How did the extension "Blocksite" download and install in my Firefox browser without my permission?
While using the Firefox browser I was suddenly taken to the Blocksite website, which had a message saying "thankyou" for installing the Blocksite extension. When I looked at my list of extensions I could see the Blocksite extension had been installed.
I did not install it! How did it get there?
All Replies (2)
That's hard to explain!
One possibility is that it was dropped in a shared folder or added to a registry key that Firefox monitors for externally installed extensions. In those cases, the "Remove" button is usually missing from the Extensions list on the Add-ons page.
Another possibility is that you installed a different extension and it somehow installed this one (which should not be allowed; definitely bad behavior).
A third possibility is that a script in a site you were visiting triggered it, but if you have the standard setting of restricting sites from installing add-ons, then that should have been blocked.
Do you share your computer with anyone?
You can find the install location of a specific extension in the extensions.json file in the profile folder.
You can open the extensions.json file in the profile folder in the Scratchpad and search for this extension.
- click the "Pretty Print" button to format the file for readability.
The descriptor field should list its install location.
You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox