We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Mozilla rep infected my computer with webwatcher, how do i remove?

more options

I was tired of MSN commercials on nearly every page. I went to Mozilla/Firefox. There was a problem with the Firefox webpage. The rep asked to do a remote in order to download Mozilla/Fire. agreed. I was still taking a very long time to download. I mean a very long time. I noted since the webpage was having problems and the download time was very excessive. I decided to pull out of the download. The rep asked for just a few more minutes.

Then my computer began to become slower and slower. I deleted all Mozilla/Firefox programs. It got worse. Now I can connect to the internet, but no page will open.

With outside help I was able to determine the WebWatcherproxy and WebWatcherLSP.dll were added March 12, 2105 6.09pm.

The same time I was inter acting with Mozilla. In order to delete the virus I would need the authors code. Mozilla denied everything, but the day and time are certain.

Anyone know how to get rid of Webwatcher viruses? I get and error message when trying recovery or internet access.

I was tired of MSN commercials on nearly every page. I went to Mozilla/Firefox. There was a problem with the Firefox webpage. The rep asked to do a remote in order to download Mozilla/Fire. agreed. I was still taking a very long time to download. I mean a very long time. I noted since the webpage was having problems and the download time was very excessive. I decided to pull out of the download. The rep asked for just a few more minutes. Then my computer began to become slower and slower. I deleted all Mozilla/Firefox programs. It got worse. Now I can connect to the internet, but no page will open. With outside help I was able to determine the WebWatcherproxy and WebWatcherLSP.dll were added March 12, 2105 6.09pm. The same time I was inter acting with Mozilla. In order to delete the virus I would need the authors code. Mozilla denied everything, but the day and time are certain. Anyone know how to get rid of Webwatcher viruses? I get and error message when trying recovery or internet access.

All Replies (10)

more options

Support volunteers generally operate through this forum, so most likely it was an unaffiliated company that accessed your computer. Who did you contact, exactly? Do you have their phone number or URL? Did they charge you?

I suggest using one of the specialized malware cleanup forums listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. Hope they can get rid of it for you.

more options

Whomever you were communicating to was Not from mozilla.org but a random third-party service claiming to do one on one support with Mozilla products like Firefox.

Mozilla does not have the resources to do call center support for any one on one phone, email or chat support. Mozilla also does not charge for any support.

If you did a search on search engines like Google or Bing then they often times have Ad links above the real results which often times lead to questionable sites.

more options

I have scoured the internet on another computer. It is just amazing how many people jump in to create an answer who never even read the question. I have a connection tot he internet, but a page will not open.. AND yes it must have been a company selling Mozilla/Firefox, which just make me wonder why anyone would trust a company that uses a sub-company to distribute their products.

So actually read the question, instead of jumping in and looking foolish.

more options

Ecleve said

I have scoured the internet on another computer. It is just amazing how many people jump in to create an answer who never even read the question. I have a connection tot he internet, but a page will not open.. AND yes it must have been a company selling Mozilla/Firefox, which just make me wonder why anyone would trust a company that uses a sub-company to distribute their products. So actually read the question, instead of jumping in and looking foolish.

You came here claiming some Mozilla rep connected with your computer and infected it and then later denied.

Look if you are going to accuse Mozilla of doing this then at least give details like a url of the website you used to do this service.

Mozilla.org does not charge for sale or service of anything Firefox whether by official or a third-party means. Nor do they do any one on one support by phone, email, chat or by remote connection.

The last time Mozilla ever did work with a support service was with a third-party company several years ago in doing email support. It was a short lived and due to that experience Mozilla has not attempted any such effort since.

There are sadly a number of websites out there that claim to do support for various browsers and other such products including Firefox even though they have no affiliation with Mozilla at all so they can make money. Sometimes they are useful safe support while others may be for purpose of claiming you are infected and then charge to remove it in some way.

If the Website is selling Firefox browser and or services for the Firefox web browser then they are likely breaking trademark terms http://www.mozilla.org/legal/fraud-report/

Mozilla does not use a any download sites to distribute Firefox Releases.

also the three of us who replied do not work for Mozilla but are users.

Edeziri site na James

more options

So the moral of the story.....is do not use Mozilla products.

more options

Hi Ecleve, another moral to this story might be "do not let strangers you meet on the internet remote into your computer."

Hopefully one of the malware removal suggestions will work for you, since even if you don't believe what we're saying about the source of your problem, that's the path you need to travel.

more options

You must feel real important sassing someone over the computer.

But, if you took the time to read my post, you would see I have an internet connection, but no pages will open. I would have to have an open page on, the internet, to do as you suggest.

I absolutely know now not to allow a stranger onto my computer. Regardless, of who they claim to represent. Also, I would not be using the internet chat rooms to solve a compute problem.. Too many people who profess to help. when all they want is their name on a posting, which usually appears to be incorrect. I have seen enough to know to stay away. It's YouTube for me. .

So don't bother as I am signing off and looking elsewhere.

more options

Mozilla nor the Firefox web browser is to blame for the webwatcher infection.

You not being able to connect online with Firefox may likely be due to say your Firewall blocking the firefox .exe especially after a new major version install or update. Even after all these years some software Firewalls are one to cooperate.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/configure-firewalls-so-firefox-can-access-internet

Ecleve said

So the moral of the story.....is do not use Mozilla products.

Not at all saying that, just that your claims that Mozilla did what you said in OP cannot be true. Mozilla cares about your privacy, security and having clean software far more than some companies care to do.

Edeziri site na James

more options

Hi Ecleve, I was assuming you would use whatever method you used in posting here to seek help from the malware specialists. I can appreciate that it is a bad situation and I've given you the best advice I can under the circumstances. The rest is up to you.