Why does Mozilla allow virus manufacturers to compromise their browser?

I've been using Firefox for about a decade now, and I've always preferred it to the built in IE software. However, for the last year (or more) I have suffered more and more issues with your browser than ever before (being redirected from trusted pages to BS like www.updateselfnet.com, virus installers launching any user input, Flash player failures 3/4 times I try to watch a video).
It seems to me that mozilla is okay with providing a compromised browser, and I can only assume that being paid by internet companies to help push their malware or advertising software is more important than providing a "safe browsing experience".
I'm looking for a browser that works more effectively with actual anti-virus software, and delivers on the user experience that is promised. Maybe an actual pop-up blocker built in would be fantastic (rather than saying it blocks pop-ups, while allowing 75% of them to ruin my day).
Looking forward to a response. I'm hoping for more than "We promise we don't allow 3rd party organizations to piggyback their unwanted software on our browser, we deny any culpability or responsibility for anything happening to you using our software, thanks for the support".
-C

hello CDinsectionP, your assumption that mozilla would somehow profit financially from crapware hijacking the browser is just wrong.
once you have malware running locally on your machine it's pretty much game over, such software can alter the behaviour of any program and your operating system. a browser is not build to defend against that - it should contain safeguards against vulnerabilities that can be exploited remotely though, so you can't be infected by just browsing a malicious website.
what you should do if your firefox is affected by adware/malware are the following steps:
# [[Reset Firefox – easily fix most problems|reset firefox]] (this will keep your bookmarks and passwords)
# afterwards go to the firefox menu ≡ > addons > extensions and in case there are still extensions listed there, disable them.
# run a full scan of your system with different security tools like the [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free free version of malwarebytes] and [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ adwcleaner] that are specialised in browser hijackers and to make sure that adware isn't present in other places of your system as well.
[[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]]

Similar Messages

  • Why does Labview allow a cursor in a indicator?

    Hello,
        Why does Labview allow the user to position the cursor with the mouse inside a numeric indicator? Users think that just because they can put a cursor they should be able to type something and enter data. Is there a way to disable/stop the user from putting the cursor in a numeric indicator?
    Regards,
    Kaspar
    Solved!
    Go to Solution.

    Disabling the indicator satisfies your requirements, but this is funnier.  It would be even better if I calculated the position of the indicator and the "entry point" and just kept the mouse from entering, but I have a project to finish... 
    Message Edited by jcarmody on 03-27-2009 11:58 AM
    Jim
    You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are. ~ Alice
    Attachments:
    move.png ‏4 KB
    test.vi ‏9 KB

  • Why does Mozilla send two e-mail every time I send an e-mail?

    Every time I send an e-mail, I see two of the same e-mail in my sent box. Why?
    Also why does Mozilla delete my e-mails off the main server automatically? I like to do it manually.

    Is it really sending it twice or are you just seeing it two times in the sent folder? Some providers like gmail place a copy in your sent folder already so you need to go into Thunderbird settings and tell it not to do it again. Then you will only see if it once in the folder.

  • Why does LabVIEW allow me to have 2 controls with same name

    Here's a general LabVIEW question:
    Why does LabVIEW allow me to have 2 controls with the same name in the same VI?  It seems like this only increases the chances of confusion.  Especially when someone is just looking at a block diagram (or documentation of a block diagram).
    No other programming language that I know of allows this.  I realize that uniqueness of name is not as critical in LabVIEW as it is in any text based language.  For example, in a text based language, if I had 2 variables called abc and I wrote a statement
    abc = 12;
    the compiler would not know which abc was being referred to.  In LabVIEW, if we had 2 controls called abc, the equivalent of doing an abc=12 is writing to a local variable (which is always linked to one of the controls) and there is no ambiguity.  Still, someone looking at the code cannot figure out which abc is linked to unless he does a right click>>Find>>terminal (or a double click).
    Even though I have never and never will name 2 controls the same, I think it would be a nice constraint to see enforced by LabVIEW.
    Any input from NI engineers on this?
    Message Edited by S G on 12-18-2007 03:38 PM
    S G
    Certified LabVIEW Architect, Certified TestStand Developer, Certified Professional Instructor
    Attachments:
    Trial1.JPG ‏21 KB

    I know when you copy and paste a control or indicator, LabVIEW automatically increments the label. But since you can hide the label, and show or hide the caption, there must be another mechanism that LabVIEW uses to keep track of all the controls. I thought I remember back in the "old days" (ver 6 or 6i) LabVIEW would give you an error if you tried to make two controls with the same name. Perhaps that was LabWindows/CVI.
    I don't know where the index is actually stored, but if you look at a property node linked to the Pane, you will see an array of references to the controls and indicators. Since the references are stored in an array, I assume that any local variables are tied to the index of that array. Since the labels themselves are properties of the control, I guess there's no reason to limit what that label is. They all have a unique index number.
    Interestingly, this array of references grows from the beginning. That is, any new control or indicator is put at index 0, not the end of the array.
    B-)
    Message Edited by LabViewGuruWannabe on 12-18-2007 08:45 PM
    Attachments:
    Labels.png ‏12 KB

  • Why does Mozilla Firefox use Google as their web search if Google stores everything we search?

