"5 viruses"

[sdcougar]

Just in last week or so, keep getting a small pop up window on Firefox in the top right corner that says "Macafee Expired" "Update..." Just now, it went to new tab (first time) and said I had "5 viruses"

I think this McAfee notice just began since last updates were installed.

[Moonstone Man]

I think this McAfee notice just began since last updates were installed.

That's irrelevant. You've visited a site that is pushing that message. Clear your browser cache, all of it. Cookies, history, site data, cached content...

[newlyminted7]

You might want to seriously consider using a content blocker such as uBlock Origin (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefo ... ck-origin/).

Many websites use unscrupulous content, ads, and javascript that result in what you saw, which was basically lying to you in order to scare you into buying their product.

You can use this guide so you can understand how to use uBlock Origin - it is very simple once you learn the few basic concepts: https://www.maketecheasier.com/ultimate ... ers-guide/. This guide also shows how to enable the more Advanced features if and when you're comfortable doing so.

[sdcougar]

Thank you both. I did clear all histories, cookies, cache, offline data ("Everything" time frame)

I closed the browser and just came back. The popup is still there.

I will try the recommended blocking tool.

Thank you.

[newlyminted7]

Did you, or did anyone using that computer, ever install McAfee Anti Virus for Linux? When did you install that copy of Linux and what version is it?

[AZgl1800]

I have never incurred a message that I have a virus on my Linux PC, regardless of what distro I was playing with.

for the last 2 years, I have run only flavors of Linux Mint and always default back to Cinnamon when all is done.

this is my selection of AddOns, seems to take care of me very well.
I get a lot of blocked pages from uBlock Origin and NoTrace and when that occurs, I just forget that website.

[sdcougar]

Did you, or did anyone using that computer, ever install McAfee Anti Virus for Linux? When did you install that copy of Linux and what version is it?

No, Mcaffee never installed.

Must be at couple years since 19.2 was installed.

I added the u block to firefox, but the popup is still there. Other than the aggravation, doe the popup do any harm?

[rene]

Probably not but I'd configure Firefox Sync to backup that which you want backed up from your current install (i.e., bookmarks, passwords, ...), sync and sign out, close Firefox and start new by simply rm -r ~/.mozilla/firefox. Relogin to Sync upon starting Firefox again and sync back your data. Preferably don't also sync addons; realisticaly uBlock Origin is the only addon you need at least in this context and that's easily reinstalled.

[newlyminted7]

Is the popup appearing as part of the Firefox window itself and not on a web page?

Perhaps it is a McAfee-related addon that got installed at some point (I think there are other McAfee addons aside from just the Anti Virus software)?
See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1091396

Can you check your Firefox Addons in the browser settings to see if any were ever added?

[dorsetUK]

No, Mcaffee never installed.

Hi sdcougar[
I was wondering how you manage pop ups in Firefox? Have you done this? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/po ... leshooting

HTH

[missmoondog]

other than recommending ublock origin, which is a must have on any browser, go to your privacy and security section in firefox and set enhanced tracking options to strict.

it's been years since i've seen any kind of pop up in any browser though since using ublock origin.

[Mick-Cork]

Did you, or did anyone using that computer, ever install McAfee Anti Virus for Linux? When did you install that copy of Linux and what version is it?

I added the u block to firefox, but the popup is still there. Other than the aggravation, doe the popup do any harm?

I'm wondering if at some point you've inadvertently allowed web push notifications whilst browsing a site.

If so, there's some info on MacAfee's website here: https://bit.ly/33jhYED

That page includes (further down) instructions on how to check on Firefox if you've allowed any sites to push notifications, and how to prevent it. From what I've also read, once you allow web push notifications you don't necessarily have to be back on the same site before you'll get a pop-up.

Other Googled info explains that it's probably a malicious phishing attempt to get personal info (so don't click on it, or if you do don't give them any info), and also that browser blockers might not actually block these types of notification. I.e: you'll have to attempt the instructions on the MacAfee page and see if changing the FF settings for notifications solves the issue.

[Joss]

Could you post a screenshot of the popup?

[ThaCrip]

Could you post a screenshot of the popup?

Agreed. he should do that as it's simple enough on Mint... shift+print screen and then one can manually select what one wants to show in the screenshot that way using mouse pointer with holding left click and moving mouse over the screen in the area you want to be apart of the screenshot and then release left click and it will ask you to save the image and that's that.

[rene]

<gnarghff>

Just let him or her reset the bloody Firefox profile and be done with it already.

[ThaCrip]

<gnarghff>

Just let him or her reset the bloody Firefox profile and be done with it already.

Great point. unless someone wants to continue to play around with it, what you said should be a sure way to fix it since it's like it's wiping all previous Firefox data and starting clean.

but I guess others are somewhat curious to see exactly what it is that happened to that person is all.

[rene]

Fair enough I suppose, but before you know it threads such as these hit page 10 since everyone and, especially, his or her dog has an opinion on browser secuwity. Poster's probably been infected with some form of browser malware; can now spend a few pages of thread diagnosing with what and how while carefully navigating through well-meaning internet-forum secuwity horse-manure or can just blow that junk away and be done with it. I know what I pick...

[ThaCrip]

Fair enough I suppose, but before you know it threads such as these hit page 10 since everyone and, especially, his or her dog has an opinion on browser secuwity. Poster's probably been infected with some form of browser malware; can now spend a few pages of thread diagnosing with what and how while carefully navigating through well-meaning internet-forum secuwity horse-manure or can just blow that junk away and be done with it. I know what I pick...

Another good point as I tend to agree with you here as after a while it can get quite confusing for the original starter of the topic when you start getting pages of random people helping/giving suggestions.

but I tend to agree with you as unless someone wants to look into the possible details, they are better off, like you said, to just wipe the browser profile and start clean as it's nice and quick and they can move on with their lives, which is probably the most likely option for the casual person who wants some help in here is to just fix it as quickly as possible and then move on. but even assuming they go this route... it might be nice to know HOW they get infected (assuming it's browser malware) in the first place so it does not happen again shortly after fixing the issue with a new clean profile.

[Turtletronic]

All this "install ublock" yada yada ... ever thought about the possibility that it is not "a popup" but an (abused) website push notification? ublock does not help against those ...

[rene]

All this "install ublock" yada yada ... ever thought about the possibility that it is not "a popup" but an (abused) website push notification?

Yes. But we first like a clean browser to be able to see/suggest that it were.