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How did the extension "Blocksite" download and install in my Firefox browser without my permission?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

apple10
apple10
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While using the Firefox browser I was suddenly taken to the Blocksite website, which had a message saying "thankyou" for installing the Blocksite extension. When I looked at my list of extensions I could see the Blocksite extension had been installed.

I did not install it! How did it get there?

While using the Firefox browser I was suddenly taken to the Blocksite website, which had a message saying "thankyou" for installing the Blocksite extension. When I looked at my list of extensions I could see the Blocksite extension had been installed. I did not install it! How did it get there?

All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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That's hard to explain!

One possibility is that it was dropped in a shared folder or added to a registry key that Firefox monitors for externally installed extensions. In those cases, the "Remove" button is usually missing from the Extensions list on the Add-ons page.

Another possibility is that you installed a different extension and it somehow installed this one (which should not be allowed; definitely bad behavior).

A third possibility is that a script in a site you were visiting triggered it, but if you have the standard setting of restricting sites from installing add-ons, then that should have been blocked.

Do you share your computer with anyone?

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can find the install location of a specific extension in the extensions.json file in the profile folder.

You can open the extensions.json file in the profile folder in the Scratchpad and search for this extension.

  • click the "Pretty Print" button to format the file for readability.

The descriptor field should list its install location.

You can use the button on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page.