Browsers: BROWSER SECURITY UPDATES - Firefox and Internet Explorer
- 12/18/08 2:31 AM
BROWSER SECURITY UPDATES - Firefox and Internet Explorer
by MarkFlax - 12/18/08 2:31 AM
Both Mozilla, for Firefox 2 and 3, and Microsoft, for Internet Explorer, (all versions from IE5 up to IE8 Beta), have issued security updates in the last couple of days for their internet browsers.
The security update for IE is detailed as critical as it patches a vulnerability that has concerned many experts since it was disclosed. More information about the IE update is held in this Forum Post.
Mozilla has issued newer versions of both their Firefox Version 2 and Firefox Version 3 from December 16 2008. You can either goto the Help > Check for Updates in the Browser window or download and install the newer versions from the Firefox web site.
These vulnerabilities, especially the Internet Explorer one, are dangerous, and I recommend you update as soon as possible, if you have not already done so.
I have update both my browsers today, and have not found any problems with either.
Mark
EXTREMELY SEVERE vulnerabilities in Opera browser
by MarkFlax - 12/18/08 3:05 AM
In reply to: BROWSER SECURITY UPDATES - Firefox and Internet Explorer by MarkFlax
Opera has also released a new version of its Opera Browser, Version 9.63 for Windows, in response to extremely severe vulnerabilities. More details here;
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2315&tag=nl.e550
And the new updated browser can be downloaded from Opera's web site here;
http://www.opera.com/browser/
Mark
Mozilla forgets Firefox 2 patch, must reissue update
by Marianna Schmudlach - 12/18/08 8:38 AM
In reply to: BROWSER SECURITY UPDATES - Firefox and Internet Explorer by MarkFlax
It's 'embarrassing,' but users are not at risk, says browser maker
A "clerical error" by Mozilla Corp. omitted one of the security patches that was supposed to be included in the Windows version of yesterday's Firefox 2.0.0.19 release, a company executive said today.
"We don't believe users are at risk right now," said Mike Beltzner, director of Firefox. Beltzner declined to pinpoint the missing patch -- one of 10 in the update -- to make it more difficult for attackers to take advantage of the snafu. "I can tell you that it's not one of the severe vulnerabilities and there are no known exploits for it," he said.
Mozilla will release Firefox 2.0.0.20, which will include the omitted patch, as early as Friday and no later than Monday.
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9123782&source=rss_topic17
Firefox and IE both broken
by AiredaleMom - 12/23/08 9:06 PM In reply to: BROWSER SECURITY UPDATES - Firefox and Internet Explorer by MarkFlax
Just this week, my exclusively used Firefox browser quit. It simply will not open. I did a total uninstall and reinstalled the latest version from the Mozilla website, to no avail. Every time I try to open Firefox, I get a box called "Mozilla Crash Reporter" that says "We're Sorry
Firefox had a problem and crashed. We'll try to restore your tabs and windows when it restarts.
To help us diagnose and fix the problem, you can send us a crash report."
I am offered the chance to give my email address to receive information when more is available. I am not holding my breath.
In the absence of Firefox, I decided to use IE, and I was shocked to find that it won't open, either. Actually, it did open and I did set it as the default browser to click through from emails, but then as soon as I tried to use it I got a little box that says "Runtime error 217 at 0356FB4A." Every time I try to use it, back comes the box with the "Runtime error 217 at 0356FB4A" message.
In the absence of both Firefox and IE, I am using Opera, which luckily I had downloaded some time ago just to look at. Opera is actually working OK, and I've adjusted to it's quirks. My Google search box will not work properly in Opera, but I figure that's because they're paid well by Ask.....? So I use Ask. How humble I've become. Anyhow, I have not set Opera as the default browser because I'm afraid that *something* might be aiming problems at any browser set as default, first my Firefox and then IE.
So my questions are: 1) What the heck is going on? and 2) How can I get my Firefox browser working again? Thank you very much for any help on this.
Likely a Firefox Profile issue...
by John.Wilkinson - 12/23/08 11:12 PM
In reply to: Firefox and IE both broken by AiredaleMom
In short, uninstalling Firefox does not remove the settings, extensions, etc which may be causing the problem.
Before wiping it out, though, try pressing Windows + R and typing the following in, noting the single space:
firefox.exe -safe-mode
That will disable all extensions and hopefully let you back into Firefox. If so, you can then disable all of your extensions, close Firefox, and launch it normally, re-enabling them one-by-one until you find the culprit.
Hope this helps,
John
Thanks, but nope
by AiredaleMom - 12/24/08 7:50 AM In reply to: Likely a Firefox Profile issue... by John.Wilkinson
John, I just did as you suggested and immediately the same "Mozilla Crash Report" box opened up... So no safe mode, no fix. Thanks for the idea, though!
XP
by AiredaleMom - 12/24/08 8:00 AM In reply to: Likely a Firefox Profile issue... by John.Wilkinson
Not sure if it makes a difference, but this is all happening in an XP environment. I've since tried installing older builds of Firefox, and it happens with all of them. The oldest version (.9 or something? forget now) at least opened the browser *once* but then it crashed and that was that. As for which version of IE I have, I don't remember and I don't know how to tell. I believe it is the most recent one, but now I'm not sure if I actually did go download that one. How can I tell which it is? Thanks.
Evie Fieseler, AiredaleMom
The next steps then.
by MarkFlax - 12/24/08 12:55 PM
In reply to: XP by AiredaleMom
Hi Evie.
In John's post there were two options. It looks like the first has failed, trying out Firefox in its Safe Mode.
