Where did you download Firefox from as Firefox any Release for any OS from mozilla.org does not come with this or any such crap, adware, viruses, trojans, malware, bundled applications and the like as has been claimed every while over the years.

It would hurt Mozilla far too much for what little gain if any to do this.

It may have been installed by a separate application that was installed or updated recently. Applications downloaded from download dot com aka cnet is a known adware site in using its own installer bundled with ahem stuff to be polite.

It could be an Extension (especially if one not hosted at addons.mozilla.org) that was installed or updated then as unfortionatly there are some adware extensions out there. As you can see on https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/blocked/ as Mozilla tries to block them.

Firefox from https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ is clean as all you get is well Firefox.

See this - http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-macglobaldeals-mac-os-x/ - for removal advice.

James - I got it from the mozilla site, because I'm not stupid enough to download from unknown sources, and I haven't downloaded anything else recently. I agree that it would be a stupid thin for Mozilla to do and that I had a very hard time believing it. That's why I posted. I'd be happy to believe some other explanation, especially since that one makes no sense.

So please tell me: if I got it from the official website, and I haven't downloaded or updated any other applications in weeks, how did I get this suddenly showing up right after I downloaded Firefox? (That's not a rhetorical question, and I'm not being snarky. I *believe* that it wouldn't be something Mozilla would do, but it happened, and I have no idea what other explanation is possible. That's probably just my ignorance - there must be another way it's possible. But I don't know what it is. I'm hoping you do.)

Thanks for the link, the-edmeister. At this point, I'm leery of anything I get from an unfamiliar site, however reasonable it looks. MacGlobalDeals doesn't appear to be anywhere in my applications, and I got it out of Firefox, so hopefully that's it?

Well it certainly did not come with Firefox from Mozilla.org

This thread is the only one to show up in a search for MacGlobalDeals. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/search/advanced?q=MacGlobalDeals&num_voted=0&num_votes=&asked_by=&answered_by=&q_tags=&created=0&created_date=&updated=0&updated_date=&sortby=1&a=1&w=2

Nothing comes up at the active independent forums.mozillazine.org either.

Mac users of Firefox are not small in numbers so if Firefox 34 did indeed come with MacGlobalDeals there would certainly be threads here and at mozillazine rant... er discussing about it to say the least.

I got the HOLD PAGE adware installed when I updated Firefox. I spend hours downloading adware removal and running them. I was able to get most of it removed but still had it. Then I look in the Firefox add-ons making sure adblock and pop up blockers were active and that's when I seen the HOLD PAGE as a a add on. I removed it and everything seems fine.

buzz41 said

I got the HOLD PAGE adware installed when I updated Firefox. I spend hours downloading adware removal and running them. I was able to get most of it removed but still had it. Then I look in the Firefox add-ons making sure adblock and pop up blockers were active and that's when I seen the HOLD PAGE as a a add on. I removed it and everything seems fine.

Sounds like you fell victim to a fake update, which seems to be happening more frequently as of late. You need to be sure that Firefox even has an update available before proceeding with any update that is offered to you. You can always used Help > About Firefox -- to check for Firefox updates when you get an "update is needed", just to play it safe.

Should I uninstall Firefox and get a fresh download, will my settings and bookmarks be saved?

This thread was started by a Mac user about "MacGlobalDeals". Assuming you are using Windows, see this - http://malwaretips.com/blogs/ads-by-hold-page-removal/

The thread is about adware installing with firefox.

buzz41 said

The thread is about adware installing with firefox.

Though no form of adware comes with Firefox from mozilla.org

If you get Firefox from a random download site then well that could happen. Cnet aka download.com is a known adware site that uses their own installer that is bundled with otherwise what was clean software.

buzz41 said

The thread is about adware installing with firefox.

I thought you said that it came with a Firefox update? Are you looking for support, or just here to commiserate with others?

Ok installing a update if you want to be EXACT. Your comment about the poster being a mac user was unwarranted as we both had the same type of problem, irrelevant of what type of machine it was being installed on. WE BOTH HAD ADWARE INSTALL WITH FIREFOX.

Just because you see something adware in Firefox, it does not mean it came with the install or update. It came from another source like a outside application install or update. It could also be related to one or more of the Extensions you have installed.

If it was true that Firefox for Windows, Mac OSX or Linux in install or update from mozilla.org came with something questionable it would be a very hot topic here, at mozillaZIne and tech sites around. Anything negative about Mozilla or Firefox gets talked about a lot.

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.

The problem started right after the update, plus it was listed in in the firefox ad ons. I remove it and everything has been fine. I more than likely fell victim to a fake update.