A note on malware ...

[coolpurplefan]

I hope I chose the right sub-forum. In any case, I wanted to share an experience I had with Firefox. Instead on clicking on Help then About Firefox to update, I chose to click on the check for updates under the Tools and Options menu. I ended up getting one program after another that wanted to install on my computer.

The result? Avira, Avast, Spybot Search & Destroy and Malwarebytes all detected malware. I don't know why but AVG didn't find anything. I also used ATF Cleaner and TDS Killer.

Anyway, the next time I want to update Firefox, I'll click on the Help and About Firefox menu. By the way Avast has a function to allow you to update software. And Malwarebytes allows you to choose which drive to scan. (Maybe that option is available on others, I didn't notice.) Also, there's a rootkits and malware option in Avira that finds things that the "complete scan" doesn't find.

 

[Ketchup]

The only thing I see for updates in any other location is the Show update history under
Tools/Options/Advanced/Update.

If you found an option in another location, my best guess is you weren't in a real Firefox menu. Personally, I usually just let it pop up and tell me there is an update.

Also, AVG has always been good for viruses, but not so much with types of Malware. Glad you were running more than one app to find this.

 

[taq8ojh]

I hope I chose the right sub-forum. In any case, I wanted to share an experience I had with Firefox. Instead on clicking on Help then About Firefox to update, I chose to click on the check for updates under the Tools and Options menu. I ended up getting one program after another that wanted to install on my computer.

The result? Avira, Avast, Spybot Search & Destroy and Malwarebytes all detected malware. I don't know why but AVG didn't find anything. I also used ATF Cleaner and TDS Killer.

Anyway, the next time I want to update Firefox, I'll click on the Help and About Firefox menu. By the way Avast has a function to allow you to update software. And Malwarebytes allows you to choose which drive to scan. (Maybe that option is available on others, I didn't notice.) Also, there's a rootkits and malware option in Avira that finds things that the "complete scan" doesn't find.

Sounds like your PC was infected way before you clicked on the update button (malicious plugin comes first to mind).
As far as I know, there is no "check for updates" button in the location you described.

 

[Morbus]

Check your Addons. You probably have some spyware addon (either an extension or a plugin) that's highjacking your browser...

 

[Virgorising]

Check your Addons. You probably have some spyware addon (either an extension or a plugin) that's highjacking your browser...

I ditto. Get this freeware, run it and see if it comes up with anything strange & untoward and insect-like:

http://toolbarcleaner.com/

I would also run Hijack This and observe which BHOs it finds. Some, you may have chosen, but sometimes, not all.

 

[Fardringle]

Yep, definitely an already compromised system. Firefox does not have a Check for Updates link/button in that menu location.

 

[coolpurplefan]

I ditto. Get this freeware, run it and see if it comes up with anything strange & untoward and insect-like:

http://toolbarcleaner.com/

I would also run Hijack This and observe which BHOs it finds. Some, you may have chosen, but sometimes, not all.

Wait, I was typing a little quickly but I mean it says: Tools > Options > Advanced > Update > Check for updates (little circle next to it).

 

[bruceb]

Might not need it, but will add that tool to all my others. Seems like a good one.