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Got message on screen about a patch for firefox, i said yes, go ahead, next morning, today, my malwarebytes anti-malware stopped ff patch, phoney patch?

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  • Last reply by grotte13

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Dec 31, on my screen appeared a message/box saying it was a Firefox patch said to accept the patch hit install, I did----morning of 1/1/2016 my Malewarebytes antimaleware box came on screen, said malewarebytes stopped the patch. Guess the Firefox patch is a phony.

I guess the Malwarebytes aniti-malware program is the best $25.00 I ever spent.


I hope that Firefox goes after the makers of this probably fake patch!!!!!!!!

Dec 31, on my screen appeared a message/box saying it was a Firefox patch said to accept the patch hit install, I did----morning of 1/1/2016 my Malewarebytes antimaleware box came on screen, said malewarebytes stopped the patch. Guess the Firefox patch is a phony. I guess the Malwarebytes aniti-malware program is the best $25.00 I ever spent. I hope that Firefox goes after the makers of this probably fake patch!!!!!!!!

Chosen solution

Yes, that was / is a phony patch. Firefox doesn't issue "patches" or "fixes" via an .exe file; that is done thru an internal update mechanism inside of Firefox. Updates are checked for once every day and when an update is available for Firefox it will be installed automatically. The most you'll see (assuming the default pref is still set) is that an update has been installed and to restart Firefox for the installation to be completed.

Mozilla is working on stopping those phony "patches", but the source keeps moving and seems to be one step ahead of Mozilla efforts to stop it once and for all. Good thing you had MawareBytes to stop the "patch" from lodging itself inside your PC.

Basically, users need to "know" that Firefox doesn't receive "patches" in that manner, and if there is a question if something is valid or not, refuse 'stuff' like that and ask about it here.

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Chosen Solution

Yes, that was / is a phony patch. Firefox doesn't issue "patches" or "fixes" via an .exe file; that is done thru an internal update mechanism inside of Firefox. Updates are checked for once every day and when an update is available for Firefox it will be installed automatically. The most you'll see (assuming the default pref is still set) is that an update has been installed and to restart Firefox for the installation to be completed.

Mozilla is working on stopping those phony "patches", but the source keeps moving and seems to be one step ahead of Mozilla efforts to stop it once and for all. Good thing you had MawareBytes to stop the "patch" from lodging itself inside your PC.

Basically, users need to "know" that Firefox doesn't receive "patches" in that manner, and if there is a question if something is valid or not, refuse 'stuff' like that and ask about it here.

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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 web site of the True Owner of the program in question. For example, to check out Firefox, go to Mozilla.org. {web link}

You can also 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}

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Thank you, I was lucky I had Malewarebytes antimalware, they saved me, I thought it was really firefox, should have known better.

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Thank you, I should have known better but they got me.

I was fortunate that Malwarebytes anti-malware caught it and saved me.

I hope Firefox can prosecute them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!