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when i downloaded this urgent update from fire fox it almost messed up my computer

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by James

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the first time i got a red screen was 7 /2016 and it said URGENT FIRE FOX UPDATE and it prompted me to download it, after the download i couldn't open none of my applications on my computer i had to do a system restore and had to download one of my application again and today 8/27/2016 when i got this urgent update it had a big fire fox logo this time i just pressed cancel and closed out fire fox

the first time i got a red screen was 7 /2016 and it said URGENT FIRE FOX UPDATE and it prompted me to download it, after the download i couldn't open none of my applications on my computer i had to do a system restore and had to download one of my application again and today 8/27/2016 when i got this urgent update it had a big fire fox logo this time i just pressed cancel and closed out fire fox

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

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE PROVIDED LINKS

While this may be a legitimate message, it could also be Malware or a Virus. Any time 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 {web link}

You can report such a site at; Google Report Phishing Page {web link} which is the same when done while on site by going to Help > Report Web Forgery

Help us safeguard Mozilla’s trademarks by reporting misuse {web link}


You may have ad / mal-ware. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

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It sounds like you got a random weird name website claiming to have a urgent Firefox update and serving a fake firefox-patch.js file.

This is not from Mozilla or the Firefox web browser. The fake firefox-patch.exe and firefox-patch.js files can install things like trojans, viruses, or unwanted software on Windows based on past reports if the user runs them. Mozilla has no need to host Firefox downloads or updates elsewhere, especially not at random weird name websites.

The way Firefox updates are done has not changed as updates are done internally in Firefox (with a .mar type of file) whether on Windows, Mac OSX or Linux or by download from mozilla.org like say www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

You could try using a adblocker extension like uBlock Origin to block theses fake ads if you keep getting them. https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/

Unfortunately this has gone on for a few months now with one or two new sites reported almost everyday. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/contributors/712056/ and https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/contributors/712075

Modified by James

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If you did run this fake firefox-patch.js file then you may want to try and clean your Windows system.

You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista if you don't already have one. Windows 8/10 have antivirus protection built-in.

Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.