Firefox is self installing on my pc in a non system language every day.
For the last several days I have woken up to see firefox has installed itself onto my PC in german with no UAC notifications, no history of where it is coming from(from what I could find). Each time I have seen it, I have uninstalled it and searched through the computer to find any related files or folders left behind to remove but it still comes back. I saw an answered question of a similar problem but it did not solve my issue. I have run several scans with my antivirus and anti malware but none of them have come up with any results before or after the removal of the program. There has been no changes to any of my system or security settings I can find, no new downloads or updates since before, during or after this has begun.
I am hoping to get some help in solving this so that it does not appear unwanted again.
Все ответы (8)
Do you have any installations of Firefox that you want to keep or have you completely removed Firefox from your computer (or at least tried to)?
The typical installation folders for Firefox are as follows. Do you have one, both, or neither?
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
By default, Firefox also installs a "Maintenance Service" to assist with updates. This is normally here:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service
To rule out a maintenance service issue, you can turn that off on the Options page. Either:
- Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
- Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
- Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
- Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it
In the search box at the top of the page, type service and Firefox should filter to the "Updates" section. Uncheck the box for "Use a background service to install updates".
jscher2000 said
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Maintenance Service
Before the uninstillation those folders are all there, but after they are cleared out by the uninstallation, along with the localappdata folder.
Thanks. The \AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox folder just has cache and temporary stuff, so removing that shouldn't have any effect on your installations. (The good stuff is under \AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox)
What do you have now, and/or, what do you want to have as between the two main installation folders?
To control the installation language, you can download a full installer from the following page rather than letting the smaller installer program choose for you:
https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release
To remove "staged" add-ons updates that Firefox may look for at the next startup, you can investigate the contents of the following folder:
C:\ProgramData\Mozilla\updates
As with AppData, that's a hidden path. For simpler navigation, you can show hidden files and folders: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14201/windows-show-hidden-files
Изменено jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
I just want it to stop downloading and installing on my pc. I am not starting or even approving of the download or installation. The uninstall has gotten rid of all of the folders mentioned each time, but it still returns unprompted. Before this began I did not have anything firefox on my pc.
That's rather suspicious then. Can you rule out malware? Scanner suggestions: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.
Using a current version of Malwarebytes and Vipre Antivirus, neither has reacted to this event and both scans have come up empty.
Any unusual tasks in the Windows Task Scheduler?
Do you recall installing any new software around the time this problem started (or is anything potentially relevant listed in the Add/Remove programs if you sort by install date)?
Nothing new was installed before this began(for almost a month), and nothing new is visable in the task manager or add/remove progams list.(Even when sorted by date, unless it has already reinstalled in which case it is at the top.)