Firefox not as safe?

Hi Bob. The cookies aren't a problem and I usually clear those out myself before running a spyware utility. After they were already cleared, in HKEY LOCAL, I had MINIBUG and 48 others, I chose to take the same action (in Ewido) as with minibug so didn't get the names and was only concerned if they couldn't be removed. I didn't get to look at the view report, baby woke up so I just shut it down. I am going to re-run FF for a few days to see what I get. The only sites even gone to are Ebay, Cnet, and a few others, and stay away from the iffy sites. I don't like IE, but to be honest, the biggest threat iv'e had with IE is Dataminer which is a cookie anyway, no big deal there.

Thanks, Paul

1. You posted your HIJACKTHIS log on a HJT forum.

2. You reported the security issue on the Mozilla or Firefox bug site.

Many won't take the next step, but I note it so you know what's next.

Bob

Well, found COMETSYSTEM.exe, minibug.exe...
Seems this is from the add ons. Cometsys was putting a pop up saying I needed to install flash 8 to veiw a page, typical for most browsers if you need the latest, however, you can't view it if you don't click on it, and it installs the spyware, not flash8. This led to the other spywares on the pc. Checked through the site, the only option is not to have the add on as of right now. Being new to FX , it seems will take some getting used to. Minibug has been gone since rid of the add on. Just cookies, nothing else. "Stumble upon" seems to be the culprit add on. I do not use weather bug and never will. I do have the FX weather add on but no bugs or spyware so far. This is a big relief since I hate IE.
My wife won't use FX, she said she can't get used to it. So, I changed the FX icon to IE, renamed it explorer, and she has been using it. I think she knows....
Thanks for the help from all.
Paul

If you remove Weatherbug, MiniBug should go away. I've never had a problem uninstalling it. This program will show also with IE. For Firefox, use ForecastFox instead; it will popup ads as you navigate the weather site, but Adblock takes care of those.

I enjoy using WeatherBug. I too had the problem with minibug.exe but when I bought a subscription and upgraded to WeatherBug-Plus, minibug.exe went away. Never saw it again.

I have been a Firefox user since it was called Phoenix and I have never heard of Weatherbug. So I googled it and found it's website. The Weatherbug website makes NO reference to Firefox. I also searched the FF extension and theme website and could not find 1 reference to Weatherbug.
YET THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL CALLING WEATHERBUG A FIREFOX ADD-ON!!!
What the heck do they mean by add-on? How is that Firefox's fault if they download Weatherbug(which is a totally different program) and install it on their machine.
People are saying to watch out for which kind of websites you go to, well I do go to the bad websites, yes I admit it, but I never have a problem with something installing without my permission.
Can you tell me or can anyone point me to a page that says it will give me a Firefox add-on called Weatherbug.

You've got the issue down pat and I don't get why the claim was made either.

Bob

I forgot to mention before with all the garbage being thrown, I did in fact send a copy of the spyware\hij\virus scan to FX team and so far it may be a false Flash update perhaps using an extension to exploit spyware. Don't know for sure yet, so before I get burned at the stake on here, just thought i'd let you know, and thanks again for the help.
Paul

Why you keep calling Weatherbug a Firefox add-on or even what an add-on is? Where can I download this add-on you talk about?

quote:
so far it may be a false Flash update perhaps using an extension to exploit spyware

What is a false Flash update, and which extension do you speak of.

Firefox does not install anything on your machine unless you tell it to. If you click yes to install something how is Firefox or even Internet Explorer to stop you? How do you know that Firefox had anything at all to do with this? Give me a webpage that will do this to me, or a webpage that has the add-on you speak of, ANYTHING, with even a real glimps of what you are talking about.

quote:
Being new to FX , it seems will take some getting used to. Minibug has been gone since rid of the add on.

Which add-on do you speak of?

quote:
Cometsys was putting a pop up saying I needed to install flash 8 to veiw a page

How do you know ''Cometsys'' was doing this?
Is Cometsys a program, where do you download it from? Maybe it's a website? Could you give me the url?
Never install flash from anywhere but the Macromedia website.

I never used weather bug (never trusted it) even aside from Firefox and I haven't even seen weather bug on the site. My problem is being looked into by the FX team and I think some referenced minibug with weatherbug, this goes to show how well they read my post. Minibug was a spyware not weather for a desktop. I don't download anything I don't trust or know is not trusted by others. So, still can't completely figure out what happened.
Paul

Thanks for the reply. I have to say, I am normally more advanced with things of this nature but I ran across this problem in FX and it was getting the best of me. I posted here also to share what happens in case someone else may have this problem. I am a "new FX user" and ended up with a bad add on. So I have been tweaking and enjoying ever since this has been solved. I think a farewell to IE is in order, well until Win updates anyway. As I said, this was new to me and did make me question FX when couldn't find an answer. I do appreciate your feedback on this though, and you take care.
Paul

I enjoy using WeatherBug. I too had the problem of minibug.exe but I resolved it by purchasing a subscription and upgrading to WeatherBug-Plus. Buying the subscription opened up a lot more features. No more minibug. Never saw it again.

