Urgent Firefox update window (not the orange web page) is coming up more often and freezing my computer. Need fix or I will have to stop using Firefox.
Yes, I admit that I fell for the big orange screen when it first appeared several months ago. It looked so real.
I have read through hundreds of forum posts, and have tried several "solutions," none of which worked. No viruses have been detected. "Urgent Update" windows only pop up when Firefox is running. I tried uninstalling Firefox and reinstalling. Thought it was OK, but pretty soon the popups started appearing again, more and more frequently.
I start Task Manager and look for anything unusual. I compare applications and processes when the popup is there and not there. I finally gave up trying to find a solution and just keep closing the popups.
But the past few days things seem to have gotten much worse. The popups appear more frequently, now even multiples at the same time, which did not use to happen. I can close a couple, but the rest stay there and the computer is frozen. Even Task Manager cannot terminate them, and I can't do anything.
Ctrl-Alt-Del produces a blue screen with a serious-looking error... something like a fault at location 0000......4F, I think.
Power off produces Abnormal shutdown blue screen, or sometimes a DOS message saying to insert boot media, as if it doesn't recognize my hard drive. Don't know if this is related or is a separate problem with my computer... which is fairly new and powerful, running Windows Home Premium 7 because I hate Windows 8/10 and have been avoiding them. Same with IE 11, which bogs down my computer horribly.
After a few tries, I have been able to start Windows normally. All is fine until I start Firefox. After a while, I will get the popup. But now with the new problems of multiple popups and freezing, this has become more than an annoyance. I am concerned that the tentacles of this virus or whatever it is are growing.
Isn't anyone else having this problem? Can't Firefox come up with a solution? Seriously, as much as I like Firefox, I am going to have to uninstall it and use a different browser. Any recommendations? I don't like IE and wasn't impressed with Chrome.
Any GOOD advice would be most appreciated.
All Replies (4)
Sorry you are having problems, although maybe you are blaming Firefox for general and internet problems.
You may well have some form of malware if you have fallen for one of these fake sites. Please try running ALL the tools listed in this article
- Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware
- AND also specifically: Symantec| Trojan.Kotver Removal Tool https://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2015-092321-2230-99
Some of these fake updates only target specific browsers, Firefox in this case, but we are aware that Google has reported some that target their Google Chrome.
As far as i am aware most of these fake update popups originate from using Sites on the Internet that have malicious adverts on them. I have seen reports that sometimes well known websites are affected.
There is good possibility that if you download and use the uBlockOrigin add-on it will reduce the frequency or even stop these fake sites entirely.
Presumably your Windows system has a built in firewall; and AntiVirus software is normally provided by Microsoft free of charge. Are you using these ?
- https://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows7/products/features/windows-firewall
- Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/security-essentials-download
... Power off produces Abnormal shutdown blue screen, or sometimes a DOS message saying to insert boot media, as if it doesn't recognize my hard drive. ...
That should not happen but is probably not anything to do with Firefox.
... Ctrl-Alt-Del produces a blue screen with a serious-looking error... something like a fault at location 0000......4F, I think. ....
When logged on to recent versions of Windows Ctrl+Alt+Del will invoke a security screen or menu giving options to open the Task Manager or log off etc. If you have problems with that again it is a Windows issue not a Firefox problem.
I am not aware of reports of Fake Update popups or Web Pages that can not be easily closed. The ones I have been made aware of recently all close easily. Of course we can not see what you are seeing, and if the fake updates are similar to ones we are aware of they are often specially crafted to be only seen by the person targeted.
Advice & Questions
- Please let attach a screen shot of the popups or fake update pages you get and see. it may help us in identifying what your problem is.
- Please report what happens when you try all the tools listed higher up in this post
- Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware
- https://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2015-092321-2230-99
- & say whether you are using the Windows Firewall & MS Security Essentials.
- Do you have Firefox's anti phishing feature enabled ? ( How does built-in Phishing and Malware Protection work? If not then what other security software is in use ?
- Did you install uBlockOrigin ? & did that help
- Please take up your Windows related issues with a suitable Windows forum. For instance maybe sevenforums.com
- If you wish post back in this thread to say where you have asked those questions with a link to your questions
Also:
(1) Have you ruled out a bad add-on? You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Extensions. Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. All extensions are optional. If in doubt, disable.
Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
Any improvement?
(2) Have you tried the Windows System File Checker? https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833 (look below the Windows 8 screen shot to find the first step for Windows 7)
Thanks so much for your prompt response and the detailed information. I apologize for sounding like I was blaming Firefox. Truly, I have just been very frustrated by my own inability to resolve the problem or find the right answer. Firefox is wonderful, and I have been using it for many years, and always encourage other people to use it, especially after spending a lot of time helping them get untangled from IE 11. And I do understand that it is nearly impossible to trace the source of the orange screen, but hoped that there might be a simple fix for the popup.
So far, I have successfully run sfc, which reported finding corrupt files and successfully repaired them. If that does the trick, I will be a very happy camper! I have to take a break from the computer now (my eyes are very sensitive to light, and the white screens with gray font are hard to read) but will leave Firefox running and check later to see if the popup appears.
To answer one of your questions, I do use Security Essentials.
Thanks again ever so much. More later...
John99 said
Some of these fake updates only target specific browsers, Firefox in this case, but we are aware that Google has reported some that target their Google Chrome.
Yep the Google Chrome users on Windows are still getting a similar fake urgent Chrome update page also.
This old thread is active with recent comments. https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/chrome/HcXgFFaO9WU