Why did firefox attempt to install some kind of computer improvement software

received message that there was a new browser version and the download was NOT an update to Firefox. It was some kind of computer cleaner/speeder upper and I caught and cancelled the INSTALL not UPDATE

Deceptive messages about downloads being Firefox updates can be generated by websites or by add-ons. If this was a one-time thing, it may have been an ad on a site you were visiting. If it occurs repeatedly, you probably need to check for a bad extension or malware.
Bad extensions often are installed externally to Firefox. I suggest starting here:
Open the Windows '''Control Panel''', Uninstall a Program. Click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.
Then, in Firefox, open the '''Add-ons page''' using either:
* Ctrl+Shift+a
* "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions.
Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
Finally, you can "mop up" remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]].
Hopefully you can flush it.

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Using Windows XP and Firefox 3.6.15 web pages print with some of the script as unintelligible weird looking script or maybe some kind of computer script. This doe not accure usingg IE 8.0 with the same printer.

Using Windows XP and Firefox 3.6.15 web pages print with some of the script as unintelligible weird looking script or maybe some kind of computer script. This problem also occurs with the web page on which this question is submitted. This doe not occur using IE 8.0 with the same printer.

These have nothing to do with Firefox.
C:\ProgramData\FLEXnet\Connect
\11\ISUSPM.exe
and
C:\Users\Vinegarhill-User Acc\Desktop\Malware Removal Programs\eXplorer.exe
This one - C:\Users\Vinegarhill-User Acc\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\ak4dv58c.default\extensions\ \components\afom.exe - is probably the '''AFOM - Memory Recovery & Retention For Firefox Only''' extension.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/11922/
My advice is to uninstall that extension. IMO, you have too many extensions installed, and are asking for problems with Firefox. I am not against using a lot of extensions in Firefox ''(I typically have 45 to 50 extensions installed, but the mix of extensions you have scares me as potentially problematic.)''

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: 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 am I unable to install some apps updates from the app store?

Why am I unable to install some apps updates from the app store? Does anybody know why? I need help!!!

1.   Are you using the right signing in details?
2.   Were the Apps originally bought via the App Store?
3.   Have you checked if they are partially downloaded?
There is a support link here ...   Apple - Support - Mac App Store - Contact Support

My kid downloaded some kind of password hacking software

My kid downloaded some kind of password hacking software and now I'm really concerned. I remember reading how bad it can be ~ malware installed on sectors of the hardware that can't be erased by formatting and reinstalling the OS.
This all came to light when she was working on her computer and it started doing stuff by itself. The mouse appears to move intelligently and the system even shut down by itself yesterday. She's finally concerned enough to confess to what she did ~ after we took the macbook apart to see if the battery was swelling, and then she reveals that the external control appears purposeful and she thinks she's being hacked.
I'm fine just throwing her computer away, but I'm seriously freaked out about safety on my macbook. Is my computer at risk because of her actions on our shared home network? I don't have crazy good passwords, but I do have seriously important stuff on my macbook and if it were hacked and the information leaked, the damage could be far beyond what I could ever recover from. I run a whole business from this computer, and I've always been careful and employ good internet habits and careful software habits.
Anyone have any idea what kind of risk we're at, and how I can find out of my mac is compromised, and maybe how to fix it?
Or suggest the right place to post this question? I'm sorry if this is totally the wrong place...

There are several possible causes for this issue. Please take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried until it's resolved. Some may not apply in your case.
1. Follow the instructions in this support article, and also this one, if applicable. A damaged or defective AC adapter could be the cause, even if it's the right kind.
2. Press down all four corners of the trackpad at once and release. If there's any effect, it's likely to be temporary, and in that case the unit must be serviced or replaced.
3. Open the Bluetooth preference pane in System Preferences and delete all pointing devices other than the trackpad, if applicable. Disconnect any USB pointing devices. By a "pointing device," I mean a peripheral that moves the cursor, such as a trackpad, mouse, trackball, or graphics tablet. A plain keyboard is not a pointing device.
4. If your model has an infrared receiver for use with an Apple Remote, disable it.
5. Start up in safe mode and test, preferably without launching any third-party applications. If you don't have the problem in safe mode, but it comes back when you restart as usual, stop here and post your results. Do the same if you can't start in safe mode. If there was no difference in safe mode, go on to the next step.
6. Reset the System Management Controller.
7. If you're using a Bluetooth trackpad or mouse, investigate potential sources of interference, including USB 3 devices.
8. A swollen battery in a portable computer can impinge on the trackpad from below and cause erratic behavior. If you have trouble clicking the trackpad, this is likely the reason. The battery must be replaced without delay.
9. A defective peripheral device or a damaged cable can cause the built-in trackpad of a MacBook to behave erratically. If you're using any wired peripherals, disconnect them one at a time and test.
10. There's also a report of erratic cursor movements caused by an external display that was connected but not turned on.
11. If none of the above applies, or if you have another reason to think that your computer is being remotely controlled, remove it from the network by turning off Wi-Fi (or your Wi-Fi access point), disconnecting from a Bluetooth network link, and unplugging the Ethernet cable or USB modem, whichever is applicable. If the cursor movements stop at once, you should suspect an intrusion.
12. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine and/or external trackpad tested.

