Where are the ads? Can you describe them in more detail?

If you are using the built-in Firefox home page (about:home) there are little snippets that appear below the search box. For example, promotions for the Webmaker project. I'm not aware of anything else similar to an ad in Firefox without an add-on.

Sometimes such adds come from add-ware in an add-on.

In a new tab or window address bar, type about:support and press Enter. Under the main banner, press the button; Copy Text To Clipboard.. Then in the reply box at the bottom of this page, do a right click in the box and select Paste.

I keep getting these big empty ads with a blue perimeter and the legend "Mozilla Firefox" at the top either a full page or a half page centered about 20 percent of the way over.

The address space in one of them was "http://jgf.makeopti.net/sd/dw32.html?u=http%3A%2F%2Fugo.tractionize.com%2FWhiteLabelBidRequestHandlerServlet%3Foid%3D1%26width%3D1%26height%3D100%26pubid%3D101"

I often have to knock out two of these and then there's a third, usually some very dumb advertisement of any kind in an active tab, another piece of junk I have to knock out.

Why doesn't the ad blocker work on these?

I keep getting these big empty ads with a blue perimeter and the legend "Mozilla Firefox" at the top either a full page or a half page centered about 20 percent of the way over.

The address space in one of them was "http://jgf.makeopti.net/sd/dw32.html?u=http%3A%2F%2Fugo.tractionize.com%2FWhiteLabelBidRequestHandlerServlet%3Foid%3D1%26width%3D1%26height%3D100%26pubid%3D101"

I often have to knock out two of these and then there's a third, usually some very dumb advertisement of any kind in an active tab, another piece of junk I have to knock out.

Why doesn't the ad blocker work on these?

There's a good chance it is generated by an add-on rather than being in the web page natively. Here are some suggestions for clean up.

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 in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.

Then, in Firefox, open the Add-ons page using either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Finally, you can "mop up" remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools suggested in this support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.

Success?

Thank you for your instruction entering the Adds-on Manager. I installed the adds blocker add on that was recommended, and that worked in blocking the big displays I was talking about plus adds popping up for certain sites like Swanson's Vitamins.

I couldn't have done this without your help or spending I don't know how much time deciphering the documentation. I still think that that needs LOTS more design work. I have no interest in becoming a Mozilla expert for thrilling shopping experiences or whatever. I have a lot of research I want to do in my own areas of interest. I think that a presentation that's very easy and direct and simple should be worked out for those wanting only certain functionalities.

I don't think the adds on screen is clear at all to first time viewers. I really couldn't tell what was installed and what wasn't. There was nothing saying so.

Oh yes, I did something else: I blew away the code for the add finder add on, although I'm not sure that was necessary.

Thanks again.

Your blinkety blank big Mozilla boxes are back, covering the whole screen or a half screen eventually filling with a totally undesired advertisement or an error message. I was given instructions how to get to add on add screen of ctrl+shift+a, but I can't clean up anything there.

Please! I don't want any cursed add-ons. I just want to work. That's what attracted me to Mozilla Firefox in the first place. If we can't get back to the simple, unencumbered version, please let me know so I will be spending my time looking for a solution that works. Please, no more screens that list add-ons I don't want, I just want to get rid of those bleeping time wasting screens your system sends up more and more. If your system is junked out, please let me know.

I still keep getting those junk advertisements from your big, entire screen grabbing Mozilla-Firefox blue-rimmed.

You must be a getting a lot of complaints about these. Should be a simple, standard fix. If not, your system is broken.

At the moment, you are the only one. Please run most or all of the programs below.

Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.

You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
• Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller
• AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
• Hitman Pro
• ESET Online Scanner

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one.

Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Hi VeryDisgusted, I'm not sure whether you followed the whole procedure I recommended in post or skipped straight to a new add-on.

My post: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1015149#answer-614845

You wrote:

I don't think the adds on screen is clear at all to first time viewers. I really couldn't tell what was installed and what wasn't. There was nothing saying so.

That is why I have this step in my post:

In the left column, click Extensions.

That is where you will find the extensions -- one of the many kinds of add-ons, and the ones most likely to cause mischief -- that are currently installed.

I probably should make a video of all this, but for now...

Please go through the steps again, starting with the Control Panel, then the Extensions list, so you can get rid of this infection.

Where you said to click extensions, I obviously did something wrong last time and came up with a different screen in which were two apparently unnecessary extensions that I never consciously added. One of these I blew away (I should have written it down) and the ddeal4real I disabled. After restarting Firefox the problems were gone, even with the vitamin+supplement site where they were most severe.

Thank for your patience, especially since the people applying for your help usually only do so after the interference becomes intolerable in something they're trying to get done.

If I apply for your help again, I'll try to remember that you're dealing with many exasperated people and will try not to weigh down with another one.

Thanks for your help and your patience.

We are glad to help. And remember one thing . . . . The only silly / dumb / stupid question, , , , , , , , , , , is the one you don't ask.

ddeal4real is likely what gave you all that trouble.

It’s very sad, but many of the software down-loaders / installers will trick you into installing not only their program, but other programs as well. You have heard of the fine print in shady contracts, right? Well, some installers you need to look at the itsy bitsy teeny weeny fine print. You are thinking you are giving the installer permission to install the program you want by using the recommended option. But if you use the Manual Option Instead, you discover all kinds of stuff that you do not even know what it is or what it does. From now on, everyone needs to Use The Manual Option to put a stop to this.