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Hacking website keeps loading: windowsdefender.site

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  • 3 have this problem
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  • Last reply by Enigma

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A couple of weeks or more ago Firefox updated itself. Since then an unpleasant website keeps loading when my PC wakes up from sleep. The beginning of the address is windowsdefender.site. How do I get rid of it please?

A couple of weeks or more ago Firefox updated itself. Since then an unpleasant website keeps loading when my PC wakes up from sleep. The beginning of the address is windowsdefender.site. How do I get rid of it please?

All Replies (4)

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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 malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.


Let’s do a full clean re-install;

Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link}

Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86)

Mac: Open the "Applications" folder. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac

Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it. See Install Firefox on Linux; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-linux

If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory. http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Do Not remove the profiles folder.

Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode This shows how to Start all Computers in Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

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This 'windowsdefender.site' is malware, which of course you will need to get rid of. Go to the 3-bar menu (or   'Tools') => Addons => Extensions and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious looking extensions. When you find any : remove them.

Also look in : 3-bar menu (or 'Tools') => Options => Advanced => Network tab => Under : 'Offline Web Content and User Data'

Do the same in Windows' Control Panel => Programs.

However :   most malware will be 'hiding' somewhere , so let's run malware scans :

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 malware scanners.
They all work differently   -   what one program doesn't pick up, the other might.

Also see : https://www.removeallvirus.com/remove-windowsdefender-site-virus

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Thank you for the information. Will take some time to work through the options. I will let you know when one of them works.

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Cat987 said

Thank you for the information. Will take some time to work through the options. I will let you know when one of them works.

Take all the time you need - no rush  ! It seems like a lot of work, but it's not all that bad - you'll see,