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C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\puc6maz1.default\parent.lock [WARNING] The file could not be opened! Not sure why this file exsists. I've never used parental controls. Virus or malware?

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  • Last reply by m3x

m3x
m3x
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Avira Antivirus warned me twice about this file. I deleted it once. It is back. I've never used parental controls. I've never created a profile either I'm unsure what puc6maz1 means as well. Could this be malware? Can I delete this file?

Also, when I do a search in the yahoo search section of the tool bar. The list of possible sections appears and NEVER goes away. WHY? You can refresh the tool bar and it never clears.

Avira Antivirus warned me twice about this file. I deleted it once. It is back. I've never used parental controls. I've never created a profile either I'm unsure what puc6maz1 means as well. Could this be malware? Can I delete this file? Also, when I do a search in the yahoo search section of the tool bar. The list of possible sections appears and NEVER goes away. WHY? You can refresh the tool bar and it never clears.

All Replies (2)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
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Firefox creates a Profile on initial run, that is where your personal data is stored; bookmarks, passwords, etc. That parent.lock file is a zero-bit file that Mozilla uses to indicate that Profile is being used. It is supposed to disappear when Firefox is closed, if it doesn't automatically close another program is probably messing with the Profile folder in ways that it shouldn't.

I have been using Avira AntiVir Personal (the free version) for a couple years now and I have never seen a message like that. Any chance that you have another AV program installed that you think you removed?

m3x
m3x Question owner
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An AV program? I have MalwareBytes installed on this computer too. The Avira is a full paid version. Expires in 25 days. I've been contemplating changing AV programs because Avira is a P.I.A. I've used Norton, Kaspersky, TrendMicro, & AVG. Each has some little irritating issue. I used Mawarebytes "File Assassin" to delete that Mozilla file. It didn't cause any issues with Mozilla and all my bookmarks and stuff are still there. But when Avira gives me "cannot open file" it concerns me. Like these: 

   [WARNING]   The file could not be opened!

C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\edb.log 

   [WARNING]   The file could not be opened!

C:\WINDOWS\system32\CatRoot2\tmp.edb 

   [WARNING]   The file could not be opened!

I used Malwarebytes to deleted those. Hope it didn't cause me a problem. Anyway, it was interesting to know FireFox created the profile. However, I still wonder how that file got locked and what was in it.