Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: pschroeter on November 15, 2014, 01:51:48 AM
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Today I started up my browser Firefox 33.1 only to find many, but not all, of my add ons have disappeared and are not listed in the Add-ons Manager anymore. Is there some reason Avast would suddenly dislike most of my Firefox add ons and delete them? Is there a way to tell if Avast was the program to delete them? I have a similar question posted in the Firefox forum at Mozillazine and the common thread was they all were using Avast.
Quote from: lukor on Yesterday at 05:38:08 PM
Hi guys,
thanks to all for the information posted. We have been able to identify the problem now. Browser Cleanup is responsible for this issue. A bug in the component calculating hashes of the extension packages cause (only in some rare cases) deletion of the wrong file - the original instead the packed one.
Sorry for that and thanks again for your help obtaining the repro steps for us.
The Browser Cleanup team is now working on a fix, which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly (tomorrow).
Lukas
So how will I know when is safe to reinstall my add-ons? People, inducing me, seem to be fuzzy about what a "VPS" is exactly. I think it is some sort of virus signature, but since Avast gets several of these a day, I want to know how I'll know which one was the right one.
By way, when I first had this problem, my first thought was I had a virus and I ran a couple scans looking for it. Having an antivirus program make me think I have a virus seems to me to be a very bad thing. It would have been really nice if there were some sort of log that told me what Avast had done so I could know for sure it was overreacting. I looked in the vault and scan history and there was nothing.
UPDATE: November 21, 2014
Now that the crisis seems over, I have a few words for Avast.
Putting aside the last few days and the trouble I have been through trying to remember what Firefox add-ons were missing and reinstalling them, the thing that stands out the most about this episode to me is I had no idea how to tell if Avast was deleting my files. I checked Virus Chest and Scan History and they both said nothing. This lead to a panic and scramble to find what malware or virus was capable of attacking Firefox and was strong enough to get past Avast.
The other thing that comes to mind is since Avast could delete things without keeping a record, what other files on my computer might it be deleting? One of the Avast techs said it was caused by Firefox XPI format, but how would I know if Avast didn’t like something else? A few weeks ago Avast took a disliking to a program that has been on my computer for years. At least then I found it in the Virus Chest and could create an exception for it. Now I’m constantly nervous and thinking of switching to another program.
BTW: I know what CAPTCHAS are for, but yours are a lot harder than most I have come across. I'm human and it sometimes still takes me a couple tries.
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avast deletes them if you run the browser cleanup tool and let avast to delete them.
Only other time that avast deletes them if they are detected as malware.
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I have the same problem and judging from Mozilla forums, so do others:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=2888363&p=13876775#
The add-ons are deleted automatically, not via browser cleanup tool and there are no reports of malware being detected. I witnessed it happen "live" as I was in my add-ons manger list, add-ons being removed automatically.
Something very fishy is going on. I've turned off HTTPS scanning, because that has caused many issues and so far I haven't had the issue since HTTPS scanning went off again.
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Also experienced twice in two days. Did not link to Avast unstil now. Add-ons in question:
Open With
Classic Theme Restorer
Could be linked:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160114.0
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It removed pretty much every of my add-ons, every one of them very popular add-ons.
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I guess I'm just lucky again and none of my 33 add-ons on both XP and win7 systems (running firefox 33.1.0) are effected.
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Also experienced twice in two days. Did not link to Avast unstil now. Add-ons in question:
Open With
Classic Theme Restorer
I have those 2 extensions (among many others) in several profiles across 3 laptops and have had no issues. I have HTTPS web scanning enabled. I'm currently running Firefox 33.1.1, updated yesterday after it was released. I'm not using Firefox Sync.
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I am using the Firefox Sync (including sync add-ons) on both systems so if it happened on one it would migrate/sync to the other.
I don't have the Avast Browser Cleanup installed, nor do I use the firefox Avast On-line Security add-on. HTTPS scanning is enabled on the win7 system, but not compatible in the XP OS.
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I don't have the Avast Browser Cleanup installed, nor do I use the firefox Avast On-line Security add-on. HTTPS scanning is enabled on the win7 system, but not compatible in the XP OS.
Same here, except all my machines are now Win 7. My desktop WinXP Pro SP3's power supply fried taking the motherboard with it. I was able to use a SATA/USB adapter to retrieve the data and then image backup the 2 160GB hard drives. The machine was then taken to my grandson who is salvaging the drives and various other parts that are still usable.
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I can confirm this bug too :(
Greetz, Red.
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I can confirm this too. Since the last program update Avast removes half of my firefox addons automatically on every system startup. This is very annoying. Would be nice if some avast official can provide us with a statement about the problem.
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Huh. That happened to me earlier today too. The catalyst was updating FF from 33.1 to 33.1.1. When FF restarted itself after updating many of my addons were missing. Only my British English Dictionary and WOT were still there. I've had to reinstall them one by one.
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Latest Avast reportedly deleting Firefox add-ons
http://www.ghacks.net/2014/11/16/latest-avast-reportedly-deleting-firefox-add-ons/
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The catalyst was updating FF from 33.1 to 33.1.1. When FF restarted itself after updating many of my addons were missing.
Could it be related to a firefox update then ?
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The catalyst was updating FF from 33.1 to 33.1.1. When FF restarted itself after updating many of my addons were missing.
Could it be related to a firefox update then ?
I don't have this problem,but I am updating almost everything manually.
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No problems here with FF ESR.
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The catalyst was updating FF from 33.1 to 33.1.1. When FF restarted itself after updating many of my addons were missing.
