Can you think of any software you installed in recent days? Many free programs come with unwanted tag-alongs.

If nothing specific comes to mind, disable all nonessential extensions here:

orange Firefox button or classic Tools menu > Add-ons > Extensions category

After restarting Firefox, does it still happen?

It is possible that the pages are launched externally to Firefox. Have you tried supplemental scanners? These two tools are highly regarded:

Malwarebytes Anti-malware : http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

SUPERAntiSpyware : http://www.superantispyware.com/

Nothing installed or updated at all. And I am not alone on this one, though its hard to find hits Googling, others have the same and it seems only with Firefox.

Also comes along with "Congratulations, you won" and JUST now, horns honking. Really a pain.

I shall try your links and thanks for the reply.

~Bob

Ran several malware programs that found nothing. Updated to 14.0 and no change. Can never tell when these will pop up.

~Bob

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting#w_8-make-a-new-profile

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

I had this issue and got rid of webfetti ad on and added a pop up blocker on firefox. So far so good. Haven't has a pirate storm pop up all day

Well, have not seen one in a day but cannot tell you if it is a result of something I did or not. I did update 4 plugins. It **seems** that after updating All In One Sidebar this stopped, but that would be odd. But either that or Staus4evar, Colorful Tabs, Tab Mix Plus or Google Search By Image... Makes no sense, but fingers crossed.

~Bob

Its back. Just started with horn honking again. Usually starts with that or "Congratulations, you won!".

Bummer....

Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
You need to scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• http://www.superantispyware.com/ - SuperAntispyware
• http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Microsoft Safety Scanner
• http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx - Windows Defender: Home Page
• http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Spybot Search & Destroy

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

• http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

Thanks Cor-el. I have tried Spybot and Malwarebytes and no hits. but in the process of tracking this one down, I have compounded my problems 10 fold. Firefox now runs so slow as to be unusable. Some pages never fully load. Menus disappear before I can click on a chosen item.

I have hours and hours into this and incredibly frustrating. I'll continue to try turning off plugins and extensions and trying to get back to usable, but a bit at a loss right now.

Will try the other scanners.

~Bob

I did some Google searching on this, and one post suggested checking the Windows Task Manager for any processes with iLivid in the name and terminate those.

Ctrl+Shift+Esc > Processes

You can alphabetize by clicking the "Image Name" column heading. Highlight and "End Process" for those you want to kill.

One user said on her system it was caused a codec-related add-on.

Another indicated he/she got the popups after visiting Youtube, which suggests possibly an insecure Flash player could be an additional issue. If you aren't running the latest of 10.3 or 11.3, you may want to update. To address possible add-on conflicts with Flash 11.3, see this article: Flash 11.3 doesn't load video in Firefox.

Thanks.

There is nothing iLivid running. I did find that and check. The codec related is interesting. Happen to note which add-on?

And I did update to latest Flash and Java hoping, but no luck.

Ran Superantispyware and it found some cookies I had set to autodelete. 190 of them. Doubt this is it, but maybe. Need to do a bit more, reboot and cross fingers.

~Bob

Well, the issue has definitely turned from sounds and popup tabs to Firefox being almost unusuable. It did get a little better removing those cookies, but just a tad.

I have an identical installation of Firefox on my work laptop with all the same extensions and plugins and ALL the same settings an no issue. Typing on that one now. Leads me to belive that perhaps 14.0.1 has an issue with XP as the work computer is Win 7?

If not, I belive the problem lies in either Selctive Cookie Delete or Tab Mix Plus - both which are indespensible. I may try removing and reinstalling each of those even though resetting all the settings is a bit painful.

~Bob

Update to the Pirate Storm pop up: Still no more pop ups. I ran Malwarebytes twice. First time it told me the issue was in the Webfetti ad on on Firefox. Second time i ran it , it gave me 0 errors. I disabled the Webfetti ad on and the skype one click ad on and added the pop up blocker Flashblock available through the ad ons in the tools option. I have left Firefox open all day for the last couple days to see if I would come home to endless Pirate Storm pop ups, and I am pleased to say that for the last couple days no pop ups :)

Pretty sue I have isolated the performance issue. Fingers crossed. Looks like Tab Mix Plus.

I'm hoping an uninstall / reinstall cures the issue. If not, then I think there is an sqlite or Java saved something issue with it.

More as I know it...

~Bob

I'm making progress. Seems like Tab Mix Plus might have become corrupt. But, could someone check something for me?

Save a group of lets say 50 tabs. Open Firefox with that group. Do the tabs on the tab bar jump around forward and backward and can you open any menu and have it functional before all tabs load?

I'd appreciate knowing if this is unique to me. And, btw, have not had a popup or honking or Congratulations, you won - yet today :)

~Bob

OK, update. I have not had a popup window and seemed to have fixed all my performance issues including jumping tabs. Definitely issues with new FF and Tab Mix Plus. Fixed with Tab Utilities instead. And then SelectiveCookie Delete would hang with its Java Script on exit. And then a fresh install of FF 14.0.1 to clean up sticky scrolling and other delays.

BUT, I still get the damned horn honking every now and then. And set louder than my sound settings. And never the same pattern. At least once per browsing session.

I **thought** I found it on the Trulia websites, so deleted them from my browsing group, but still have the issue. Its not a cookie, not a virus, etc. Have scanned with every tool until blue in the face.

I WILL get it., Any ideas appreciated.

~Bob