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How can I tell if the update reminder panel is genuine or phishing ?

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  • Valiny farany nomen'i bannerman100

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After starting Firefox, a panel appeared saying:

"Software Update

Update Available

A security and stability update for Firefox is available.

Firefox 6.0

It is strongly recommended that you apply this update for Firefox as soon as possible."

I suspect it is some kind of phishing or malware.

My Firefox version is 5. According to the "Firefox Help: Updating Firefox" page, when I click "Help: About", it should show if any update is available and download it.

I did this and no update appears, and there is no mention of a current update on the page. Therefore I am very suspicious.

How can I tell if this is a genuine update offer ? Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

After starting Firefox, a panel appeared saying: "Software Update Update Available A security and stability update for Firefox is available. Firefox 6.0 It is strongly recommended that you apply this update for Firefox as soon as possible." I suspect it is some kind of phishing or malware. My Firefox version is 5. According to the "Firefox Help: Updating Firefox" page, when I click "Help: About", it should show if any update is available and download it. I did this and no update appears, and there is no mention of a current update on the page. Therefore I am very suspicious. How can I tell if this is a genuine update offer ? Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

Novain'i bannerman100 t@

All Replies (3)

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Firefox 6.0 is being offered. Have a look at the following which you probably have selected and which will override the Update request from "About . . ."

Options>Advanced>Update> Automatically check for updates

"When updates to Firefox are found :

° Ask me . . ."

You can make your choices.

Novain'i alan_r t@

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Hi Alan, thanks for the reply. I had already checked and changed the Options>>Update to Automatic Download and Install, then re-started Firefox, and there was still no update information offered in the Help>About panel, contrary to what it says on the "Firefox Help: Updating Firefox" page.

If that is correct, have you any idea why is it failing to update itself on my machine ?

I have re-started Firefox twice and it is still not updating automatically.

Novain'i bannerman100 t@

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Hang on a bit, after re-starting Firefox YET again, it has now downloaded and installed the updates.

So my next question is:

Why don't Mozilla simply mark what the current Firefox version is at the top of the "Firefox Help: Updating Firefox" page ?

That would have saved me (and probably a few others) so much time and trouble.  :-(

Anyway Alan, thanks for your help.

Novain'i bannerman100 t@