If you get a pop-up message asking to update Firefox or plugins or scanning for malware then such a message is likely a scam and you should never respond to such an alert to avoid getting infected with malware.

• Only update Firefox via "Help > About" or by downloading and installing Firefox from the Mozilla server and never via a pop-up or link on a web page.
• plugins should only be updated via the plugin itself or by visiting the home page of the plugin.

Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware

Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.

Make sure you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
  http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
• AdwCleaner:
  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
  http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
• SuperAntispyware:
  http://www.superantispyware.com/
• Microsoft Safety Scanner:
  http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
• Spybot Search & Destroy:
  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
• Kasperky Free Security Scan:
  http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
  http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

Thank you for your reply. But it wasn't a scam; it was a legit update. I have a newer version now. I also have Norton Security on my computer.

Hi, for bookmarks only, you can try this: Open bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Restore, and see if you have a backup there.

If not, and for other data, please see -

• Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data.

• Recovering important data from an old profile.

If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!

These can't get your data back, but will help in the future.

These add-ons can be a great help by backing up and restoring Firefox

FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension) {web link} FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your saved files individually into installable .xpi files. It will also make backups of files that you choose.

OPIE {web link} Import/Export extension preferences

Thank you. I tScribe said

Hi, for bookmarks only, you can try this: Open bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Restore, and see if you have a backup there. If not, and for other data, please see -

• Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data.

• Recovering important data from an old profile.

If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!

Thank you. I previously tried the steps above, I wasn't able to restore my old data.

I forgot to mention when the upgrade was complete, a folder was created on my desktop called "Old FoxFire Data". Is there a way to restore my bookmark and history using the file?

Scribe said

Hi, for bookmarks only, you can try this: Open bookmarks > Show All Bookmarks > Import and Backup > Restore, and see if you have a backup there. If not, and for other data, please see -

• Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data.

• Recovering important data from an old profile.

If your question is resolved by this or another answer, please take a minute to let us know. Thank you!

Thank you for the information.

Semal said

I forgot to mention when the upgrade was complete, a folder was created on my desktop called "Old FoxFire Data". Is there a way to restore my bookmark and history using the file?

Yes. Is there anything else you want to restore? If not, here's how I suggest doing it:

Part 1: Remove the current places.sqlite file

From inside Firefox, open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
• (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename places.sqlite to something like places-old.sqlite. If you see other similarly named files like places.sqlite-shm and/or places.sqlite-wal, you can delete those.

Leave this folder open; you'll be back.

Part 2: Copy the old places.sqlite file into your new profile folder

Open the Old Firefox Data folder and double-click into your old profile folder. (If Old Firefox Data has more than one semi-randomly-named folder, identify the one that was the most recently updated.)

Right-click places.sqlite and choose Copy

Switch back to your current profile folder and right-click a blank area and Paste

You are ready to start Firefox back up again. Does it have your bookmarks and history now?

jscher2000 said

Semal said

I forgot to mention when the upgrade was complete, a folder was created on my desktop called "Old FoxFire Data". Is there a way to restore my bookmark and history using the file?

Yes. Is there anything else you want to restore? If not, here's how I suggest doing it:

Part 1: Remove the current places.sqlite file

From inside Firefox, open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
• (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename places.sqlite to something like places-old.sqlite. If you see other similarly named files like places.sqlite-shm and/or places.sqlite-wal, you can delete those.

Leave this folder open; you'll be back.

Part 2: Copy the old places.sqlite file into your new profile folder

Open the Old Firefox Data folder and double-click into your old profile folder. (If Old Firefox Data has more than one semi-randomly-named folder, identify the one that was the most recently updated.)

Right-click places.sqlite and choose Copy

Switch back to your current profile folder and right-click a blank area and Paste

You are ready to start Firefox back up again. Does it have your bookmarks and history now?

Thank you for your reply. I followed the first two steps: going to Help| troubleshooting Information; then clicked "Show Folder" and that opened the window with the listing of files. However when I followed the next step: go to File| Exit...after the window closed, the window with the files was still open but nothing happened.

Semal said

However when I followed the next step: go to File| Exit...after the window closed, the window with the files was still open but nothing happened.

At that point, you will rename places.sqlite. You're just allowing a little time for Firefox to finish shutting down before you right-click > Rename it.