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Unable to remove folder conatining virus reported by Firefox

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 24 views
  • Last reply by Jim

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Hello, Earlier this week Firefox told me I had inadvertently downloaded a zipped folder that contains a virus or malware. I located the file in downloads and deleted it. I then deleted it from recycle bin and restarted Firefox, but the folder was still there. I deleted it from Firefox downloads, restarted Firefox... still there. I uninstalled / reinstalled Firefox.... still there. So I ran Windows Defender... nothing found. Still shows in Firefox. I ran ESET online scanner... nothing found, still shows in Firefox. I ran a malwarebytes scan, nothing found, still shows in Firefox. Lastly I did Windows Defender offline scan, nothing found, still shows in Firefox. How can I get Firefox to stop reporting virus? v/r Jim

Hello, Earlier this week Firefox told me I had inadvertently downloaded a zipped folder that contains a virus or malware. I located the file in downloads and deleted it. I then deleted it from recycle bin and restarted Firefox, but the folder was still there. I deleted it from Firefox downloads, restarted Firefox... still there. I uninstalled / reinstalled Firefox.... still there. So I ran Windows Defender... nothing found. Still shows in Firefox. I ran ESET online scanner... nothing found, still shows in Firefox. I ran a malwarebytes scan, nothing found, still shows in Firefox. Lastly I did Windows Defender offline scan, nothing found, still shows in Firefox. How can I get Firefox to stop reporting virus? v/r Jim

All Replies (5)

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Interesting... Can you post a screenshot? Which version of Firefox?

Modified by jonzn4SUSE

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I assume that this is part of the "Deceptive Content and Dangerous Software Protection" settings on the Settings page.

Can you remove this item via the right-click context menu in the Library (Downloads Manager) ?

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to 1st responder, Thanks for responding. I’m using the latest version (101.0.1 (64-bit)). When I open Firefox I get a pop-up with exclamation point showing me the file contains a virus or malware. Unfortunately it disappears when I click for screenshot, so I took screenshots of the subject folder/file from downloads. In downloads I have tried to delete but it keeps returning. If I right click the file my choices are copy download link, remove from history and clear downloads. Tried all three and it comes back. If I go to organize in download window there is a delete button, but it comes back.

The first time Firefox notified me of the virus I found and deleted folder/file from download folder on my pc and then from the recycle bin. I removed Firefox and reinstalled, but it comes back.

to 2nd responder, If I right click the file my choices are copy download link, remove from history and clear downloads. Tried all three and it comes back. If I go to organize in download window there is a delete button, but it comes back.

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You can check that these pages aren't set as multiple homepages.

You can check the homepage setting in "Settings -> Home".

Firefox supports multiple homepages separated by '|' (pipe) symbols.

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I don't understand how the home page setting will clear the virus/malware warning I'm trying to clear, but I checked and I have one home page; Google. The warning persists.