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When i use Firefox i get programs i didn't search for or install being installed. This doesn't happen when i use Chrome. Why?

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  • Last reply by philipp

imdonewithfirefox
imdonewithfirefox
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When i get on to firefox pop up windows appear throughout the session. i click on x or no thanks, whatever I find later that programs were installed that i neither searched for nor approved for installation, some not even associated with the pop up windows that i shut down. I have to manually uninstall the programs - i can tell they were installed as a result of being on firefox because of the install date and new programs appearing. the latest one was a smart shopping program that removed the firefox icon from my quick start bar and put a magnifying glass in its place. i have yet to be able to uninstall it.

I like firefox but this new wave of lost control will lead me to use another browser, if i don't get solutions.

I am using windows 7 on a dell laptop

When i get on to firefox pop up windows appear throughout the session. i click on x or no thanks, whatever I find later that programs were installed that i neither searched for nor approved for installation, some not even associated with the pop up windows that i shut down. I have to manually uninstall the programs - i can tell they were installed as a result of being on firefox because of the install date and new programs appearing. the latest one was a smart shopping program that removed the firefox icon from my quick start bar and put a magnifying glass in its place. i have yet to be able to uninstall it. I like firefox but this new wave of lost control will lead me to use another browser, if i don't get solutions. I am using windows 7 on a dell laptop

All Replies (1)

philipp
philipp
  • Moderator
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hello, this sounds like an issue with adware present on your pc. please perform all these steps:

  1. reset firefox (this will keep your bookmarks and passwords)
  2. afterwards go to the firefox menu ≡ > addons > extensions and in case there are still extensions listed there, disable them.
  3. finally run a full scan of your system with different security tools like the free version of malwarebytes and adwcleaner to make sure that adware isn't present in other places of your system as well.

Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware