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thunderbird starts with spam ads

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Hi all!

I am a long time user of Thunderbird, currently using 52.9.1 on Linux Mint 18 (Application Build ID 20180710085647). Last "Crash Reports" were at the end of April (3 which I don't recall being a problem...).

Recently started seeing, in the message window (classic layout) ads asking me about my age & sex, or ads from realtor.com. So I restarted with all add-ons disabled (safe mode) and to my surprise the ads were still present (several restarts with add-ons disabled).

I updated clamav and ran it and found no problems.

Not really sure what else to do.....?

Thank you

PS: My "Troubleshooting Information":


 Application Basics
   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 52.9.1
   User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:52.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/52.9.1
   Profile Directory: Open Directory
             (Unknown location)
   Application Build ID: 20180710085647
   Enabled Plugins: about:plugins
   Build Configuration: about:buildconfig
   Memory Use: about:memory
   Profiles: about:profiles
 Mail and News Accounts
   account1:
     INCOMING: account1, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account2:
     INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, SSL, passwordCleartext
   account3:
     INCOMING: account3, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account4:
     INCOMING: account4, , (imap) imap.mail.yahoo.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.yahoo.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account5:
     INCOMING: account5, , (imap) imap-mail.outlook.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp-mail.outlook.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account6:
     INCOMING: account6, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account8:
     INCOMING: account8, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account10:
     INCOMING: account10, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account11:
     INCOMING: account11, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account12:
     INCOMING: account12, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account13:
     INCOMING: account13, , (imap) imap.mail.ru:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.ru:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account15:
     INCOMING: account15, , (im) prpl-gtalk, plain, 0
   account16:
     INCOMING: account16, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account17:
     INCOMING: account17, , (imap) imap.mail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account18:
     INCOMING: account18, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account19:
     INCOMING: account19, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account21:
     INCOMING: account21, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
   account23:
     INCOMING: account23, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true
 Crash Reports
   https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-6f8e281a-7c27-4b94-a751-7bea00180424 (04/24/2018)
   https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-381b791c-eea1-4642-93a7-ecc5a0180424 (04/23/2018)
   https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-3f22c290-64b1-4c94-ad43-dfb900180405 (04/05/2018)
 Extensions
   All Menus Button, 1.1.3.1-signed, false, tb-all-menus-single@codefisher.org
   Enigmail, 2.0.8, false, {847b3a00-7ab1-11d4-8f02-006008948af5}
   Google Tasks Sync, 0.5.3, false, google_tasks_sync@tomasz.lewoc
   ImportExportTools, 3.3.0, false, {3ed8cc52-86fc-4613-9026-c1ef969da4c3}
   Lightning, 5.4, false, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}
   MEGAbird, 2.0, false, thunderbird-filelink@mega.nz
   Messaging Menu and Unity Launcher integration, 1.3.1, false, messagingmenu@mozilla.com
   Provider for Google Calendar, 4.4.2, false, {a62ef8ec-5fdc-40c2-873c-223b8a6925cc}
   Restart, 3.0.2, false, Restart@schuzak.jp
   sabre/dav (CalDAV & CardDAV) provider for TbSync, 0.8.26, false, dav4tbsync@jobisoft.de
   Send Later, 6.3.8, false, sendlater3@kamens.us
   SmartTemplate4, 1.5.1, false, smarttemplate4@thunderbird.extension
   TbSync, 0.7.16, false, tbsync@jobisoft.de
   ThunderBrowse, 3.82, false, ThunderBrowse@thunderbrowse.com
   ThunderCal, 1.1, false, thundercal@michael.grafl
   TorBirdy, 0.2.5, false, castironthunderbirdclub@torproject.org
 Important Modified Preferences
   Name: Value
     accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar: 0
     browser.cache.disk.capacity: 235520
     browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported: 1
     browser.cache.disk.hashstats_reported: 1
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false
     extensions.lastAppVersion: 52.9.1
     font.internaluseonly.changed: true
     font.size.variable.x-western: 17
     mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1
     mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: a63a490e-456a-4946-8707-e8558393043
     mailnews.database.global.views.conversation.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false…
     mailnews.database.global.views.global.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false…
     media.gmp.storage.version.observed: 1
     media.webrtc.debug.log_file: /tmp/WebRTC.log
     network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true
     network.predictor.cleaned-up: true
     places.database.lastMaintenance: 1538524961
     places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 42187
     plugin.importedState: true
     privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true
 Graphics
     GPU #1
     Description: NVIDIA Corporation -- GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2
     Vendor ID: NVIDIA Corporation
     Device ID: GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2
     Driver Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.130
     Features
     WebGL Renderer: false
     AzureCanvasBackend: skia
     AzureCanvasAccelerated: 0
     AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: none
     AzureContentBackend: skia
     CairoUseXRender: 0
 JavaScript
 Incremental GC: 1
 Accessibility
   Activated: 0
   Prevent Accessibility: 0
 Library Versions
     Expected minimum version
     Version in use
     NSPR
     4.13.1
     4.13.1
     NSS
     3.28.6
     3.28.6
     NSS Util
     3.28.6
     3.28.6
     NSS SSL
     3.28.6
     3.28.6
     NSS S/MIME
     3.28.6
     3.28.6
