Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox 105.0 upgrade and malware

  • 4 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by James

more options

Since Firefox upgraded to 105.0 in the past day, every time I open it, my malware detection software gives me a notice that it has blocked malware. Here is a printout from the software:


Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details- Protection Event Date: 9/21/22 Protection Event Time: 9:36 AM Log File: c45b2d49-39ba-11ed-95d2-7824af3be113.json

-Software Information- Version: 4.5.14.210 Components Version: 1.0.1751 Update Package Version: 1.0.60359 License: Premium

-System Information- OS: Windows 10 (Build 19044.2006) CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: System

-Blocked Website Details- Malicious Website: 1, C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe, Blocked, -1, -1, 0.0.0, ,

-Website Data- Category: Malware Domain: pki-goog.l.google.com IP Address: 142.250.191.131 Port: 80 Type: Outbound File: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe (end)


So it appears that Firefox (and perhaps google) is showing up as a malicious website. Any idea why this is occurring? FWIW, my start page is startpage.com. The alert also appears even when I search using DuckDuckGo, and also when I go back to home page.

Any suggestions?

Since Firefox upgraded to 105.0 in the past day, every time I open it, my malware detection software gives me a notice that it has blocked malware. Here is a printout from the software: ------------------ Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Protection Event Date: 9/21/22 Protection Event Time: 9:36 AM Log File: c45b2d49-39ba-11ed-95d2-7824af3be113.json -Software Information- Version: 4.5.14.210 Components Version: 1.0.1751 Update Package Version: 1.0.60359 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 10 (Build 19044.2006) CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: System -Blocked Website Details- Malicious Website: 1, C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe, Blocked, -1, -1, 0.0.0, , -Website Data- Category: Malware Domain: pki-goog.l.google.com IP Address: 142.250.191.131 Port: 80 Type: Outbound File: C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe (end) ----------------- So it appears that Firefox (and perhaps google) is showing up as a malicious website. Any idea why this is occurring? FWIW, my start page is startpage.com. The alert also appears even when I search using DuckDuckGo, and also when I go back to home page. Any suggestions?
Attached screenshots

All Replies (4)

more options

I'm not sure why there is a request to "pki-goog.l.google.com" at startup. Firefox does make some automatic requests for data that is hosted by Google for SafeBrowsing (phishing and malware protection), but this particular address is unfamiliar to me.

Could you try ruling out add-ons using Firefox's Troubleshoot Mode? In that mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, any userChrome.css/userContent.css files, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is running:

You can restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Help > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)

and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).

If Firefox is not running:

Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.) A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).

Note: Don't use the Refresh without first reviewing this article to understand what will be deleted: Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings.

Any improvement?

more options

Thanks for the fast response. You may close this ticket. The problem turned out to be an issue with the anti-malware software. They have created and applied a fix, and the problem has gone away.

Thanks! Bob

more options

Mark it as resolved please.

more options

Bobaru52 said

Thanks for the fast response. You may close this ticket. The problem turned out to be an issue with the anti-malware software. They have created and applied a fix, and the problem has gone away. Thanks! Bob

Sounds like the occasional False Positives some Antivirus can get after a new Firefox version or update and then they fix it in a definitions update.

btw this is a community support forum and not a ticket system