How to remove “Update for Firefox 58.0” Pop-up Scam (Guide)

The “Update for Firefox 58.0” page is a social engineering attack that uses JavaScript to display a fake alert stating that you need to manually update Firefox. If you click on the “Install Now” button, rather than downloading an update for your browser, you will be forced to install a malicious Firefox extension.

The “Update for Firefox 58.0” alert is displayed by malicious or hacked websites to force the users into installing malicious Firefox add-ons. The alerts generated by the malicious sites will display the following message:

Update for Firefox 58.0

Firefox requires a manual update for: Antivirus for Firefox

This update is required to ensure that you are protected on the Internet
Install now

* This update is required * Protect yourself immediately on the internet
* Internet pages are automatically examined and possibly blocked
* Increased protection against malware and viruses

These malicious sites run a JavaScript code producing a dialog box, telling you that “Authentication Required” and asking for a username and password. Clicking “Cancel” once changes it to add a tick box marked “To display this page, Firefox must send information that will repeat any action (such as a search or order confirmation) that was performed earlier” Thinking that this is the ticket out of the page, you will tick that box and click “Resend”. At this point, your tab will go into “Full Screen” mode, and you will be prompted to install a malicious extension.

If you are tricked into installing one of these malicious Firefox add-ons, your browser search engine will be hijacked or pop-up ads and unwanted advertisements will be displayed on web pages that you visit.  A typical behavior for malicious extensions installed by the “Update for Firefox 58.0” pop-up is:

• Advertising banners are injected with the web pages that you are visiting.
• Random web page text is turned into hyperlinks.
• Browser popups appear which recommend fake updates or other software.
• Your browser homepage and default search may be changed
• Your browser search queries are being redirected or tracked

How to remove “Update for Firefox 58.0” Fake Alerts (Removal Guide)

• STEP 1: Uninstall the malicious programs from Windows
• STEP 2: Use Zemana AntiMalware Free to remove “Update for Firefox 58.0” Adware
• STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes to scan for Adware and Browser Hijackers
• STEP 4: Double-check for malicious programs with HitmanPro
• (OPTIONAL) STEP 5: Reset Mozilla Firefox to the default settings

STEP 1: Uninstall the malicious programs from Windows

In this first step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious program that might be installed on your PC.

1. Go to the uninstall menu.
   

   Windows 10 or Windows 8.1

   1. To uninstall a program on Windows 10 or Windows 8, right-click on the Windows Start button and choose “Control Panel” from the pop-up menu.
      
   2. When the “Control Panel” window opens click on the “Uninstall a program” option under “Programs” category.
      

   Windows 7

   1. If you are using Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7, click the “Start” button, then click on the “Control Panel” menu option.
      
   2. When the “Control Panel” window opens click on the “Uninstall a program” option under “Programs” category.
      
2. When the “Programs and Features” screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and uninstall any unwanted programs.
   Known malicious programs: Browse Privately, Alpha Shoppers, Searchsbay_uninstaller, SafeFinder, Search Protect, Protected Search, TakeSave, DNS Unlocker, Cinema Plus, Price Minus, SalesPlus, New Player, MediaVideosPlayers, Browsers_Apps_Pro, PriceLEess, Pic Enhance, Sm23mS, Salus, Network System Driver, SS8, Save Daily Deals, Word Proser, Desktop Temperature Monitor, CloudScout Parental Control, Savefier, Savepass, HostSecurePlugin, CheckMeUp or HD-V2.2.
   The malicious program may have a different name on your computer. To view the most recently installed programs, you can click on the “Installed On” column to sort your program by the installation date. Scroll through the list, and uninstall any unwanted or unknown programs.

   If you cannot find any unwanted programs on your computer, you can proceed with the next step.

   If you are having issues while trying to uninstall a program, you can use Revo Uninstaller to completely remove this unwanted program from Windows.

   

STEP 2: Use Zemana AntiMalware Free to remove “Update for Firefox 58.0” Adware

Zemana AntiMalware is a free malware scanner which can detect malicious programs that your antivirus has failed to find.

1. You can download Zemana AntiMalware Free from the below link:
   ZEMANA ANTIMALWARE FREE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link open a new webpage from where you can download “Zemana AntiMalware Free”)
2. Double-click on the file named “Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.exe” to start the installation of Zemana AntiMalware.
   
   You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this file. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
   
3. Click on the “Next” button, to install Zemana AntiMalware on your computer.
   
   When you reach the “Select Additional Tasks” screen, you can opt-out the “Enable Real Time Protection” option, then click on the “Next” button.
   
4. When Zemana AntiMalware will start, click on the “Scan” button.
   
5. Zemana AntiMalware will now scan computer for malicious files. This process can take up to 10 minutes.
   
6. When Zemana AntiMalware has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found. Click on the “Next” button, to remove the malicious files from your computer.
   
   Zemana AntiMalware will now start to remove all the malicious programs from your computer. When the process is complete, you may need to restart your computer.

STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes to scan for Adware and Browser Hijackers

Malwarebytes is a powerful on-demand scanner which will remove the Update for Firefox 58.0 redirect from your PC. It is important to note that Malwarebytes will run alongside antivirus software without conflicts.

1. You can download download Malwarebytes from the below link.
   MALWAREBYTES DOWNLOAD LINK (This link open a new page from where you can download “Malwarebytes”)
2. When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the “mb3-setup-consumer” file to install Malwarebytes on your computer.
   
   You may be presented with an User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow Malwarebytes to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
   
3. When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through the installation process.
   
   To install Malwarebytes on your machine, keep following the prompts by clicking the “Next” button.
   
4. Once installed, Malwarebytes will automatically start and update the antivirus database. To start a system scan you can click on the “Scan Now” button.
   
5. Malwarebytes will now start scanning your computer for malicious programs.
   This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
   
6. When the scan has completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected.
   To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine Selected” button.
   
7. Malwarebytes will now quarantine all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found.
   To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
   
   When the malware removal process is complete, you can close Malwarebytes and continue with the rest of the instructions.

STEP 4: Double-check for malicious programs with HitmanPro

HitmanPro finds and removes malware, adware, bots, and other threats that even the best antivirus suite can oftentimes miss. It’s designed to run alongside your antivirus suite, firewall, and other security tools.

1. You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
   HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download “HitmanPro”)
2. When HitmanPro has finished downloading, double-click on the “hitmanpro” file to install this program on your computer.
   
   You may be presented with an User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow HitmanPro to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
   
3. When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Now click on the Next button to continue with the scan process.
   
4. HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malware.
   
5. When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the “Next” button, to remove malware.
   
6. Click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
   
   When the process is complete, you can close HitmanPro and continue with the rest of the instructions.

(OPTIONAL) STEP 5: Reset Mozilla Firefox to the default settings

The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history and open tabs.

1. In the upper-right corner of the Firefox window, click the Firefox menu button (), then click on the “Help” () button.
   
2. From the Help menu, choose Troubleshooting Information.
   If you’re unable to access the Help menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting information page.
   
3. Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
   
4. To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
   
5. Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.