Malware and Firefox automatic update. Safe?

I have the same malware problems as everyone else. It seems that Firefox is especially prone. The popup windows that ask to update Firefox are annoying but they can be handled. I am worried about the automatic update. Is it safe? If Mozilla can communicate with my computer automatically why can't a malware installer? As of late I am having problems with options changing. Why would an update change my options settings? They get changed. I am just worried about the level of security afforded by Mozilla. Maybe it's time to move on!!

hello, automatic updates happen over an encrypted secure connection with a update server at mozilla - downloaded pieces of update are checked for integrity and won't be installed otherwise. this is no infection vector for malware...
also updates won't change your settings in most cases. you didn't describe in particular what kind of setting changed but if its the homepage or your search provider this is usually a sign of adware/malware present on a system:
#please go to the firefox ''menu ≡ > addons > extensions'' & remove any suspicious entries (toolbars, things that you have not installed intentionally, don't know what purpose they serve, etc).
#also go to the windows control panel / programs and remove all toolbars or potentially unwanted software from there.
#finally, run a full scan of your system with different security tools like the [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free free version of malwarebytes] & [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ adwcleaner], which are specialised in adware and browser hijackers.
[[Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page]]
[[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]]

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I restarted my Firefox this morning and it automatically updated to version 9.0.1. Since that update, I am unable to open Firefox - it is giving no response.

I restarted my Firefox this morning and it automatically updated to version 9.0.1. Since that update, I am unable to open Firefox. When I try to open it (and this is on a Mac), it does not respond and freezes with a white screen, the tab says "connecting...," and there are no bookmarks or anything showing on the browser. It does not respond at all - I cannot even click into the navigation to change any of the preferences. Please, someone help! Not having Firefox is killing me!

A possible cause is security software (firewall) that blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Server+not+found
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Firewalls

Firefox automatically updated to a version that will not run on my version of OSX... can I reinstall my old version and keep my saved bookmarks, etc?

I am running OSX 10.4.11 on my iMac; Firefox automatically updated to version 12, and now it will not run on my computer.
Is there a way to deinstall the new version while keeping my saved bookmarks, etc?
If not, how do I deinstall 12 and reinstall the older version of Firefox that worked with my operating system?
Thanks.

[[Firefox no longer works with Mac OS X 10.4 or PowerPC processors]].
You can install Firefox 3.6 from [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all-older.html http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all-older.html]. Please keep in mind that not only is Firefox not receiving any updates (thus rendering it insecure), neither is Mac 10.4 or any of the plugins used on it. Running such an old Operating System is dangerous to your information's security on the internet. something for you to keep in mind.

June 10 2012 Firefox automatically updated itself (no choice) on my Intel Mac/Tiger 10.4.11. Can no longer use Firefox, so how do I get back the old one?

June 10 2012 Firefox automatically updated itself (no choice) on my Intel Mac/Tiger 10.4.11. I can no longer use Firefox. I have an old version of Firefox on my Mac G4, but am scared to use that machine in case that Firefox also automatically updates itself. How can I transfer a copy of that older version of Firefox (from the G4) to the Intel Mac, and how do I stop both versions from then automatically updating? How do I then remove the updated version of Firefox from the Intel Mac, which I cannot use? Thank you for your help.

esqki FF update to 13 and now you can't open ? sorry about that.
1. Download (with your safari) a copy of the latest (3.6.28) from your 10.4.11 mac
from
ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/3.6.28/mac/
2. '''Trash''' the current Firefox application to do a clean install.
3. Install the version that you have downloaded (3.6.28).
Do not select to remove your personal data, your profile data is stored elsewhere in the [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox Firefox Profile Folder], so you won't lose your bookmarks or other personal data.
see also: [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-firefox-mac?redirectlocale=en-US&redirectslug=Installing+Firefox+on+Mac Installing Firefox on Mac]
after install the 3.6.28 version go to: Options > Advanced > Update tab > Firefox updates, check mark '''Never check for updates (not recommended: security risk)''', click Ok to save it, exit firefox and restart it.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/settings-network-updates-and-encryption#w_update-tab
thank you

HT5246 My computer won't let me select "automatically update safe downloads list" What am I doing wrong?

