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thunderbird starts with spam ads

brett.stokes
brett.stokes
more options

Hi all!

I am a long time user of Thunderbird, currently using 52.9.1 on Linux Mint 18 (Application Build ID 20180710085647). Last "Crash Reports" were at the end of April (3 which I don't recall being a problem...).

Recently started seeing, in the message window (classic layout) ads asking me about my age & sex, or ads from realtor.com. So I restarted with all add-ons disabled (safe mode) and to my surprise the ads were still present (several restarts with add-ons disabled).

I updated clamav and ran it and found no problems.

Not really sure what else to do.....?

Thank you

PS: My "Troubleshooting Information": 


 Application Basics

   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 52.9.1
   User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:52.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/52.9.1
   Profile Directory: Open Directory

             (Unknown location)
   Application Build ID: 20180710085647
   Enabled Plugins: about:plugins
   Build Configuration: about:buildconfig
   Memory Use: about:memory
   Profiles: about:profiles

 Mail and News Accounts
   account1:
     INCOMING: account1, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account2:
     INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, SSL, passwordCleartext

   account3:
     INCOMING: account3, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account4:
     INCOMING: account4, , (imap) imap.mail.yahoo.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.yahoo.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account5:
     INCOMING: account5, , (imap) imap-mail.outlook.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp-mail.outlook.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account6:
     INCOMING: account6, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account8:
     INCOMING: account8, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account10:
     INCOMING: account10, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account11:
     INCOMING: account11, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account12:
     INCOMING: account12, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account13:
     INCOMING: account13, , (imap) imap.mail.ru:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.ru:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account15:
     INCOMING: account15, , (im) prpl-gtalk, plain, 0

   account16:
     INCOMING: account16, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account17:
     INCOMING: account17, , (imap) imap.mail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account18:
     INCOMING: account18, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account19:
     INCOMING: account19, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account21:
     INCOMING: account21, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

   account23:
     INCOMING: account23, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true

 Crash Reports
   https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-6f8e281a-7c27-4b94-a751-7bea00180424 (04/24/2018)
   https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-381b791c-eea1-4642-93a7-ecc5a0180424 (04/23/2018)
   https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-3f22c290-64b1-4c94-ad43-dfb900180405 (04/05/2018)

 Extensions
   All Menus Button, 1.1.3.1-signed, false, tb-all-menus-single@codefisher.org
   Enigmail, 2.0.8, false, {847b3a00-7ab1-11d4-8f02-006008948af5}
   Google Tasks Sync, 0.5.3, false, google_tasks_sync@tomasz.lewoc
   ImportExportTools, 3.3.0, false, {3ed8cc52-86fc-4613-9026-c1ef969da4c3}
   Lightning, 5.4, false, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}
   MEGAbird, 2.0, false, thunderbird-filelink@mega.nz
   Messaging Menu and Unity Launcher integration, 1.3.1, false, messagingmenu@mozilla.com
   Provider for Google Calendar, 4.4.2, false, {a62ef8ec-5fdc-40c2-873c-223b8a6925cc}
   Restart, 3.0.2, false, Restart@schuzak.jp
   sabre/dav (CalDAV & CardDAV) provider for TbSync, 0.8.26, false, dav4tbsync@jobisoft.de
   Send Later, 6.3.8, false, sendlater3@kamens.us
   SmartTemplate4, 1.5.1, false, smarttemplate4@thunderbird.extension
   TbSync, 0.7.16, false, tbsync@jobisoft.de
   ThunderBrowse, 3.82, false, ThunderBrowse@thunderbrowse.com
   ThunderCal, 1.1, false, thundercal@michael.grafl
   TorBirdy, 0.2.5, false, castironthunderbirdclub@torproject.org