If you want something for free, it's still going to cost you something. In this case, using the free version is going to cost you the time it takes to disable the minibug ad-ware.

free software, no spyware:
kerio personal firewall
avg virusscan
foobar2000 (audio player)
mozilla firefox
Trillian (non-pro)
core media player
Exact Audio Copy (CD ripper)
. . .

The list goes on. There are free plugins for programs like firefox that display weather. The only functionality not provided that comes with weatherbug is probably pretty graphics. By paying to not have spyware in a program, you're only supporting those that include spyware in programs. Their scheme worked; they included crap in the free version and got you to pay money just for the privilidge of not having ads spewed up on your screen.

I do agree that some free stuff comes at a cost. The thing is, I never use weather bug and didn't on FX either. I still got the minibug somehow. I use accuweather desktop instead, it has adds on the weather page but not spyware.

Paul

Forget Weatherbug. That minibug demonstrates the exact opposite of the hot air put out by Weatherbug.

I use the Forecastfox extension instead. It is easier on your Internet connection and processing power. No adware included.

I like to delete my cookies before running scans. I think it makes it easier to determine at quick glance if there is a real problem.

I use Firefox just set on default settings and haven't had any problems. (I don't have any plug-ins though.)
I do use Webroot Spysweeper though, and it gives alerts saying it's blocking cookies and the like.

Anyway; just one question, Winmpy6: No offense, but why re-enable the internet connection THEN reboot. Why not reboot first? (I once got attacked immediately after re-enabling my connection which really surprised me!)--- I start getting paranoid now when my pc is booting and all the systray icons are coming up and my firewall/AV icon comes up last --- just wanted to share that!

You posted a very good analogy of the differences between the programs. Firefox comes in a very basic form, a plain, simple, safe browser with some neat features. The "plain" is a two-faced sword though. Plain is safe, but ... As it is plain, a lot of people will go looking for and grabbing the add-ons to dress it up and give them more functionality. Being open source code, these very add-ons are the biggest problem with firefox. Some of them can do some pretty nasty stuff, and the average user, or even the advanced user, would not know until it is too late which are safe and which not. My work partner loves firefox, he doesn't mind the occasional digging to resolve a problem caused by one add-on or another. I resolve enough software problems as it is in our support staff positions and prefer relaxing with IE on my own system.

You make a very good point about even an advanced user with the add ons. I noticed that some replies here immediately assume I am some newbie who never has had a browser, never knew about spyware etc...I looked up a highly rated add on, read about it, didn't seem bad, no problems associated with it. I installed it, almost immediately after installing FX. I started getting all sorts of weird behavior within a day. Now, initially when you read about FX, it talks about how safe it is, fine. Suddenly you end up with a ton of spyware, can't find what might be causing it, tweaked all my settings, etc...Finally I came across someone who posted this in a forum, same problem, solved. It was the add on. Now, I had to question FX, since i couldn't at the time find any such thing for my "specific" problem. AS you said about your work partner, now that I know , I won't mind digging into the add ons myself.
Paul

I see what you are getting at , don't get me wrong, but my problem wasn't from installing anything besides a supposed safe add on. I don't want to know JUST that it works, I do dig for answers but also share what may happen to me on CNET and opinions, since it may help others. I could not find my specific problem at first so had to wonder where it was coming from. When you mention spyware to many using FX, it seems they get "defensive", "Well it's free" "well, don't use it" "well go back to IE"....etc...
That was a major problem as far as asking for or finding advice.
I do not like IE but I am simply being honest, I haven't had all that much trouble with it as some say they have. (Does this mean I like it? no. Do i trust it? no. Do I WANT to use FX instead? yes.)
Your assumption, while well put for others, may apply with the whole car thing, but I have been tweaking, changing , installing and trying many things in FX but (if one can't find an answer to a problem, unless born with divine knowledge, has to ask.) It made me question FX's integrity as a browser. I didn't say it was a horrible browser, but I don't trust anything right away and like to ask if I don't know. And as I said, i mainly posted it here to see if anyone else had this problem or felt that way. I am not new to browsing, downloads, or anything of the sort. FX, yes. As I also posted, I found it, posted it, was happy about it.

Happy holidays Paul

I do run adaware, ewido, Zonealarm, spywareblaster, Ccleaner, Privacymantra, etc...My problems were not from cookies however. I typically don't even worry about cookies since I rid myself of them almost after every browsing. It was the add on that gave me the problem. In IE, typically when a site tells you, you need flash upgrade, it has been fairly on, and I have not been steered wrong. However in FX, it was spyware from an ad on that would pop this up and say I needed the flash update. This is not an uncommon occurance so I didn't think too badly of it. Well, as a new FX user, simply put, I am learning. I do not like IE and am glad that FX is out there. Without the add on , no problems as of yet.

Paul

No offense but if you read the post correctly, you would have seen that I am.
Paul