My computer won't let me select "automatically update safe downloads list" What am I doing wrong?

You are correct that is what I'm talking about. I did install it.
Now I can't get the check box in the preferences security panel under the tab "general" that allows "automatically update safe downloads list" to stay checked. Each time I unlock and check the box and then relock and close, the check mark disapears. This is the problem.

I connected my iphone 4 to itunes and it automatically updated, now I am connected to icloud and all my pics are gone

I connected my iphone 4 to itunes and it automatically updated, now I am connected to icloud and all my pics are gone. Also, I have all my sons contacts on my phohe. How do I get my content back to the prior state?

Hey kaylactm,
Thanks for the question. I understand how frustrating this may be. To resolve your issue, it may be necessary to restore your device in recovery-mode:
If you can't update or restore your iOS device
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808
Thanks,
Matt M.

HT3662 On my OS X v10.7.5 there is no "Automatically update safe downloads lists"

On my OS X v10.7.5 there is no "Automatically update safe downloads lists" in the advanced security settings. There is however "Automatically install important security updates". I've ran every available update for my MAC, but the security features have not changed. How can I get this to update?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

Since latest Firefox automatic update, any downloaded jpg is saved as a firefox file and I cannot save as a jpg. Why?? Help please!!

Since the latest FF automatic update - any jpg I send to myself I cannot save as a jpg. This is so frustrating. I use my camera phone to take shots of our library activities and then to make newsletters, website updates etc. Just started this week. Today is the first day I noticed this problem.
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== Today 7/28/10

You can rename the files and give them a .jpg file extension.
You can force that while saving the file if you add quotes around the name: "image.jpg"
Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory > Open Containing folder
See also [[Using the Troubleshooting Information page]]
See also "Reset Download Actions": http://kb.mozillazine.org/File_types_and_download_actions

Why did Firefox automatically update to 9.01 today, disabling a needed extension and my main theme?

I (and many others) have complained constantly about FF's constant updates that consistently break extensions, etc.
Therefore, I turned off automatic updates in the OPTIONS folder. I have FF set not to even check for FF updates.
Today, I reboot the computer, my theme is gone, disabled for no good reason. An extension I use (FoxClocks) is gone and listed as incompatible with the new version, '''9.1'''
Hmmm. I thought that applied in mid-January. According to the Update History, Jan 12 to be exact.
Now, I turned off the automatic update feature for FF (leaving it for Add-ons and search engines). Yet, something still seems to have happened automatically in the background that disrupted my browser.
So could someone tell me
(a) has an automatic update been applied against my wishes?
(b) I thought I'd made sure that couldn't happen. How do I stop it from happening, otherwise?
(c) If this wasn't an automatic update, what was it? How do I stop it from happening?

Auto update preferences are OFF. I turned off the automatic update feature for FF (leaving it for Add-ons and search engines)
I don't think 9.01 is a new update either. I applied it in mid-Jan according to the software history---that was a late application because I do not like Firefox's frequent update policy and I only apply after they are well established and not likely to break my extensions.
Yet, suddenly, nonetheless one morning my browser booted with the Noia theme gone, and Fox Clocks disabled. (It is now back.) Which is extremely odd since I also use FF on my laptop (Vista) and have FC installed there---and it works fine with this version and there was no such problem on my laptop. What in the world can that be about? (Note that the laptop is Vista; the desktop XP3)

VI have an Eee notebook and each time Firefox automatically updates, I can't get on the internet and have to do system restore to un-update Firefox. How do I fix this?

Firefox auto-updates and then will not run on Eee PC. I either want to know how to turn off auto-update or somehow get the new version of Firefox to work on my Eee PC.
== This happened ==
A few times a week
== Every time Firfox auto-updates

Which Firewall are you using?

How can I prevent Firefox automatically updating when first opened on a new CentOS Installation ?

