.
I want to stop hackers from making changes to my browser settings that shuts off my firewall and anit-virus. i want to know what they are changing to accomplish this. A simple refresh of Firefox (it would be a reset of any other browser) alleviates the problem, so I know it is in here. I don't think sharing my data will offer anything as the browser has been 'refreshed' but will if someone thinks it will help.
Wšykne wótegrona (6)
Your Firefox and antivirus are not browser settings, I don't think.
Do you use any add-ons that coordinate with a companion program, such as various types of downloaders? Be very cautious there because companion programs are not reviewed by Mozilla.
One would think not. But I went to the same place and got the same results (changed settings), and cured it again by refreshing Firefox. So I am certain is is associated. I can go to the same site and use another browser.
your extension postulation may have merit. Aside from DuckDuckGo privacy essentials and uBlock Origin, I had Honey installed. I have since uninstalled it, and will see if that was the issue. It would not surprise me.
Hi Brad, what settings were changed? Not sure you should mention the URL of the problem site here in case it leads to problems for others...
Valid point, which is why I tried for the life of me to find a support email address. This is just where i landed after doing 3 searches of community support and tens of pages each to find anything related...
First: don't search for support email or phone numbers. Mozilla doesn't offer such kind of direct support for end users. Most likely you will land to some SCAMMERS.
Second: Windows defender or such antivirus runs with high privilege. Firefox, unless run as administrator, cannot stop or change them, even it's completely 'hacked'.
Third: Tell the steps to reproduce or at least how the problem occurred. Otherwise it looks like a troll question.
That makes sense Pojoho, thanks. I have been doing some more research, and I think the source may have come from an article I wanted to share about (the dangers ironically) of FaceBook. So I copied it into a Word document, and I noticed all the embedded links pop up as it pasted. I think one of those may have provided the ability to change my firewall and anti-virus settings.
Firefox must be just their conduit for access that gets cleaned out whenever that link activates. It is highly disappointing that my antivirus can't identify this 'link' for lack of a better word.
Do let me know if you have any advice on tracking that down!