Something is removing my Firefox add-ons. I had to reninstall them yesterday and again today. When I run smart scan it doesn’t show any bad add-ons. What could be removing them?
Any replies would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi -midnight,
Did you update your avast VPS? That may cure it.
polonus
Well there really is insufficient information to even hazard a guess.
You don’t say if you have the avast browser cleanup component installed ?
If you haven’t then the smart scan shouldn’t go near browser add-ons.
You don’t say what these add-ons were and if they were the same ones removed again ?
This is also a terrible and non descriptive thread title
@DavidR,
I do have the avast browser cleanup component installed.
They are the same add-ons which were removed.
@bob3160…sorry about the thread title.
It’s your topic - You can change it. 
But you don’t say what these add-ons were (as was asked), how could we possibly do any investigation into why they might have been removed.
Personally I don’t install the browser cleanup or any other cleanup component. I take responsibility for anything installed on my system or my browser.
As far as on-demand scans go - With a resident (on-access) scanner the need for on-demand scans is much depreciated. For the most part dormant/inert files are being scanned, the other active files are going to be scanned by the resident shields when they are activated.
@DavidR,
I don’t remember all of the add-ons I had installed but I had quite a few.
Easy enough to find your add-ons: Firefox
Tools>Add-ons> Extensions
@mchain,
With the exception of these two extensions all of my other add-ons are gone again.
My dear -midnight,
How did you know you were so on-topic this time as firefox has been hacked grand time, and everybody should now update firefox to a newer version. The browser was hacked during a hacking tournament: http://blog.trendmicro.com/results-pwn2own-2017-day-two/
Yes, through that hack it could take over all of your computer. A good lesson to those that won’t take your messages seriously sometimes (I never did and was very grateful for your heads-up yesterday, as now I have updated my firefox to version 52.01,
and we all should do so).
The hole was a INTEGER OVERFLOW in CreateImageBitmap. It was not further being disclosed. And what is cause is being described by you, dear -midnight:
An integer overflow in createImageBitmap() was reported through the Pwn2Own contest. The fix for this vulnerability disables the experimental extensions to the createImageBitmap API. This function runs in the content sandbox, requiring a second vulnerability to compromise a user's computer.Thank you very much for the heads-up on this one 8)
Read ye all: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2017-08/
I write this posting here inside Iridium browser with these extensions enabled uBlock Origin Web Socket, uBlock Origin, uMatrix, Avast extension, advertising blocker Adguard and Bitdefender’s TrafficLight. For the moment the wife still uses firefox. I’d go for a more private flaw of Google Chrome, like Epic Privacy Browser, Iridium or Watch. I lost quite some trust in the run of the mill big browsers, they are riddled with Privacy flaws lately and became set out against too many an attack lately.
Thanks again for your awareness, dear -midnight, and how for P3te’s & his Cromwellian fathers’sake did you know about this recent hack?
your forum friend,
polonus
@polonus,
I didn’t know Firefox had been hacked. I updated to the latest version early this morning.
Hi -midnight,
That meant your problems subsided. Did not it?
pol
Hi polonus,
Not it didn’t. I can’t get any Firefox add-ons because it shows"could not be installed because Firefox cannot modify the needed file." It shows this each time I try to install any add-on.
Think I’ll uninstall it and use Brave, Palemoon and Vivaldi.
@ -midnight,
Another thing is, that could be just because of that corrupted file, to uninstall your firefox,
and reinstall the browser with a complete fresh install. That may finally cure it.
I personally think you will be overtly very, very happy with Brave, as it comes closest to your personal likings and views.
Also the lay-out of the browser is gorgeous and a very one-way of using it.
It impressed me a lot both in the laptop version as the Android one. I like iridium a lot, but have Brave as well on that same machine and my android device and on both the computer and mobile phone of my dear spouse.
greets,
polonus (volunteer website security analyst and independant website error-hunter)
@polonus,
I did uninstall Firefox but might install it again sometime today. I too like the Brave Browser and use it every day.
Instead of Brave, why not simply use the Avast SafeZone Browser ??? or, Opera with VPN enabled ???
Is it me, but is Brave somewhat like a cross between Vivaldi and Firefox?
I don’t have Brave installed and was just wondering. Yeah, I know Vivaldi and
Firefox use two completely different codes and engines, but I’m curious. Not curious
enough to install it though.
@ -midnight…Thanks for starting this thread. 
edit:additional
@polonus,
I installed the latest version of Firefox and so far my add-ons and extensions are still there.
I do use the SafeZone Browser every day to access the forum. I’ve tried Opera but really didn’t like it.
@Para-Noid,
I really like the Brave Browser. I had never heard of it until polonus sent me a link.
You’re welcome. I was almost afraid to start this thread.
@Para-Noid,
Look here for the benchmark test: http://www.networkworld.com/article/3030134/microsoft-subnet/benchmark-tests-brave-browser-ad-blocker-chrome-firefox-ie-11.html
Some do not like the browser, because of the controversial orthodox christian views held by the main browser-developer, Brendan Eich.
That that is nothing new for a liberal Western society, that is being “sung loose” of G*d Allmighty constantly nowadays,
might not surprise us at all. 
This however does not have anything to do whatsoever with the fact that the man is/remains a very apt and a professional browser designer.
So this controversy should never have been brought into the discussion.
Anyway it costed him his job as Mozilla CEO, as he rather kept to his views based on the Scriptures,
and they thought that was stepping a line in a situation where you cannot hold a minority view, nor even defend it.
Sad days for America really (and for Eurrope as well).
All this said and done, Brave is a good, swift, browser, secure and adfree as well.
@ -midnight
Never be afraid to post anthing however trivial it may be, that you may have on your digital chest ;D,
while ‘old’ polonus is still around.
polonus (volunteer website security analyst and website error-hunter)