Why is it that Firefox is constantly having some kind of problem that IE does not have?

Same problem with Firefox but not with IE. I tried to click on an episode of NCIS Los Angeles that used to work just fine with Firefox; Project TV. It still works with IE but not Firefox. Everything with Firefox appears to be intermittent. In other words, today it works just fine but tomorrow there is another problem. The bottom line is that Firefox is great for some things and IE for others. I will continue to use Firefox as my primary browser when it works with something and go to IE for things that Firefox has problems. Please let me know if you are aware of a way to stop these constant problems so that I can always use just Firefox.

Your plugins list shows an old outdated Shockwave Flash 11.0 d1 beta version.
Update the Flash plugin to the latest version.
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Managing+the+Flash+plugin
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash
*http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/
*http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html
See also:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Flash_Player_11.3_Protected_Mode_-_Windows

Has someone installed some kind of data logging *SPYWARE* on my iMac?

I found a file I don't recognize sitting in my ~/Library/Preferences folder called "HOME Preferences".
This 4K file contains this:
UserLocale=en_US
LastUsedDeviceTypeName=go720
UserPatchFeedback=0
UserPatchFeedbackAddress=
ConfirmedAnonymousDataLogging=1
HaveSendAnonymousDataloggingReply=1
BackupPromptDevices=M64048D01413
StartUpWindowBounds=-7,22,1816,999
.. and that's all. IS this a symptom of some kind of spyware installed or attempted to be installed without my knowledge by someone else who had access to my machine? The datalogging settings bother me as does a setting for user feedback of 0 which sounds like a setting to keep the presence of a datalogger quiet from popping up or showing. How can I figure out using unix commands in the terminal or something more convenient what application this preference file belongs to? This file has an install date of late 2008, so if someone is spying on me, they've been doing it over a year without my knowledge--that disturbs me a bit. I was nosing around trying to figure out why this G4 macMini which is supposed to be recording my two household security cameras has been running so poorly. I have no idea what this file installed on it is all about. I don't believe it to be related at all to the Security Spy software I use for recording the cameras feeds to hard disk.

First off, don't panic.
'Data logging' can mean many things, and take many forms - not all of which are nefarious.
If you think about it, it would to be a pretty dumb hacker who infiltrates your machine to install a logger and leaves such a big, bold footprint behind.
That said, I don't know what this relates to, specifically, but a quick google on some of those keywords (especially the LastUsedDeviceTypeName) hints at something to do with a TomTom GPS unit. Did you install/attach a TomTom GPS back in 2008 when this preference file was attached?
Data logging is often used in GPS terms to track paths/routes, so it would seem to make sense.

Why did my macbook start installing while I was shutting down?

I was trying to shut my macbook down and it began to do so, but suddenly you could see a transparent window show up that had an install bar initiate. My macbook then installed an unknown update that I did not initiate. I was not in update software at all before I shut down. I closed my Microsoft Word application and then I shut it down. I checked the Console and there was activity during this time that I don't understand, but can post info on if someone knows how to decipher it.
I am concerned that my macbook installed some type of malicious software by itself.
I am always cautious to what emails I open etc, so I don't know why it did that.

Hold the power button and the system will eventually shutdown (uncleanly). My MacBook freezes from time to time while watching Netflix (4 times in 2 years). I wouldn't worry about unless it's happening all the time.

HT4589 Why did final cut x lose some fonts? how do I retreive and reinstall fonts from Final Cut X 10.0.7? that that isn't possible can I reinstall the previous version of final cut x?

Why did Final Cut X 10.0.8 lose fonts? How do I get these fonts back (namely Chapparal Pro and Trajan Pro)? If that is not possible, can someone tell me how to reinstall 10.0.7? Thank you for your help.

[email protected] wrote:
Great suggestion, but I don't have the Time Machine running to help solve that issue. If I hadn't had a backup of those fonts on another computer, where would you have recommended that I go to get them? Is there a free Apple font bank online? Thanks again.
I have these fonts, and did not install them specifically, so I had thought they must have come standard with OS X.
However, I did find an online list of the fonts that came with Lion: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5098?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US; and likewise for Mountain Lion: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5379
These two fonts are NOT in the list. Googling further seems to show that these fonts are from Adobe, so they may have been installed together with some Adobe software.

