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Firefox keeps downloading strange random .htm files

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Hello, Last few days Firefox keeps automatically downloading strange files like mLZrOMIV.htm icFSREgF.htm

They are 0 bytes, empty when I open in notepad and if I right click in download section and select copy download link I just get about:blank

I checked PC for viruses using Eset Online tool and Windows defender. No problems.

Has anyone run into something like this?

Hello, Last few days Firefox keeps automatically downloading strange files like mLZrOMIV.htm icFSREgF.htm They are 0 bytes, empty when I open in notepad and if I right click in download section and select copy download link I just get about:blank I checked PC for viruses using Eset Online tool and Windows defender. No problems. Has anyone run into something like this?
Attached screenshots

All Replies (6)

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You may have ad/mal-ware. Further information can be found in this article; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed free to use malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

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Thanks. I ran the ones that don't need install + MS Defender + Esset Online Virus scanner none of them picked anything up.

Modified by keeperoftheelderscrolls

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Press <Control> J to open the Download Manager. Does it show where the files came from?

Is this with all websites/pages, some, a few?

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Hey @FredMcD It says moz-safe-about resource If I right click and select copy download link I just get "about:blank" as a link.

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Have you been downloading file or opening files in Firefox or in an external application as that might have caused Firefox to download the file with the random name ?


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@cor-el I don't think so, this happens even if I browse FF on freshly restarted windows. (I don't have any app in startup) I don't work with webdesign apps or anything that could take over .htm file format etc. Also in Download tab the file source seems to be moz-safe-about resource

I ended up uninstalling Firefox, deleting all folders in AppData etc. and doing a clean install. (Firefox sync downloaded all my addons. So essentially it should be same setup as before)

So far I'm not getting this issue. I'll try disabling addons to see if this still happens. Although it happens at random times few times a day so hard to debug.