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tabs to various websites opening with each click

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  • Last reply by cor-el

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Mozilla is not usable when using a page the page disappears and is written over by another website new tabs are opening as clicks are made adware is also on top of pages checked extensions and add-ons for problems already no extensions active and no add-ons

Mozilla is not usable when using a page the page disappears and is written over by another website new tabs are opening as clicks are made adware is also on top of pages checked extensions and add-ons for problems already no extensions active and no add-ons

All Replies (4)

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Hmm, that sounds like a mess.

When you say --

when using a page the page disappears and is written over by another website

-- do you mean in the same tab, or is a new window appearing in front of your current window?

Checking your extensions was a very logical first step. Here are three other suggestions:

(1) Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help surface undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.

(2) Supplement your regular security software with several of the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.

(3) Bypass any infection in Firefox's program folder as follows:

Clean Reinstall

We use this name, but it's not about removing your settings, it's about making sure the program files are clean (no inconsistent, corrupted, or alien code files). As described below, this process does not disturb your existing settings. Do NOT uninstall Firefox, that's not needed.

(A) Download a fresh installer for Firefox 41.0.2 from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ to a convenient location. (Scroll down to your preferred language.)

(B) Exit out of Firefox (if applicable).

(C) Rename just the current program folder, either:

(64-bit Windows folder names)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files (x86)\OldFirefox

(32-bit Windows folder names)

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox

to

C:\Program Files\OldFirefox

(D) Run the installer you downloaded in (A). It should automatically connect to your existing settings.

Does Firefox work more normally?

Note: Some plugins may exist only in that OldFirefox folder. If something essential is missing, look in these folders:

  • \OldFirefox\Plugins
  • \OldFirefox\browser\plugins

Otherwise, there's no reason to keep the old folder except research/curiosity.

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Thank you for the good comment. I have been working on this for a few days. The situation is three issues: page being read is gone and replaced, or using clicks to manuver then the click causes a new tab to another site to load, finally there is the adware is coming up. Refresh has been done. Have used task manager as much as possible to find issues. Have used downloads location and deleted or uninstalled everything that has happened since the problem started. So, you can see, I was hoping someone would say: This is the specific item that is causing your problem. I will need to wait until others are experiencing the same problem. I will also review all of your suggestions above. I will focus on the Mozilla folder for issues as you suggest.

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If you notice a pattern to the diversions (specific sites) or consistent features of the ads that might help finger the culprit, feel free to mention those details. If nothing else, volunteers run them through a search engine to try to narrow down the universe of malware.

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Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.

Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

See also: