Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013

Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013

Beware of email messages, Facebook posts, Tweets, and online advertisements, which claim that you can download Firefox, download an updated version of Firefox, download a Firefox security patch, or download some form of Firefox add-on or extension. Hackers and scammers are using these methods of communication to trick persons into downloading malwares masquerading as Firefox downloads from fake websites.

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Mozilla Firefox is one of the most popular web browsers and is used by millions of web surfers around the world. I think this is one of the reasons why these cybercriminals chose this web browser, because of the amount of persons that they can target.

If you asked to update your version of Firefox or download it, please use Firefox's website, which is the preferred website, located at http://www.mozilla.org/. Please use this website only or these other trusted ones:

I have gotten a few calls from persons who have seen the advertisement below and thought it was a legitimate Firefox download link and clicked on it to install the Firefox web browser.

Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites

After installing the program, they got more that what they had asked for. They did not just get the Firefox web browser installed on their computers; they also got rogue toolbars, web browser hijackers, and other unwanted programs that constantly displayed annoying popup windows.

But, these annoying programs are the least of their worries. If they had downloaded a virus, Trojan or spyware, they would have been in serious trouble. This is because these programs are used to steal personal information, credit card information, or online account user names and passwords for your email accounts, online banking and others.

So again, do not click on any links in an email message, Facebook post, Tweet, or online advertisements to download the Firefox web browser, instead, go to http://www.mozilla.org/.

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Comments 9

Apr 18, 2017 at 8:21 PM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
an anonymous user from: Troy, Michigan, United States

I continue to get this fake FireFox update msg, but only when I'm in Yahoo mail. Not sure if it's tied to my account that my Android phone uses to access Yahoo. I see this has been going on for years. Wondered if it was spread by Google's lab - Sweet Labs or Candy Labs or something. Maybe Google wants to drive people off FireFox and to Chrome?

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Apr 18, 2017 at 8:42 PM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
info

The fake updates are being distributed via advertisements displayed by Yahoo. This type of malicious advertisement is called adware. It is where cybercriminals use legitimate advertisement companies to distribute their scams. But, once those malicious advertisements are detected, they are quickly deleted by the advertisement company.

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Dec 15, 2016 at 10:46 AM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
info

Is there a way to block fake Firefox "updates" other than just aborting the browser to get rid of the page and restarting the browser?

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Dec 15, 2016 at 10:47 AM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
info

You will have to stop visiting the website, or if it is a legitimate website, contact the owner and let them know that there is a fake Firefox update message on their website. Sometimes the fake updates are placed in advertisements that website owners place on their sites to generate revenue. If that is the case, the owners will have to contact their advertisement partners and have them remove the advertisements that are showing the fake Firefox updates. These type of malicious advertisements are called adware. For now, just be careful of the websites that you visit.

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Dec 10, 2016 at 7:01 PM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
info

Received via email: "Notice appeared over full screen Firefox logo. dialogue box said this was a "patch" and to download it. I did. Afterwards my wife made me aware of the possibility of this download being a scam. What can I do to counter the possibility?"

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Dec 10, 2016 at 7:06 PM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
info

Remove all unknown apps or software from your mobile device or computer. And, scan your both mobile device or computer for malware using the antivirus software installed on it.

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Dec 24, 2013 at 1:36 AM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
an anonymous user from: Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

Yes - it also happened to me :-(
Now - after uninstalling all added programs; the first Startup of my PC was ok - after it fell into sleep; not able to wake up.
Taking out batteries (Notebook) even does not help: the PC does not Display anything (no BIOS Messages) - Screen stays black.
Only LEDs indicates some activity.

Dieter

Delete

Aug 3, 2013 at 10:56 PM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
info

You should be ok while you have antivirus software installedd on your computer.

Delete

Aug 3, 2013 at 7:37 PM by
Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013
an anonymous user from: St Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

hello, I fell for this fake ez download link, and ended up with some random add ons like you described. I deleted them all, and did a full scan of my computer using windows defender, and nothing else showed up. should I be worried about a virus that may have came with this fraud download?

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Fake Firefox Web Browser Download and Update Websites June 2013