    Why does Mozilla Firefox use Google as their search engine if Google stores everything you search and track what you do online? I've got nothing against Firefox, I'm just wondering why.

    I just figured they wouldn't have since they don't track what people do. I figured they were against that.

  • Why does apple allow apps in the App Store hijack your Internet when certain websites? Why doesn't apple remove their products from the App Store?.

    Why does apple allow apps in the App Store hijack your Internet when certain websites? Why doesn't apple remove their products from the App Store?.

    Apple saw it as their responsibility since the redirection took me to the App Store. They assisted me in stopping the redirection which is occurring on many peoples iPhones. It's a have java script problem that adking is using to get you to buy their games. The websites work normal and then all of the sudden the website is taken over by adking.com.  You can no longer use the website as it immediately takes you to the App Store without ever showing a popup to cancel the redirection. They were very helpful fixing the problem should others experiencing this specifically with adking.com.
    No need to get defensive. I'm not the only one experiencing the problem Apple said.

  • Why does mozilla wants to make changes to my laptop settings while I try to download firefox 3.6 ?

    Why does mozilla wants to make changes to my laptop settings while I try to download firefox

    If you install a program then elevated (Administrator) permissions are needed and Windows will ask you to confirm.
    If it happens all the time if you start a program then you need to check the Compatibility tab in the Properties of the shortcut via the right-click context menu and make sure that Privilege Level: "Run this program as Administrator" is not selected.

  • Why does window media player auto starts in firefox browser

    why does window media play auto starts in firefox browser
    == This happened ==
    Every time Firefox opened
    == I put a code in for a radio station on the net i listen to on my site

    Your More system details list show the WMP plugin (np-mswmp), so that should be working.
    See:
    * http://kb.mozillazine.org/Testing_plugins
    * http://www.vdat.com/techsupport/windowstest.asp

  • Why does firefox 4 hang in some websites, during browsing on that site ? This never happened with previous editions.

    why does firefox 4 hang in some websites, during browsing on that site ? This never happened with previous editions. edit
    Details

    Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
    * Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
    See:
    * [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]
    Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.<br />
    See [[Basic Troubleshooting#Make_a_new_profile|Basic Troubleshooting&#58; Make a new profile]]<br />
    There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins"<br />
    If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile (be careful not to copy corrupted files)
    See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

  • Why does Java allow this?

    Hello Folks
    Today I saw the following code in an exam about Java programming:
    interface I {
         public final static double var = 32.0;
    class A implements I {
         double var = 15;
    }How can Java allow such a construct? I overload a variable that is public, static and final and replace it with an instance variable that is protected. In my opinion the compiler should reject that, I mean it does it when I try the same with a method. Why is it allowed with variables?
    Regards
    Der Hinterwaeldler

    The declaration of the variable var in class A does not override the declaration in the interface I, it only hides it.
    Methods are different because methods can be overridden. Static and final methods are an exception, they can't be overridden so trying to do it is a compile time error.
    See also http://java.sun.com/developer/TechTips/2000/tt1010.html#tip2

  • Why does Mozilla open when I open a Tiff file in Photoshop?

    Ever since I started using Photoshop CS5 in 64-bit, I noticed that every time I double click to open a .TIFF file in Bridge, Firefox opens and puts the image file name in the address bar. Photoshop continues to open also, but why is Firefox opening? I have already changed in the Tools>Options>Applications so that image/tiff files open in PS CS5. So why does Firefox open?

    What's the file association set to for the TIFF extension in the Windows Control Panel > Folder Options > File Types ?

  • Why is Mozilla allowing Webtrends to run a tracking script on https pages?

    Ghostery now shows me that Webtrends is running a tracking script on this page, while the address bar shows that this is a "secure" page. Doesn't a tracking script make the "s" redundant?