 Important Modified Preferences

   Name: Value

     accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar: 0
     browser.cache.disk.capacity: 235520
     browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported: 1
     browser.cache.disk.hashstats_reported: 1
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false
     extensions.lastAppVersion: 52.9.1
     font.internaluseonly.changed: true
     font.size.variable.x-western: 17
     mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1
     mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: a63a490e-456a-4946-8707-e8558393043
     mailnews.database.global.views.conversation.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false…
     mailnews.database.global.views.global.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false…
     media.gmp.storage.version.observed: 1
     media.webrtc.debug.log_file: /tmp/WebRTC.log
     network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true
     network.predictor.cleaned-up: true
     places.database.lastMaintenance: 1538524961
     places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 42187
     plugin.importedState: true
     privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true

 Graphics

     GPU #1
     Description: NVIDIA Corporation -- GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2
     Vendor ID: NVIDIA Corporation
     Device ID: GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2
     Driver Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.130

     Features
     WebGL Renderer: false

     AzureCanvasBackend: skia
     AzureCanvasAccelerated: 0
     AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: none
     AzureContentBackend: skia
     CairoUseXRender: 0

 JavaScript

 Incremental GC: 1

 Accessibility

   Activated: 0
   Prevent Accessibility: 0

 Library Versions

     Expected minimum version
     Version in use

     NSPR
     4.13.1
     4.13.1

     NSS
     3.28.6
     3.28.6

     NSS Util
     3.28.6
     3.28.6

     NSS SSL
     3.28.6
     3.28.6

     NSS S/MIME
     3.28.6
     3.28.6
Hi all! I am a long time user of Thunderbird, currently using 52.9.1 on Linux Mint 18 (Application Build ID 20180710085647). Last "Crash Reports" were at the end of April (3 which I don't recall being a problem...). Recently started seeing, in the message window (classic layout) ads asking me about my age & sex, or ads from realtor.com. So I restarted with all add-ons disabled (safe mode) and to my surprise the ads were still present (several restarts with add-ons disabled). I updated clamav and ran it and found no problems. Not really sure what else to do.....? Thank you PS: My "Troubleshooting Information": Application Basics Name: Thunderbird Version: 52.9.1 User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:52.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/52.9.1 Profile Directory: Open Directory (Unknown location) Application Build ID: 20180710085647 Enabled Plugins: about:plugins Build Configuration: about:buildconfig Memory Use: about:memory Profiles: about:profiles Mail and News Accounts account1: INCOMING: account1, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account2: INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, SSL, passwordCleartext account3: INCOMING: account3, , (imap) imap.gmail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.gmail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account4: INCOMING: account4, , (imap) imap.mail.yahoo.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.yahoo.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account5: INCOMING: account5, , (imap) imap-mail.outlook.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp-mail.outlook.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account6: INCOMING: account6, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account8: INCOMING: account8, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account10: INCOMING: account10, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account11: INCOMING: account11, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account12: INCOMING: account12, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account13: INCOMING: account13, , (imap) imap.mail.ru:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.ru:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account15: INCOMING: account15, , (im) prpl-gtalk, plain, 0 account16: INCOMING: account16, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account17: INCOMING: account17, , (imap) imap.mail.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.mail.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account18: INCOMING: account18, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account19: INCOMING: account19, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account21: INCOMING: account21, , (imap) imap.gmx.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , mail.gmx.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true account23: INCOMING: account23, , (imap) imap.yandex.com:993, SSL, passwordCleartext OUTGOING: , smtp.yandex.com:465, SSL, passwordCleartext, true Crash Reports https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-6f8e281a-7c27-4b94-a751-7bea00180424 (04/24/2018) https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-381b791c-eea1-4642-93a7-ecc5a0180424 (04/23/2018) https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-3f22c290-64b1-4c94-ad43-dfb900180405 (04/05/2018) Extensions All Menus Button, 1.1.3.1-signed, false, tb-all-menus-single@codefisher.org Enigmail, 2.0.8, false, {847b3a00-7ab1-11d4-8f02-006008948af5} Google Tasks Sync, 0.5.3, false, google_tasks_sync@tomasz.lewoc ImportExportTools, 3.3.0, false, {3ed8cc52-86fc-4613-9026-c1ef969da4c3} Lightning, 5.4, false, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103} MEGAbird, 2.0, false, thunderbird-filelink@mega.nz Messaging Menu and Unity Launcher integration, 1.3.1, false, messagingmenu@mozilla.com Provider for Google Calendar, 4.4.2, false, {a62ef8ec-5fdc-40c2-873c-223b8a6925cc} Restart, 3.0.2, false, Restart@schuzak.jp sabre/dav (CalDAV & CardDAV) provider for TbSync, 0.8.26, false, dav4tbsync@jobisoft.de Send Later, 6.3.8, false, sendlater3@kamens.us SmartTemplate4, 1.5.1, false, smarttemplate4@thunderbird.extension TbSync, 0.7.16, false, tbsync@jobisoft.de ThunderBrowse, 3.82, false, ThunderBrowse@thunderbrowse.com ThunderCal, 1.1, false, thundercal@michael.grafl TorBirdy, 0.2.5, false, castironthunderbirdclub@torproject.org Important Modified Preferences Name: Value accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar: 0 browser.cache.disk.capacity: 235520 browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported: 1 browser.cache.disk.hashstats_reported: 1 browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false extensions.lastAppVersion: 52.9.1 font.internaluseonly.changed: true font.size.variable.x-western: 17 mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1 mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: a63a490e-456a-4946-8707-e8558393043 mailnews.database.global.views.conversation.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false… mailnews.database.global.views.global.columns: {"threadCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"3"},"flaggedCol":{"visible":true,"ordinal":"5"},"attachmentCol":{"visible":false… media.gmp.storage.version.observed: 1 media.webrtc.debug.log_file: /tmp/WebRTC.log network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true network.predictor.cleaned-up: true places.database.lastMaintenance: 1538524961 places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 42187 plugin.importedState: true privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true Graphics GPU #1 Description: NVIDIA Corporation -- GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2 Vendor ID: NVIDIA Corporation Device ID: GeForce GT 750M/PCIe/SSE2 Driver Version: 4.5.0 NVIDIA 384.130 Features WebGL Renderer: false AzureCanvasBackend: skia AzureCanvasAccelerated: 0 AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: none AzureContentBackend: skia CairoUseXRender: 0 JavaScript Incremental GC: 1 Accessibility Activated: 0 Prevent Accessibility: 0 Library Versions Expected minimum version Version in use NSPR 4.13.1 4.13.1 NSS 3.28.6 3.28.6 NSS Util 3.28.6 3.28.6 NSS SSL 3.28.6 3.28.6 NSS S/MIME 3.28.6 3.28.6

