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Fake Firefox Update

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by James

spamrecept
spamrecept
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Not sure the design team can do anything about this, but...

I just got a full page pop up with a link to "Update to the Latest Version of Firefox," which I did not click because I was suspicious. 1) Normally the notice to update is a small rectangle in the right upper corner. 2) I had just updated yesterday.

Firefox reports that it is up to date,

My security is set to "Block pop-up windows."

The pop-up opened when I clicked this news article linked by a member in a private Facebook group:

https://news.0censor.com/with-leak-over-roe-v-wade-warren-demands-constitution-be-ratified-aoc-demands-nuke-action-or-primary-out-members/?fbclid=IwAR2gfhCc8h2w013ST2g43ev-UuojBuChJ1LlfH_K18JVj8KFggfhzrlkuSM

When I clicked the link again to test it, only the requested article opened.

The pop-up had the Firefox logo and appeared legitimate to me in every way.

Sorry, I did not think to copy the update link before I closed the pop-up.

Not sure the design team can do anything about this, but... I just got a full page pop up with a link to "Update to the Latest Version of Firefox," which I did not click because I was suspicious. 1) Normally the notice to update is a small rectangle in the right upper corner. 2) I had just updated yesterday. Firefox reports that it is up to date, My security is set to "Block pop-up windows." The pop-up opened when I clicked this news article linked by a member in a private Facebook group: https://news.0censor.com/with-leak-over-roe-v-wade-warren-demands-constitution-be-ratified-aoc-demands-nuke-action-or-primary-out-members/?fbclid=IwAR2gfhCc8h2w013ST2g43ev-UuojBuChJ1LlfH_K18JVj8KFggfhzrlkuSM When I clicked the link again to test it, only the requested article opened. The pop-up had the Firefox logo and appeared legitimate to me in every way. Sorry, I did not think to copy the update link before I closed the pop-up.

All Replies (2)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Whenever you get a message / popup that software / files need to be updated;

DO NOT USE ANY OF PROVIDED LINKS

While this may be a legitimate message, it could also be Malware or a Virus. Anytime you want or need to check for upgrades, go to the website of the True Owner of the program in question. For example, to check out Firefox, go to https://www.mozilla.org


You can report such a site at; http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish/ Google Report Phishing Page which is the same when done while on site by going to Help > Report Web Forgery

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/legal/fraud-report/ Help us safeguard Mozilla’s trademarks by reporting misuse

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/avoid-and-report-mozilla-tech-support-scams

James
James
  • Moderator
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Variations of the fake Firefox update popups have been around for several years now. Thankfully they seem to be more rarely posted about in the last couple years. For a good while we had a ton of postings about the fake firefox-patch.js/firefox-patch.exe for some months. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/i-found-fake-firefox-update

When the Firefox web browser notifies you of a update it will be a small prompt and does not have the Firefox logo. Plus it will not prompt you to download a file as the real Firefox update is done internally in Firefox with a .mar file whether on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

If only you got a screen shot of that fake Firefox update popup to see how it compares to previous variants.

Modified by James