    The Webtrends scripts run on all Mozilla pages that I've looked at while using Ghostery, including the sign-up, log-in, and donation pages. Java scripts can be made to collect any information from a web page; how does Mozilla ensure that sensitive user information isn't being collected by Webtrends? Webtrends apparently prevents Ghostery from displaying the source code, which suggests that there may be something in the code that Webtrends doesn't want users to know about.
    I've saved a page and the scripts look to me as though they may be intended to collect names and user id's, but my knowledge of Java is quite limited. Does anyone at Mozilla check those scripts to ensure that the scripts are collecting only the information used by Mozilla?

  • Why does mozilla firefox randomly launch by its self in windows 7

    When the PC is idle Mozilla Firefox suddenly opens with me clicking on anything. The operating system is Windows 7

    Are web pages opened when this happens?
    Does this also happen when you set another browser as the default browser or is the other browser that is set as default browser opened instead?
    Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
    Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
    All these programs have free versions.
    Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.
    *Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:<br>http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
    *AdwCleaner:<br>http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/<br>http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
    *SuperAntispyware:<br>http://www.superantispyware.com/
    *Microsoft Safety Scanner:<br>http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
    *Windows Defender:<br>http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-defender
    *Spybot Search & Destroy:<br>http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
    *Kasperky Free Security Scan:<br>http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan
    You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.
    *Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:<br>http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446
    See also:
    *"Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

  • Why is Apple allowing Omniture to track on their sites?

    I talked to Apine support about why they didn't recommend blocking Omniture on the Apple website. They said blocking it would effect functionality. So why is Aplle allowing this company to track us?
    BTW I went ahead an blocked Amniture and haven't noticed any loss of function yet.

    I think you may misunderstand what Omniture does. The Omniture code thats on the Apple site is for a tool called SiteCatalyst, which its owned by Adobe. (Adobe bought Omniture and is in the process of eliminating the Omniture brand name)
    Adobe SiteCatalyst (Omniture) is a tool that Apple has decided to include on their site for the sole purpose of helping them better understand their visitors experience. Thats it. Apple will be the only who will have access to or do anything with that data. Its all totally anonymous information, and will never given to or sold to anyone by Adobe. All of the collected data is typically consumed in aggregate. Looking at what a single person did on the site is not really usefull information for the owner of the site. But when looking at what all the visitors did for a specific day/week/month, Apple will begin to see trends in visitor behavior. Analyzing these trends will help them make decisions on changes that should be made to the site for the purpose of improving the visitors experience.

  • Why does Firefox keep opening 3 random tabs while browsing different websites?

    Just to clarify: They are never spam websites. They may be 3 of the same website, but it is always random. I only browse safe websites. This usually happens while Stumbling (StumbleUpon).
    For example:
    StumbleUpon brought me to this website:
    [[http://www.thecreatorsproject.com/blog/5000-fiber-optic-flowers-invade-museum-grounds-in-ifield-of-lighti]]
    Then it also opened three of this webpage:
    [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Earth_Battalion]]
    They have nothing to do with each other. Why does this keep happening? I searched with Anti-Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware and Microsoft Security Essentials. No viruses.
    I have Windows Vista Home Basics 32-bit. And is running Firefox 8.0. (This problem existed in 7.0 and previous as well.

    I've already done this, and it says nothing is wrong with my system.

Maybe you are looking for

  • Firefox crashes because it use the whole memory

    I'm using a Composite Application Framework, that contains portlet that refresh its data every 10 seconds. That cause Firefox to "eat" memory. It reserve the whole memory and after that it crash. I think that this happens because of JavaScript cachin

  • Change of Icon name

    How can change icon name for project in iphone, I tried changing bundle name in xcode that change reflects in simulator but not in iphone,if any body has a idea <Post Relocated by Moderator>

  • Robohelp 8 and IPad Safari

    I have created a webhelp using Robohelp 8, however, in the IPad Safari browser, the *Cross Icon* on top of the TOC panel, is not being displayed clearly, as in, a part of the icon is hidden. How can this issue be resolved? Help!

  • Cannot open map file / CXXFLAGS

    I've been trying to compile a program, and all seems to work well until i get the following error after a while. +/opt/sun/sunstudioceres/prod/lib/ld: cannot open map file -R/opt/sun/sunstudioceres/lib/rw7:/opt/sun/sunstudioceres/lib:/opt/sun/sunstud

  • [rc.d script] psyBNC

    I made an rc.d-script for psyBNC. Sorry, didn't do a PKGBUILD, do it yourself! You have to edit PSYLOC (dir where psybnc is installed) and PSYUSER (the user you run psybnc as, try to run psybnc as this user manually first to be sure it'll work). #!/b