FireFox infected my computer!

[TheMajor]

I was doing a memory usage comparision between FireFox and Opera here: http://www.techist.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=322721#post322721

I opened a lot of sites in FF including some cracks sites. All of a sudden I got multiple virus warnings from Avast antivirus, and an Internet Explorer window popped up!!!

A toolbar was installed, and a spyware search thing by 180solutions was running in my system tray:

http://img16.exs.cx:81/img16/5533/firefox7ob.jpg
http://img16.exs.cx:81/img16/2498/ffinfectsme1vo.jpg
http://img54.exs.cx:81/img54/103/powerscan0zr.jpg
http://img54.exs.cx:81/img54/8471/spyware7wq.jpg
http://img54.exs.cx:81/img54/5030/evenmorespyware8az.jpg
http://img54.exs.cx:81/img54/6177/morespyware9ar.jpg


Nothing happend when I opened exactly the same pages in Opera.

 

[beedubaya]

Ooooh...i hate those. I've had all of them before and they are a pain to get rid of. What firewall do you use? Did you install Service Pack 2?

 

[TheMajor]

I don't use a FireWall, and I don't have SP2 installed.

A browser shouldn't be able to open another browser, even without FireWall or SP2.

 

[beedubaya]

I would blame the fact that you got those trojans on the fact that you don't have a firewall. It doesn't matter what browser you use, no firewall is bad news.

 

[TheMajor]

Well, i am not sure if I got infected by them, but Avast found alot of trojans in the program files/180solutions. I blame FF. Nothing happend with Opera

 

[southernlady]

TheMajor, you are running unprotected...Firefox isn't perfect...you run around like that and you will get infected. You need a firewall/SP2 on your computer. I guess that will teach you not to do something like that again. Opera may be able to keep them out for NOW but someday even that will be cracked. Liz

 

[TheMajor]

I used to use a FireWall, but I never noticed any advantage. I haven't been using a FireWall anymore for bout 2 months.

btw, i got rid of the spyware (I think)

 

[x86angler]

I tried out the so-called "holy grail" (snicker) of browsers for a while and tested it by going to unsafe and unknown sites I would never go to otherwise.

Heh, I've had it open IE before with popups. Couple times my computer came to a screeching hault.



-x86

 

[southernlady]

Only way to be sure, TheMajor is to run a HiJack This log, LOL. Liz

 

[TheMajor]

Only way to be sure, TheMajor is to run a HiJack This log, LOL. Liz

Yes, true. Good idea. I should be infected pretty bad. Give me a few minutes.