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strange connection between localhost and a webiste catalysthealthasia.com

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  • Last reply by qvor

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when i start my firefox browser, there are several (from 1 to a dozen) connections from the firefox process between 127.0.0.1 and a site i have never connected to "catalysthealthasia.com" attached netstat -fb

when i start my firefox browser, there are several (from 1 to a dozen) connections from the firefox process between 127.0.0.1 and a site i have never connected to "catalysthealthasia.com" attached netstat -fb
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qvor said

I actually found the following in my hosts file:
127.0.0.1 catalysthealthasia.com #PHISHING ATTACK

Hmm, did you add that earlier?

So if you use

netstat -bn

does the connection show the localhost address on both sides of the connection?

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All Replies (5)

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That's troubling. If you haven't already, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any difference?

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Did you check the internet connection in Firefox and possibly the Windows hosts file?

You can check the connection settings.

  • Options/Preferences -> General -> Network: Connection -> Settings

If you do not need to use a proxy to connect to internet then try to select "No Proxy" if "Use the system proxy settings" or one of the others do not work properly.

See "Firefox connection settings":

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Thank you very much. Following your suggestioins - Restarting in safe mode did not change anything. I actually found the following in my hosts file: 127.0.0.1 catalysthealthasia.com #PHISHING ATTACK

Thank you again.

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Chosen Solution

qvor said

I actually found the following in my hosts file:
127.0.0.1 catalysthealthasia.com #PHISHING ATTACK

Hmm, did you add that earlier?

So if you use

netstat -bn

does the connection show the localhost address on both sides of the connection?

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Hello,

sorry for bothering you guys. I opened a case with the anti-virus team and that is their response:

"this is a policy applied to all systems and the policy is pushed by company to avoid a phishing attack "

It seems just Firefox is using the loop back address for some reason and that is why it looks like opening a strange connections.

Thank you for you help.

Modified by qvor