Hi all! I am a long time user of Thunderbird, currently using 52.9.1 on Linux Mint 18 (Application Build ID 20180710085647). Last "Crash Reports" were at the end of April (3 which I don't recall being a problem...). Recently started seeing, in the message window (classic layout) ads asking me about my age & sex, or ads from realtor.com. So I restarted with all add-ons disabled (safe mode) and to my surprise the ads were still present (several restarts with add-ons disabled). I updated clamav and ran it and found no problems. Not really sure what else to do.....? Thank you PS: My "Troubleshooting Information": Application Basics Name: Thunderbird Version: 52.9.1 User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:52.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/52.9.1 Profile Directory: Open Directory (Unknown location) Application Build ID: 20180710085647 Enabled Plugins: about:plugins Build Configuration: about:buildconfig Memory Use: about:memory Profiles: about:profiles Mail and News Accounts account1: INCOMING: account1, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account2: INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, SSL, passwordCleartext account3: INCOMING: account3, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account4: INCOMING: account4, , (imap) imap.mail.yahoo.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.yahoo.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account5: INCOMING: account5, , (imap) imap-mail.outlook.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp-mail.outlook.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account6: INCOMING: account6, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account8: INCOMING: account8, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account10: INCOMING: account10, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account11: INCOMING: account11, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account12: INCOMING: account12, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account13: INCOMING: account13, , (imap) imap.mail.ru:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.ru:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account15: INCOMING: account15, , (im) prpl-gtalk, plain, 0 account16: INCOMING: account16, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account17: INCOMING: account17, , (imap) imap.mail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account18: INCOMING: account18, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account19: INCOMING: account19, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account21: INCOMING: account21, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account23: INCOMING: account23, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true Crash Reports https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-6f8e281a-7c27-4b94-a751-7bea00180424 (04/24/2018) https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-381b791c-eea1-4642-93a7-ecc5a0180424 (04/23/2018) https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-3f22c290-64b1-4c94-ad43-dfb900180405 (04/05/2018) Extensions All Menus Button, 1.1.3.1-signed, false, tb-all-menus-single@codefisher.org Enigmail, 2.0.8, false, {847b3a00-7ab1-11d4-8f02-006008948af5} Google Tasks Sync, 0.5.3, false, google_tasks_sync@tomasz.lewoc ImportExportTools, 3.3.0, false, {3ed8cc52-86fc-4613-9026-c1ef969da4c3} Lightning, 5.4, false, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103} MEGAbird, 2.0, false, thunderbird-filelink@mega.nz Messaging Menu and Unity Launcher integration, 1.3.1, false, messagingmenu@mozilla.com Provider for Google Calendar, 4.4.2, false, {a62ef8ec-5fdc-40c2-873c-223b8a6925cc} Restart, 3.0.2, false, Restart@schuzak.jp sabre/dav (CalDAV & CardDAV) provider for TbSync, 0.8.26, false, dav4tbsync@jobisoft.de Send Later, 6.3.8, false, sendlater3@kamens.us SmartTemplate4, 1.5.1, false, smarttemplate4@thunderbird.extension TbSync, 0.7.16, false, tbsync@jobisoft.de ThunderBrowse, 3.82, false, ThunderBrowse@thunderbrowse.com ThunderCal, 1.1, false, thundercal@michael.grafl TorBirdy, 0.2.5, false, castironthunderbirdclub@torproject.org Important Modified Preferences Name: Value accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar: 0 browser.cache.disk.capacity: 235520 browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported: 1 browser.cache.disk.hashstats_reported: 1 browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false extensions.lastAppVersion: 52.9.1 font.internaluseonly.changed: true font.size.variable.x-western: 17 mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1 mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: a63a490e-456a-4946-8707-e8558393043 mailnews.database.global.views.conversation.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false… mailnews.database.global.views.global.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false… media.gmp.storage.version.observed: 1 media.webrtc.debug.log_file: /tmp/WebRTC.log network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true network.predictor.cleaned-up: true places.database.lastMaintenance: 1538524961 places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 42187 plugin.importedState: true privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true Graphics GPU #1 Description: NVIDIA Corporation -- GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2 Vendor ID: NVIDIA Corporation Device ID: GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2 Driver Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.130 Features WebGL Renderer: false AzureCanvasBackend: skia AzureCanvasAccelerated: 0 AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: none AzureContentBackend: skia CairoUseXRender: 0 JavaScript Incremental GC: 1 Accessibility Activated: 0 Prevent Accessibility: 0 Library Versions Expected minimum version Version in use NSPR 4.13.1 4.13.1 NSS 3.28.6 3.28.6 NSS Util 3.28.6 3.28.6 NSS SSL 3.28.6 3.28.6 NSS S/MIME 3.28.6 3.28.6

Chosen solution

I guess that must have been it.... Maybe the add-on thunderbrowse messed with the homepage url, and the ad.... I don't know. Guess I don't really need the add-on anyway.

Thank you, Brett

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (4)

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You might check what is listed for the url in the Start page field.

In Windows it is under Options-General Start Page.

For Linux in may be Edit- Preferences instead of Options.

This page lists the menu differences between operating systems so refer to that. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Menu_differences_in_Windows%2C_Linux%2C_and_Mac

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Hhhmmmm... thank you. I checked, and the start page url is:

http://start.thunderbrowse.com/

and if I click on the ad the only link I can find is a null:

javascript:void(0);

Just checked:

https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/q?domain=start.thunderbrowse.com

and it tells me it is "up" and it is just me (apparently).

Modified by brett.stokes

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This is the default Thunderbird start url for my locale and operating system. https://live.mozillamessaging.com/thunderbird/start?locale=en-US&version=52.9.1&os=WINNT&buildid=20180709124824

Not sure what it is for Linux. This page touches on the url some. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Start_Page_for_mail

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Chosen Solution

I guess that must have been it.... Maybe the add-on thunderbrowse messed with the homepage url, and the ad.... I don't know. Guess I don't really need the add-on anyway.

Thank you, Brett