Hi,
I just installed CentOS on a new virtual machine for testing. I need to run Firefox 28 on it.
NO. Don't argue. It needs to be firefox 28.. Yes, I know firefox 35 is out. Yes I know it fixes important vulnerabilities. Yes, I know it has a load of new features. That information won't help me in the slightest. I need Firefox 28 on this virtual machine for a very specific reason, firefox 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 won't be suitable for this purpose.... The reason I need it is to do with testing a specific website compatibility with older browser versions on multiple operating systems. I am fully aware that the latest version of firefox is the "best"... but it's not what I need right now, so please don't ask questions like "why are you using an older version" or suggest things like "you know, it's really in your best interests to use the latest version"... I get it, OK.... but that's not a helpful reply to this question, because I have a really specific requirement here.
... sorry if that seems rude, I just know what sort of replies get posted here whenever someone suggests using an older browser. I do get why people give such advice. I do understand the benefits of keeping computers that connect to the internet up to date. This particular Virtual Machine won't actually be used to connect to the internet... just to a test website on an intranet.
So the problem I have is that this installation of CentOS 6.4 (x64) comes with Firefox 31. When it first opens, before I have a chance to toggle off update checking, it begins downloading Firefox 35.0.1 and I haven't figured out how to abort the download. I thought about killing the task, but I feared what that might do. So I let it update to Firefox 35 and thought I'd just downgrade it to Firefox 28 afterwards.
I do have the standalone installation of Firefox 28 for linux (firefox-28.0.tar.bz2). I can extract it on the CentOS virtual machine. I thought for my purpose, I could then just run the browser binary.... but it started updating before I could change the option to never check for updates... and there's no option to abort the download there....... sigh...
So I tried editing the file update-setting.ini. I was quite hopeful when I saw it say:
; If you modify this file updates may fail.
; Do not modify this file.
So I changed the setting below to say:
[Settings]
ACCEPTED_MAR_CHANNEL_IDS=dont_update_this_please
hoping that my rather rash change might indeed cause updates to fail :-)
Sadly, it seems that the updates are still happening.
Basically here is what I need on CentOS - A way to run Firefox 28 without it updating to a newer version without asking me first. I don't mind if it keeps asking me... so long as it asks me instead of just doing it without asking.
Just to be clear again - this is for a test configuration I have to build, on a virtual machine. It's OK for this one specific machine to have vulnerabilities, it's OK that it doesn't have all the new features of Firefox 35. It's what I need. It won't be used to browse the internet and go to dangerous web sites that might implant malicious code. It will only be used to connect to a specific web server, behind a corporate firewall, that my company tightly controls. I'm pretty sure doesn't have malware on it (if it does, I have much bigger problems that using an old version of a browser) . Then in a few weeks time, this VM will be deleted, along with the old version of Firefox I hope to have running on it.
Incidentally, I may also have to repeat whatever I'm doing here later on another CentOS VM to install Firefox 27, 26, 25... but I'm hoping I don't have to... but I assume that whatever procedure works for Firefox 28 will work for these other slightly older versions too... don't worry, I don't have to go all the way back to Firefox 1.0... it's not THAT bad :-)
So, with the understanding very clear that normally you would probably recommend just using the latest version.... can anyone help me ?
Thanks in advance.

Firefox tarballs from Mozilla Org use prefs within Firefox for updates. The "toggle" for not automatically updating - '''app.update.enabled''' and where to look for updates - '''app.update.url'''. The first needs to be '''''false''''' and the second could be a '''''null''''' string, do an update can't be found.
''I use both prefs to keep Firefox from updating by itself. I install each new version of Firefox as it is released, and keep the older versions around for reference purposes. Those prefs are the same since Firefox 1.5 came out.''
The versions of Firefox that are part of an operating system installation usually are that OS's own build of Firefox, and don't use the same update setup as Mozilla uses, in most cases. I am not familiar with Cent OS, but Ubuntu and Debian look for Firefox updates and from their own program repository servers outside of Firefox - as with the tarballs from Mozilla.

If firefox automatically updates my computer past 3.6 I'm inundated with Script Freezes..how do I stop new automatic updates?