The next step therefore is to remove everything to do with Mozilla and Firefox from your system. One question, do you use Thunderbird as your email software? If so, you need to use caution in the steps to be taken, as you can inadvertently delete some Mozilla folders that hold the Thunderbird files.
If you do not, then there is no problem.
John has posted some "Tips and Tricks" in another sticky post in this forum, and in the post entitled, Repairing Firefox, he lists the steps to take to completely remove Firefox from your system, and then re-install it.
A couple of things I would add;
1] Before doing any of this, use a browser that currently works to download the installer file for Firefox from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
Save it temporarily to your Desktop. You need the Firefox 3.0.5 for Windows. If you already have this installer file, I would delete it and re-download it. Possibly it is corrupt and that is what has caused these problems.
2] After you have deleted all remnants of Firefox, and before installing it again, reboot, (restart), your computer. This will make sure any registry entries are removed.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on.
Mark
Thunderbird
by AiredaleMom - 12/24/08 1:23 PM In reply to: The next steps then. by MarkFlax
Mark, thanks for your reply. I do use Thunderbird. Rather than risk losing all of that, I think at this point I'm going to chicken out and just continue to use Opera. <waffling> I really miss Firefox. How difficult is it to protect Thunderbird in an uninstall that will fix Firefox?
Evie
I will leave that one to John.
by MarkFlax - 12/24/08 2:47 PM
In reply to: Thunderbird by AiredaleMom
I have contacted him to come to my rescue, 
It may just be by exporting all your emails, and your Thunderbird address book/Contacts list, then deleting everything and re-installing both Firefox and Thunderbird.
But I will ask John to give more precise answers.
Mark
No additional protection required...
by John.Wilkinson - 12/24/08 3:54 PM
In reply to: Thunderbird by AiredaleMom
Mozilla stores the profile information for each application separately, so removing Firefox and its profile will never affect Thunderbird. That's a money back guarantee. 
That said, you can try just deleting the files localstore.rdf, prefs.js, and prefs.bak while Firefox is closed (check Task Manager to verify), the relaunch Firefox. If that also fails you can follow the instructions Mark linked to in order to backup your bookmarks and create a new profile.
You may also consider using the extension FEBE to have your Firefox profile automatically backed up every day, week, month, etc. to facilitate easy recovery in the future.
Hope this helps,
John
No go...
by AiredaleMom - 12/24/08 6:41 PM In reply to: No additional protection required... by John.Wilkinson
First I downloaded a new copy of Firefox 3.0.5 and then followed the detailed instructions as to how to uninstall Firefox completely. Then I rebooted and installed. Then when it didn't work, I went through the entire process again, and it appears I am in just the same place as before...neither Firefox nor Internet Explorer will function. When I try to open Firefox, the *only* thing that happens is that the Crash Report box opens. When I try to open Internet Explorer, it does open, but at the first attempt to use it, I get a box saying Runtime error 217 at 0355FB4A.
I really appreciate your helping me, Mark and John. Is there anything else you can think of that I can try?
Evie
This is looking like virus and malware damage to me.
by MarkFlax - 12/25/08 4:15 AM
In reply to: No go... by AiredaleMom
If Firefox won't install properly and IE fails to launch without problems, then we are looking at malware damage.
Please tell us what you use for the following;
1] Firewall
2] Anti-virus and
3] Anti-spyware.
Uwsing Opera, can you goto http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and download their free Anti-Malware utility. Install it open it and update its definitions immediately, then close it down again.
Then, reboot the computer into Safe Mode, (instructions here), and run a full scan with MalwareBytes in safe mode. Scanning in safe mode will take longer.
If you are unable to download, install, or run, MalwareBytes, (some malware can do that), then please follow the guidance by Grif Thomas this post here.
Mark
This is what I've got on here...
by AiredaleMom - 12/25/08 6:44 AM In reply to: This is looking like virus and malware damage to me. by MarkFlax
I've got a Kerio personal firewall always running, AVG anti-virus always updated, and every week or so I run Spy-Bot Search and Destroy and Lavasoft AdAware. But I know something could have gotten through. About two or three weeks ago I started having trouble viewing one local TV website where I read local news, and a few weeks before that I started having trouble getting into the "make a payment" page on the Dell Preferred Account site where my son pays for his computer. I don't know if those things are any way related to the browsers' total failure, but maybe.
OK, later tonight I will download the malware thing and do that. Thanks again for all this input.
Merry Christmas to everybody! Or if you're in the midst of Hanukkah, I wish you a joyous Hanukkah!
Evie
Malwarebytes
by AiredaleMom - 12/26/08 7:42 AM In reply to: This is looking like virus and malware damage to me. by MarkFlax
Malwarebytes was able to run in safe mode and found 8 offenders:
5 adware.minibug (registry key)
1 rogue.win.antivirus (registry key)
2 rootkit.agent (file)
C:\windows\smdat32m.sys
C:\windows\system32\sysaudio.sys
Now both IE and the newly installed clean copy of Firefox 3.0.5 open and function, and I'm happy to report that everything is back to *near* normal.
Unfortunately, Firefox and IE still can't open the individual links on www.firstcoastnews.com which is where I read local news, although Opera opens the links immediately. This has been happening since they updated their website, and I'm obviously lacking something... What could that be?
And I still can't get into the payment page on Dell using any of my three browsers on my machine, but my son's Vista machine gets in there just fine. Why is that, do you think?
But the major problem is solved! Feels good to be driving Firefox again. John and Mark, thank you both for helping. Should I run Malwarebytes periodically? Or should I just run it if a problem shows up again?
Evie
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