Why did the Virus known as Bing infect my computer and refuse to leave?

A few days ago the Virus known as BING infected my computer and refuses to leave. It has usurped my homepage and my browser and will not permit me to reset my defaults to Google. It has stolen my computer.
BING is haunting me. It appears that the common lingo is to describe BING as a semi-benign virus. I find nothing benign about it. I called the MS Customer Service number and they refused to help. The MAC folks were helpful, but they didn't create this problem, Microsoft did.
Of course, I would like to know how MS can get away with this, but I would be satisfied just getting rid of the Evil BING. I am NOT computer savvy, but I know when someone is using me surreptitious with malicious software.
If I am overlooking something simple, please forgive. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

One very common cause of having Bing take over as your search engine is that you have installed the InstallMac adware. The most common way to become "infected" with this adware is to download something from Softonic. See:
Continue to boycott Softonic
Because InstallMac is powered by the Genieo adware, you can follow the removal instructions in the link dominic23 gave you. Be aware that InstallMac does not include some of the components mentioned in that removal guide, including the Genieo application. If a particular component is missing, skip it and move on to the next one.
Finally, note that this is in no way the fault of Bing, which is a legitimate search engine powered by Microsfot. This is probably some kind of click fraud scam, attempting to generate advertising revenue for the creators of InstallMac by sending visitors to Bing.

I can not open any programs on Firefox that I installed on my other computer after restoring that computer.

I have been a Firefox user for as long as I can remember and do not remember having such problems until I insttaled 34.0.5 I have mostly used Google as my search engine, and sometimes yahoo.
Everytime I try to open say yahoo or google to install them along with many other sites First ir goes to yahoo search instade of google search as I have set as my search engine. I don't like the fact that I no longer have the choice on which search engine I want by default. Nor can I see any means of removing all the others listed Vosteron, that is the first probelem.
I seach for yahoo.com, so I can install it back on the computer, and get this error or alert message with a yellow box in the top left with a crossing guard figue. It says This Connection Is Untrusted. I get it over and over and over, on any sites I have tried opening over the past three days.
I don't know what to do, I've tried about:config and resetting the SSL from 2 to 1. I still get the This Connection is Untrusted. Even tried to add a exception, but it still gives me that annoying message. At this point I do not know it I have some kind of malware, or what. But I have not put many programs back on the computer sense I restored Win 7 onto a new hard drive.
I hope you can help me get this annoying problem fixed once and for all. Otherwise, it Safary.

Reset Firefox to its default state
The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Consider using it before going through a lengthy troubleshooting process.

Error showing when attempting to install LabVIEW2009 on my computer (windows XP 32 bit)

When trying to install LabVIEW2009 on my computer (windows XP 32 bit) I get the following error: The instruction at "0x005466a9" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "read".
Has anyone any ideas why this is error is appearing?
Thanks.
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
labview error.JPG ‏138 KB

Hi Richard,
After uninstalling all National Instruments software, can you check your registry for any "National Instruments" registry keys? You will need to manually delete these keys before trying to install LabVIEW 2009 again.
To open registry, go to Start and select Run. You will then need to type "regedit" in the window and click "OK".
Kind regards,
Marshall B
Applications Engineer
National Instruments UK & Ireland

Some kinds of the Security software(Anti-virus) always disable in Firefox,why ?

None.

They may not be compatible with firefox - it's most likely an add-on. Or if you could explain further it would help better.

Today I have a windows 7 just set up and did not transfer fire fox data .I downloaded firefox again and installed some add ons but I only have a startup screen

I just want a firefox toolbar with all the tabs history,delete,menu,etc: what I have is a getting started page with search bar.

You're using Firefox 29 which is at Beta at the moment and will be released to the public next week. The UI has changed drastically and the Firefox button and menu bar have been hidden in place of the new menu located on the right end side of the navigation bar.
You can restore your menu bar by press the ALT key then at the top go to View > Toolbars > Menu Bar

Why did firefox and thunderbird both start in safe mode?

Turned on my computer, ran firefox and thunderbird like I always do, and they both started in safe mode. They both showed a box before opening that said they are running in safe mode. Why would they do this?

My PC was lagging because I had just started it. I clicked on the icons and then went into a text editor before they finished loading and was pressing shift while doing some text editing lol. Thanks for solving the mystery, I never knew about shift clicking to start safe modes.

Why did firefox attempt to install some kind of computer improvement software

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