Chosen solution

I guess that must have been it.... Maybe the add-on thunderbrowse messed with the homepage url, and the ad.... I don't know. Guess I don't really need the add-on anyway.

Thank you, Brett

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (4)

user01229325
user01229325
more options

You might check what is listed for the url in the Start page field.

In Windows it is under Options-General Start Page.

For Linux in may be Edit- Preferences instead of Options.

This page lists the menu differences between operating systems so refer to that. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Menu_differences_in_Windows%2C_Linux%2C_and_Mac

brett.stokes
brett.stokes Question owner
more options

Hhhmmmm... thank you. I checked, and the start page url is:

http://start.thunderbrowse.com/

and if I click on the ad the only link I can find is a null:

javascript:void(0);

Just checked:

https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/q?domain=start.thunderbrowse.com

and it tells me it is "up" and it is just me (apparently).

Modified by brett.stokes

user01229325
user01229325
more options

This is the default Thunderbird start url for my locale and operating system. https://live.mozillamessaging.com/thunderbird/start?locale=en-US&version=52.9.1&os=WINNT&buildid=20180709124824

Not sure what it is for Linux. This page touches on the url some. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Start_Page_for_mail

brett.stokes
brett.stokes Question owner
more options

Chosen Solution

I guess that must have been it.... Maybe the add-on thunderbrowse messed with the homepage url, and the ad.... I don't know. Guess I don't really need the add-on anyway.

Thank you, Brett