Firefox instant crash, believed to be caused by hijackware, read more..
Attempting to open firefox would result in an instant crash with the mozilla crash reporter opening right after I click to *open* firefox which is not new as reported here (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/960905). I uninstall firefox, and then I try to reinstall firefox but cannot. My PC is unable to open any google website, and any mozilla site. Using iexplorer I can search on bing, find firefox but cannot open the webpage with every other page working fine. Same results on opera browser which was not blocked. Cannot open gmail or any google related site. Finding a firefox install from an alternate site (http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/11220080/Firefox_33.0) like on TPB would result in a perfect download although I would be unable to install my newly acquired firefox.
I ran malwarebytes full scan, adwcleaner, trendmicro full scan, MBAR and micrsoft security essentials, nothing came up. Settled with combofix which found and got rid of whatever was doing this, believed to hijackware from this thread (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/ie8-windows_other/internet-explorer-wont-open-googlecom-or-any/df88416c-b9fc-40c7-ac11-a672d49fb9ba) except this applied to mozilla as well for an unknown reason. I'll post the combofix log if anyone requests.
Modified by ellis
All Replies (5)
Any help is appreciated :)
Modified by ellis
List of malware removers:
- SuperAntispyware - http://www.superantispyware.com/
- AdwCleaner - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
- Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - https://www.malwarebytes.org/
- Spybot Search & Destroy - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
- Kasperky Free Security Scan - http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
- Windows Defender - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender
If these don't find it or can't clear it, post in one of these forums for specialized malware removal help:
Do you still have the problem? I thought the mal-ware was removed from your first post.
Start your Computer in safe mode. Then start Firefox. Try Safe web sites.
Starting The Computer In Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia
If the log is not too long, go ahead and post it. Or, just post the part that tells you what the problem was and what it did to fix it.
In the address bar, type about:crashes. Note: If any reports do not have BP in front of the numbers, click it and select Submit.
Using your mouse, mark the most resent 7 - 10 crash reports, and copy them. Now go to the reply box below and paste them in.
To finitarry: I ran 3 out of 5 of your suggested anti-malware software :) the malware has been removed from my PC succesfully, but it was thanks to combofix as any other software could not recognise the threat.
To FredMcD: Yes the malware is off and firefox is up and running now. Although I felt like informing others in case they encounter the same problems as I had. I copied the relevant crashes, any earlier ones occured several weeks prior to me having the issue.
Report IDs Date Submitted
bp-ff45c634-4ed6-494c-bfef-0da2b2141107 07/11/2014 18:34 bp-eb264768-3bae-4313-93e9-b68242141107 07/11/2014 18:33 bp-51469206-94f7-4085-a717-672282141107 07/11/2014 18:33 bp-5874e11e-d0c4-4331-90e0-67cf82141107 07/11/2014 18:33
The crash reason listed is EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION_WRITE, what does that mean exactly?
For the combofix log go here.
Modified by ellis