Firefox installer downloaded from Mozilla will install only Firefox. Nothing else.

It’s very sad, but many software downloaders/ 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.

Note that these programs can also change browser/computer settings.

Thanks for this breakdown, however I turned laptop off yesterday, turned it on today and went to use firefox and that as when i got the message. To my knowledge I have not downloaded any new software etc for months. I assumed that the update was from Firefox and that waqs why I questioned it as it has never done this before

neilbowls said

went to use firefox and got message saying it was installing updates. once done macafee web advisor appeared in the header bar. Was this an update from firefox and if not any idea where it came from?

Hello neilbowls,

Could it be that you just (re)installed or updated Adobe Flash  ? It sometimes comes with McAfee as a "bonus" .....

To remove it, please see these instructions

not done that for a few days is it possible that it came with Firefox updates ?

neilbowls said

not done that for a few days is it possible that it came with Firefox updates ?

No, it did not come with a Firefox update ....

You're not the only one asking this question, please see :

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/9eojaz/firefox_update_came_with_mcafee_webadvisor/

OK read that and must assume it has come from somewhere other than Firefox, but i have no idea where. will mark this as solved and thanks for your help

neilbowls said

OK read that and must assume it has come from somewhere other than Firefox, but i have no idea where. will mark this as solved and thanks for your help

Assuming that you definately don't want it on your system (and who could blame you) - it shouldn't be too hard to remove it. A good place to start would be Windows Control Panel and (to make sure) maybe even in Firefox's menu => Options => Add-ons => Extensions.

Just to show you that this has been going on for quite some time, please see this thread :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1141760

thanks for that, I have already deleted it but cannot help but wonder where it came from. Thanks again

I know this may be a silly question but since firefox update options is different and I cannot find add ons anywhere now

sorry just found add ons has its own link above options in the menu

neilbowls said

sorry just found add ons has its own link above options in the menu

That was totally my fault : I should not have mentioned "Options" (force of habit, but no excuse) - sorry .....

no problem thanks for all your help. I try to mark as solved but it keeps coming back to this page.

neilbowls said

no problem thanks for all your help.

My pleasure - I only wish I could have found out how it got there in the first place, but I'm afraid that will remain a mystery ....

I try to mark as solved but it keeps coming back to this page.

You did mark this thread as solved (Chosen Solution mark on one of my posts)