Everytime I'm automatically updated past 3.6 my computer is inundated with Script Freezes..especially on the email page of gmail.
This has happened many many times. As far as I can determine these Script Freezes (Says: A script is attempting to write on this page.."Continue"..Stop Script etc) are coming from Internet Explorer (I'm not sure of this) and it's tricky to delete any elements of Internet Explorer. But at any rate my computer freezes up until the Script problem is settled..I check the don't ask me again block..but it does no good.
My real question is: Since things work fine in 3.6...how can I avoid any automatic updates?
Also, why isn't there a Timer Window (or a timer bar)for Firefox?...sometimes I have to wait 5 minutes for it to load! If there was a timer at least I'd know that something is happening and I'd be willing to wait. When it does take forever to load..it seems to help if I delete all Prefetch and temporary files.
Is there a safe way of turning off Internet Explorer temporarily?
Thanks for your help
Matthew
[email protected]

I tried this today, and it is working now:
Click Firefox > Options > Options > Advanced ... then Uncheck the option "Use hardware acceleration when available"

Dilemma presented by Firefox automatic update

I just received a message offering to update my Firefox. But the message said the update is incompatible with my Webroot 1.72.0 add-on (a security and backup app). But "as soon as they are made comptible, Firefox will update and re-enable these add-ons". This is ambiguous. Does it mean Firefox will make them compatible for me and then perform its update? Does it mean it will simply wait for Webroot to supply an updated version of its add-on and not update Firefox till then? Or does it mean (contrary to the literal meaning but you never know) that Firefox will proceed with it update and leave me to get a compatible version of Webroot if one exists? (If the person answering this is another user just like me, how do you know? Do you have a close enough relationship to the designers of this Firefox update to speak with authority?)

hello, automatic updates happen over an encrypted secure connection with a update server at mozilla - downloaded pieces of update are checked for integrity and won't be installed otherwise. this is no infection vector for malware...
also updates won't change your settings in most cases. you didn't describe in particular what kind of setting changed but if its the homepage or your search provider this is usually a sign of adware/malware present on a system:
#please go to the firefox ''menu ≡ > addons > extensions'' & remove any suspicious entries (toolbars, things that you have not installed intentionally, don't know what purpose they serve, etc).
#also go to the windows control panel / programs and remove all toolbars or potentially unwanted software from there.
#finally, run a full scan of your system with different security tools like the [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free free version of malwarebytes] & [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ adwcleaner], which are specialised in adware and browser hijackers.
[[Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page]]
[[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]]

Why doesn't Firefox automatically update in Window 7?

Firefox does not automatically update, even thought it is supposed to. One needs to log into an Administrator account for it to updates. Previous versions before 8.0 also had this problem. A suggestion to Mozilla: post a message that updates are available.
OS Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Pro.

You can modify the pref keyword.URL on the about:config page to use Google's "I'm Feeling Lucky" or Google's "Browse By Name".
* Google "I'm Feeling Lucky": http://www.google.com/search?btnI=I%27m+Feeling+Lucky&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=
* Google "Browse by Name": http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/keyword.URL
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Location_Bar_search
To open the about:config page, type about:config in the location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key, just like you type the url of a website to open a website. 
If you see a warning then you can confirm that you want to access that page.

When firefox automatically updates it clears my saved tabs. Is there something I can do to keep my tabs open?

I'm not sure with which version this started happening but it's only been in the last several months. When I exit firefox before retiring I'm asked if I want to save my tabs, which I do. Then when I open firefox and its been updated, tabs are lost.

Your plugins list shows outdated plugin(s) with known security and stability risks.
* Shockwave Flash 10.0 r45
Update the [[Flash]] plugin to the latest version.
*http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
Physical memory is the memory that is installed on your computer as real memory. To be able to run programs that require more memory and more programs at the same time (via time sharing and task switching) it is also possible to move (swap) currently not needed code and data to disk to make room for other programs and data. The total memory available for programs is the Virtual Memory.
You can check the Virtual Memory settings here: Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance > Settings (Advanced tab) 
Windows can manage more memory then is physical available and that memory is stored in a page file on your hard drive.
If the size of that file is not large enough and all available memory is in use then you get the Virtual Memory is low warning.
Make sure that you have at least 1 GB or the recommended setting for the Virtual Memory.
If you have less than 1 GB physical memory installed on your computer then if possible add more memory.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555223 - RAM, Virtual Memory, Pagefile and all that stuff

Malware and Firefox automatic update. Safe?

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