Avast high jacked my Mozilla browser!

system · 2015-08-13T16:57:44.000Z

I recently logged onto my bank and Avast asked if I wanted the page in a safe zone. I clicked yes.

Now my screen resolution in Mozilla is so enlarged I cannot access the tool bar at the top to close the browser. I had to use task manager to get out, and anytime I try to use Mozilla, it immediately enlarges again.

I could not find anyway to remove the safe zone…

This is very annoying. Anyone have a solution to this problem? I am not willing to use Chrome right now, it has some malware called Arcade Cake which Avast claims to remove, but when I log on again it is back. It causes very annoying pop-ups and false hyperlinks to appear on every page you visit. I switched to Mozilla and planned to uninstall Chrome, but the problem Avast created in Mozilla has forced me to use Chrome.

Para-Noid · 2015-08-13T17:04:02.000Z

Have you tried to "ctrl + either + or - " ???

system · 2015-08-13T17:44:08.000Z

I tried “control+” and “control -” That does make the page larger or smaller, but the tool bar is gone no matter what I do.

Rednose · 2015-08-13T18:12:34.000Z

Hi fhrussell06, welcome to the furum

First of all : Avast doesn’t highjack Firefox, as SafefZone uses its own customised version of Cromium, the same browser Google Chrome is based on.
That said, I see from what you tell us that you are infected with malware, and that should be removed first.

Please follow this turtorial https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
Than start a new topc here https://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=4.0 and attach the requested logs.
Also give a description of your problems as you did here in your first post.
As soon as an expert is online and available he/she will help you.

Greetz, Red.

system · 2015-08-15T02:08:19.000Z

I ended up calling the company and going for the cleanup from the Avast site. The folks I dealt with were very nice and helpful. $180 and 2 hours later I got my computer back. The computer is free of some unneeded files and some vulnerabilities were fixed. I have a one year warranty.

BUT… Chrome still had the malware and the browser window in Mozilla was still enlarged. I uninstalled Chrome and got rid of the malware. It no longer pops up when I visit web pages. I finally figured out how to turn off Safe Zone and get a normal sized window back.

End of story.

Para-Noid · 2015-08-16T17:41:20.000Z

The problem is that the support tech you spoke to is with a third party provider.
That said, you could have gotten the same service here on the forums for free.
You could have saved $180.

schmidthouse · 2015-08-16T17:51:37.000Z

fhrussell06 post:5:

I ended up calling the company and going for the cleanup from the Avast site. The folks I dealt with were very nice and helpful. $180 and 2 hours later I got my computer back. The computer is free of some unneeded files and some vulnerabilities were fixed. I have a one year warranty.

BUT… Chrome still had the malware and the browser window in Mozilla was still enlarged. I uninstalled Chrome and got rid of the malware. It no longer pops up when I visit web pages. I finally figured out how to turn off Safe Zone and get a normal sized window back.

End of story.

Interestingly, this is the first positive experience/ tech support success posted that I’ve read in all the months they have been scamming Avast users.
Guess they got lucky

bob3160 · 2015-08-16T20:56:26.000Z

schmidthouse post:7:

fhrussell06 post:5:

I ended up calling the company and going for the cleanup from the Avast site. The folks I dealt with were very nice and helpful. $180 and 2 hours later I got my computer back. The computer is free of some unneeded files and some vulnerabilities were fixed. I have a one year warranty.

BUT… Chrome still had the malware and the browser window in Mozilla was still enlarged. I uninstalled Chrome and got rid of the malware. It no longer pops up when I visit web pages. I finally figured out how to turn off Safe Zone and get a normal sized window back.

End of story.

Interestingly, this is the first positive experience/ tech support success posted that I’ve read in all the months they have been scamming Avast users.
Guess they got lucky

I wouldn’t call it positive since the original complaint was not addressed or fixed.

schmidthouse · 2015-08-16T21:26:34.000Z

bob3160 post:8:

schmidthouse post:7:

fhrussell06 post:5:

I ended up calling the company and going for the cleanup from the Avast site. The folks I dealt with were very nice and helpful. $180 and 2 hours later I got my computer back. The computer is free of some unneeded files and some vulnerabilities were fixed. I have a one year warranty.

BUT… Chrome still had the malware and the browser window in Mozilla was still enlarged. I uninstalled Chrome and got rid of the malware. It no longer pops up when I visit web pages. I finally figured out how to turn off Safe Zone and get a normal sized window back.

End of story.

Interestingly, this is the first positive experience/ tech support success posted that I’ve read in all the months they have been scamming Avast users.
Guess they got lucky

I wouldn’t call it positive since the original complaint was not addressed or fixed.

Well the tone of the post Bob was far more positive then any I’ve read and believe me I’ve followed most.
I simply found that interesting.

Announcements