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. Windows 8 has antivirus built-in already.

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

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

I see you posted about a similar security problem last November: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1028758

Could you be more specific about the problems that are bringing you here today?

problems that can't be summed up in a single sentance

That is just a header for the post. There is plenty of room to explain the problem in as much detail as needed.

Mozilla Support Firefox Windows Vista Home

First I want to thank you in advance for any and all help.

I first reported problems with log-in usernames and passwords being changed once I logged off the sites they were created on and could not log back in. The first suggestions were I was using in private browseing and the browser would not remember anything after logging off. Unfortunately I was not using that setting did not even know it existed at the time. I did check but it was not checked off.

On my second go-round The first re-sponder I thank, I did find I had not scrolled down far enough.there is indeed another window to post in.

The second responder asked for more detailed info. This I will now try to provide as best I can. Now I know I have a comprimized system exactly what or how many I do not know. One of the responders mentioned that and offered some programs. I have used all of those and many more. Everything that has come out in the last 20 years I have tried many times. Free; trial and paid versions none have found anything just taken my money. Yet I have lost the use of nine computers. I do not expect you people to fix this how ever some of this stuff has control of your browser and I am just trying to let you know.about it and where.

The browser is a computers first line of defense and also the first line of attack. It seperates the computer from the rest of the internet. Anything going in or comeing out has to pass thru the browser before it can reach the rest of the internet. The first thing an intruder has to do is hide himself from the user and any anti malware program. They may have, and scatter varieous copies of the master file being disguised as some harmless file type

These methods are more known to your people than I however there are often overlooked methods that do not require great skill or even root privlaegs. For example simply adding them selves to the exceptions [white list] of the varieous programs. Any user can do this however I do not know how they would hide that list from the user.

To make this shorter I will list what I have found. Your down-loader is compromised. Anything I down load and try to install to find malware is corrupted or at least seems to be. It will not install or update, or the exe will not load. This has now also begun to affect thunderbird as well. Trying to e-mail help and support there is always some type of error message and the mail will not send. I have recently tried to down load and install an alternate browser and search engine and it reaches me corrupted and unable to install. 3 downloads and 3 corrupted exes.

There are several known malwares that can generate false error messages yet the anti malware programs do not find them even tho they are known?????? Most exploits on here I have found and removed until I tried to apply for Obama Care insurance. At the time every hacker in the world it seems was infecting that site. Finally corrupted IE until it was unuseable which is when I returned to using Firefox. I was finally able to get insurance but then started having trouble getting back into the site to manage my account. Your browsers security help up for almost 6 weeks but stuff started going flakey again. Each time i come to support I seem to get a different page. I posted this yesterday but can not find that page again. This window was not here yesterday. This is a repost.

Thanks for the rundown for your previous thread, but how about 'we' concentrate on what's happening now and keep it "on point".

What have you done thus far as far as security scans, and anti-malware scans as the first responder here asked?

And please keep your opinions about how bad Firefox security seems to be or that you think that Firefox downloads were compromised. That type of static is liable get you ignored.

jscher2000 said

Could you be more specific about the problems that are bringing you here today?

Please answer the questions that are asked.

If you feel that downloads have been compromised, go to another computer and download what you need to a thumb drive. After, plug the thumb in your system.

You can get step-by-step assistance using more advanced malware cleanup tools on the forums listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.

jscher2000 said

You can get step-by-step assistance using more advanced malware cleanup tools on the forums listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.

Tried that it didn't work either. Firefox Support:

Firefox has always been one of the most secure browsers on the net but one can not rest on past laurels. What was secure yesterday may not be as secure as it is today just saying.

As I mentioned the browser is the interface between the computer and the rest of the internet. I have this month down loaded these files amoung others. MSRT1 exe; ford02 fusespdf;esetsmartinstaller;windowskb890830;supportlogmeinrescue;aioinstallexe;dict-en.oxt;secscan-release.exe;flashplayer18-ga.exe; aviatorsetup.exe . Every download concernig fighting malware was corrupted in some way so that it would not run. All other files came thru and ran fine. So you tell me if someone is manipulateing your down loader or is this all in my imagination.

All I am trying to do is alert you to a potential problem. Don't kill the messenger. I did discover something interesting yesterday. I was going to uninstall Firefox because I thought it was so bloated it was takeing up to 30 sec. To load from click to being able to use.it. I deselected google as the default search engine and now Firefox loads in less than 10 seconds. My imagination again?

All I am trying to do is alert you to a potential problem. Don't kill the messenger

Firefox is probably the most secure ordinary browser there is.

If you are having, problems and someone has not found the notebook you mentioned then the most likely problem is that you have malware on the computer already that you have failed to identify and remove it.

Every download concernig fighting malware was corrupted in some way so that it would not run. All other files came thru and ran fine. So you tell me if someone is manipulateing your down loader or is this all in my imagination.

That sounds as if malware is affecting your computer. Possibly redirecting you to incorrect places or blocking certain actions. Why not post on one of the specialist security forums we mentioned.

For instance

1. look very carefully and read information at:
   • Help with spyware removal http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5
     • Help with Spyware removal Forum Guidelines (PLEASE READ) http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=32672
2. Post as required at that site, with the information they ask for.
3. Let us know when you have posted, and let us have the link. It will be enlightening to follow your progress as the security experts resolve your problem.

dannyboy950 said

jscher2000 said

You can get step-by-step assistance using more advanced malware cleanup tools on the forums listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.

Tried that it didn't work either. ... Every download concernig fighting malware was corrupted in some way so that it would not run.

My suggestion was to consult the advanced malware forums. Hopefully they can steer you around the problem of corrupted downloads.

I have been to your advanced malware forum. I have also been to spyware warriors I was able to get some logs for them but then have not been able to get back to them to post the logs they asked for. I have tried for several days many times I now get redirected to a search page.

I have windows security essentials allready and used it for years. Now it is not always able to update and windows defender has been disabled. I also ran Avast for 2 years but it quit working completely and I had to uninstall it it was crashing my computer while trying to scan with it. The advice to use another computer to download to a thumb drive to was actually a good one and I have used that method twice now. I am starting to make some headway but I am not completed yet. Personally I think this is a hack more than malware. Unfortuneately there is no scanner to find a hack. I will update as or if I find anything. I may just have to reformat and reinstall a copy of another operateing system. On disability income that will be hard to do.

This is a major issue with you computer. It is not Firefox support issue. It is outside the scope of this forum, but I will attempt to give general advice, rather than leaving you stranded.

You computer is not functioning on the Internet so try using another computer or device to search for and to post information. OR if you only have problems on Firefox for now, then use an alternative browser.

Again outside the scope of this forum but you could use some sort of Rescue OS on a memory stick or other media, if necessary even physically disconnecting your Hard Disk Drive. You will need to research this yourself but a couple links as examples

• https://wikipedia.org/wiki/SystemRescueCD
• https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_CD
  • More detail: https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_CD