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How can I keep adware from infecting 54.0 even when I re-download it?

BubE
BubE
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Five days ago, I started to see unwanted advertising, including unwanted pages and pop-ups when using Firefox 54.0 on an iMac running OS X 10.11.6. Firefox stopped unwanted pages while loading, but those pages still needed to be closed manually. At the same time, web pages began to display double-underlined hyperlinks that would activate pop-up ads. These adware symptoms are not present when using Safari. Today, I trashed the infected Firefox and downloaded version 54.0 again, but the adware symptoms were present again. Thanks for any help. Ron

Five days ago, I started to see unwanted advertising, including unwanted pages and pop-ups when using Firefox 54.0 on an iMac running OS X 10.11.6. Firefox stopped unwanted pages while loading, but those pages still needed to be closed manually. At the same time, web pages began to display double-underlined hyperlinks that would activate pop-up ads. These adware symptoms are not present when using Safari. Today, I trashed the infected Firefox and downloaded version 54.0 again, but the adware symptoms were present again. Thanks for any help. Ron

Chosen solution

Hi Ron, when you trash the Firefox application, your settings folder normally survives.

One possible culprit would be an extension. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Command+Shift+a (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions that Firefox installs on its own are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything suspicious? If in doubt, disable.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox before the change takes effect. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?

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jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Hi Ron, when you trash the Firefox application, your settings folder normally survives.

One possible culprit would be an extension. You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Command+Shift+a (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions that Firefox installs on its own are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything suspicious? If in doubt, disable.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox before the change takes effect. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?