Remove Firefox malware: how to do it
Have you caught malware in Firefox? Malicious or at least suspicious software can affect your browser in various ways. We'll explain how to get rid of them.
Adware in Firefox: Uninstall the malware
Adware is a common problem that can occur in the browser. While it may seem stubborn at first glance, the dodgy software can often be removed quickly.
- You usually recognize an adware attack in Firefox by the fact that your search engine suddenly stops working as usual.
- The adware redirects your search queries, shows strange results and a lot of advertising, or immediately redirects you to another search engine. Unwanted toolbars and another homepage can often be explained in connection with adware.
- If you are concerned, first check if it is an extension and remove the addon. Simply delete any extensions here that you don't know what they are.
- If you cannot remove the extension, but only deactivate it, look for a program of the same name in your control panel. In this case, the malware did not nest in Firefox, but on your computer. Uninstall the program to get rid of the adware.
Get rid of stubborn malware
If it's malware, you won't be able to easily remove or uninstall the malware in Firefox. In this case, you have to resort to harder means.
- If the malware is persistent, reset Firefox to its factory settings.
- This will make your bookmarks and custom settings disappear, but resetting them as a simple step is sometimes enough to remove the malware.
- Then scan your system with a free tool like CCleaner or AdwCleaner. If you are already using an antivirus program, then run a full system scan instead.
- Is the scanner not found, but you still have the problem? First try to completely uninstall Firefox. Then scan the system again.
- If the antivirus scanner does not find anything, the problem with the uninstallation has been resolved or the malware has deeply embedded itself in your system instead of Firefox
- So test whether Firefox works as usual after a new installation. If this is not the case, create an anti-virus USB stick and boot your computer from it. You can also find malware that is very well hidden via the stick.
Have you caught malware from a dubious website in Firefox? In the next practical tip, read how you can always block suspicious websites.