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How to protecting add-ons manger from auto adding (auto installation hijacking Add-ons)

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How to protecting add-ons manger from auto adding (auto installation hijacking Add-ons) . because most of the (layman) users are dose not consider about hijacking Add-ons.

browser hijacker, which is promoted via other free downloads, and once installed it will a toolbar, change browser homepage to -home.tb.ask.com-, and set your default search engine to -search.tb.ask.com-.

How to protecting add-ons manger from auto adding (auto installation hijacking Add-ons) . because most of the (layman) users are dose not consider about hijacking Add-ons. browser hijacker, which is promoted via other free downloads, and once installed it will a toolbar, change browser homepage to -home.tb.ask.com-, and set your default search engine to -search.tb.ask.com-.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (13)

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Did you recently download an install for a program?

Some times the program installer is bundle and it asks you if you want to install a browser tool bar, which by default is yes. Most people just press accept because they think its the TOS and What not,

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Sir.Mayo said

Did you recently download an install for a program? Some times the program installer is bundle and it asks you if you want to install a browser tool bar, which by default is yes. Most people just press accept because they think its the TOS and What not,

most of the (layman) users are dose not consider about "Evil Add-Ons". Need a Solution some of our users don't have idea about hijacking Add-ons.

Modified by pushpikasj

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Discovered Hidden Add-on On Firefox. How To Check Yours https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/support-forum-contributors/711335


Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.


It’s very sad, but many of the software down-loaders / installers will trick you into installing not only their program, but other programs as well. You have heard of the fine print in shady contracts, right? Well, some installers you need to look at the itsy bitsy teeny weeny fine print. You are thinking you are giving the installer permission to install the program you want by using the recommended option. But if you use the Manual Option Instead, you discover all kinds of stuff that you do not even know what it is or what it does. From now on, everyone needs to Use The Manual Option to put a stop to this.

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FredMcD said

Discovered Hidden Add-on On Firefox. How To Check Yours https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/support-forum-contributors/711335

Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.


It’s very sad, but many of the software down-loaders / installers will trick you into installing not only their program, but other programs as well. You have heard of the fine print in shady contracts, right? Well, some installers you need to look at the itsy bitsy teeny weeny fine print. You are thinking you are giving the installer permission to install the program you want by using the recommended option. But if you use the Manual Option Instead, you discover all kinds of stuff that you do not even know what it is or what it does. From now on, everyone needs to Use The Manual Option to put a stop to this.

What Is The Solution?

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How to protecting add-ons manger from auto adding (auto installation hijacking Add-ons) . because most of the (layman) users are dose not consider about hijacking Add-ons.

browser hijacker, which is promoted via other free downloads, and once installed it will a toolbar, change browser homepage to -home.tb.ask.com-, and set your default search engine to -search.tb.ask.com-.

Please give us a permanent solution.

Modified by pushpikasj

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Be patient, a "fix" is coming in Firefox 40 [or 41] where all extensions will need to be "signed" by Mozilla to be allowed to be installed. As mentioned by James in your other thread over here - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1063578?page=3#answer-757314 . So this issue of "auto installation" shouldn't be as much of a problem in the future as it is now, or has been in the past.

Then the "problem" will be all the current extensions that we lose where the developer doesn't want to "dance to Mozilla tunes" due to the hassle of dealing with the AMO website, or want to remain autonomous and maintain their own website and not deal with Mozilla. What this is going to bring is a paternalistic walled-garden like Apple built for itself, and manages to profit off every thing made for iOS . And then they don't see their way clear to pay their share of income taxes ... Plus. it seems that every time Mozilla makes a major change like this I lose 4 or 5 of my extensions at least - forever, for the 4th time now in the 13 years I have been using Firefox. And this time because too many users are foolish and install all sorts of crap that carries "hidden" extensions into Firefox.

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pushpikasj said

What Is The Solution?

Vigilance ! ! The use of anti-virus, mal-ware scans, system checks, and everything else the end user does to protect their systems.

Also, be on the look out. "If it sounds too good to be true . . . .

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FredMcD said

pushpikasj said
What Is The Solution?

Vigilance ! ! The use of anti-virus, mal-ware scans, system checks, and everything else the end user does to protect their systems.

Also, be on the look out. "If it sounds too good to be true . . . .


Dear Mozilla Firefox users

Huh ha update your anti-virus. protect your Systems from hijacks.

Dear hijackers

please please don't hijack Firefox users.

This Not A Solution and Answer I think @FredMcD

Modified by pushpikasj

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the-edmeister said

Be patient, a "fix" is coming in Firefox 40 [or 41] where all extensions will need to be "signed" by Mozilla to be allowed to be installed. As mentioned by James in your other thread over here - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1063578?page=3#answer-757314 . So this issue of "auto installation" shouldn't be as much of a problem in the future as it is now, or has been in the past. Then the "problem" will be all the current extensions that we lose where the developer doesn't want to "dance to Mozilla tunes" due to the hassle of dealing with the AMO website, or want to remain autonomous and maintain their own website and not deal with Mozilla. What this is going to bring is a paternalistic walled-garden like Apple built for itself, and manages to profit off every thing made for iOS . And then they don't see their way clear to pay their share of income taxes ... Plus. it seems that every time Mozilla makes a major change like this I lose 4 or 5 of my extensions at least - forever, for the 4th time now in the 13 years I have been using Firefox. And this time because too many users are foolish and install all sorts of crap that carries "hidden" extensions into Firefox.

@the-edmeister Thanks!

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the-edmeister I'm Waiting For extensions "signed" by Mozilla Process. its Not fixed yet.

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pushpikasj said

the-edmeister said
Be patient, a "fix" is coming in Firefox 40 [or 41] where all extensions will need to be "signed" by Mozilla to be allowed to be installed. As mentioned by James in your other thread over here - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1063578?page=3#answer-757314 . So this issue of "auto installation" shouldn't be as much of a problem in the future as it is now, or has been in the past. Then the "problem" will be all the current extensions that we lose where the developer doesn't want to "dance to Mozilla tunes" due to the hassle of dealing with the AMO website, or want to remain autonomous and maintain their own website and not deal with Mozilla. What this is going to bring is a paternalistic walled-garden like Apple built for itself, and manages to profit off every thing made for iOS . And then they don't see their way clear to pay their share of income taxes ... Plus. it seems that every time Mozilla makes a major change like this I lose 4 or 5 of my extensions at least - forever, for the 4th time now in the 13 years I have been using Firefox. And this time because too many users are foolish and install all sorts of crap that carries "hidden" extensions into Firefox.

@the-edmeister Thanks!

the-edmeister I'm Waiting For extensions "signed" by Mozilla Process. its Not fixed yet.

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The "fix" has been postponed a few times. Firefox 43 is slated to have it, but with an override the user can set. Firefox 44 won't have that override. https://wiki.mozilla.org/Addons/Extension_Signing#Timeline