Could it be related to a firefox update then ?
Having just just read the new posts on this topic, I did a manual update from the 33.1.0 UI (XP) and firefox has rebooted and I still have all of my add-ons that I started with. Just about to do the same on my win7 netbook - update has completed and restarted - all add-ons are still in place.
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If this was an issue with the latest Firefox 33.1, this would be more widespread. But every single person, who has this problem, is using Avast.
This can be related to Avast messing up Firefox, when updating to 33.1. This did happen to me after I've updated my work PC to 33.1 and then the firefox sync feature migrated the settings to my other PC.
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No problems here with FF ESR.
+1
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I'm having no problems with losing Firefox extensions with Firefox 33.1.1 and Win 7 SP1. I don't have AOS, GrimeFighter, nor Browser Cleanup installed, though.
There is the assumption that Browser Cleanup must be given permission to remove what it finds, but the assertion by a user on Mozilla Bugzilla https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1099973#c5 (https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1099973#c5) has this to say.
Martin Pecka 2014-11-16 05:48:42 PST
And one last thing today - I've checked Avast GUI and there was really an option in the Browser Cleanup tool to clean browsers automatically. I'm sure I haven't turned this option on!
Since I don't have Browser Cleanup installed (and no desire to do so), I can't check this.
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The catalyst was updating FF from 33.1 to 33.1.1. When FF restarted itself after updating many of my addons were missing.
Could it be related to a firefox update then ?
Almost certainly. My addons were present and correct until then, but as someone else pointed out this only seems to be reported by people who use avast (not saying everyone who uses avast is having this, but it does seem to be a one common factor). It didn't happen when I updated FF on my other rig which I run Eset NOD32 on, but have an otherwise identical software set up.
I should also add that I have the avast browser clean up thing installed (but haven't run it in ages - the last time I did it told me that all my plugins had a good reputation), but I do not have the avast online safety browser plugin installed as it did not play nicely with some other addons I had. Mentioning in case it helps piece the puzzle together.
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His assumption is not correct. The tool has an option, which can check automatically, but it doesn't say it removes them automatically.
Here is a screenshot: http://grab.by/CeUk
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Another casualty here. I have 8 addons (of about 25) uninstalled by this bug, including NoScript, Classic Theme Restorer, and Status4Evar, destroying Firefox usability. I'm running Avast Pro antivirus, v2014.9.0.2021. (On checking the Avast version, I was informed that "A new version of the program (2015.10.0.2208) is available", will update when I can.)
I'm curious whether any Avast Free users have experienced this bug.
My current best guess as to the problem scenario, run recent version of Avast antivirus and Firefox with Avast security plugin loaded, then upgrade through Firefox About menu, resulting in a number of addons being quietly uninstalled. (Avast and Malwarebytes indicate no malware on my system.)
Some advice, run MozBackup (http://mozbackup.jasnapaka.com/) immediately, so you can restore any addons subsequently lost. Additional advice - do NOT update Firefox until you have a backup made, or you may lose addons again! On seeing advice to upgrade Firefox, I did, to the latest (33.1.1), and discovered I had again lost the addons I had just re-downloaded and reinstalled.
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As noted before happened to me too but with this difference: I have Avast Online Security add-on disabled.
Regs,
Karel
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Avast Free with Windows XP SP3,
All is well with Firefox 33.1.1
Shields: File and Web. Tools: Browser Protection, Rescue Disk, Home Network Security, Software Updater
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Hi guys,
can you all please list the addons that were removed and those that were preserved?
Thanks.
L.
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Problem confirmed with latest Avast and Firefox 33.1. Approx. 3-4 times experienced after backup too... >:(
I compile a list later.
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Hi,
trying to reproduce with OpenWith and Lastpass plugins on FF33.1.1 (also with upgrade from FF31)
No problems.
Do the vanishing always happen during Firefox update?
Thanks.
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Hi,
With me it happens with OS restart, but today, the addons were not removed (Classic Theme Restorer, Open With) but their functioning was broken. After restarting FF, the addons were removed. I would like to attach a screenshot of my addons list to this reply, but I dont know how.
Regards,
Karel
updated: noticed noScript was removed too
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I would like to attach a screenshot of my addons list to this reply, but I dont know how.
Clik "attachments and other options" just below the message form and you will see it.
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for me it's Classic Theme Restorer, NoScript and Throbber Restorer. It's bad because I have to reinstall all of them every time I boot :(
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Just a quick note, I have very little time at the moment, but more later.
On the Firefox "Add-ons Manager" screen, I clicked "View Recent Updates" (from Options icon at top), and discovered that the 6 active addons listed as recently updated are exactly the 6 plugins I lost and reinstalled. I suspect that the addons listed by others are also very recently updated. Unfortunately, that may not be the whole story, as 2 disabled addons were lost in the earlier 'purge' and aren't listed, but that may be because I haven't reinstalled them, Sage and FreeHDsport (sic?). I don't use them currently. Does anyone know if they were recently updated?
Avast Cleanup has often complained about FreeHDsport, but I've never allowed it to proceed.
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Deleted addon list: (these are not all actually)
Adblock Plus (+ Element Hiding Helper)
Abduction
Add to Search Bar
Classic Theme Restorer
Copy Plain Text 2
DownloadHelper
Download Status Bar
DownThemAll!
Flagfox
Gmail Watcher
Greasemonkey
Mozilla Archive Format
Organize Search Engine
Scroll Up Folder
SearchLoad Options
Text Link
YesScript
Exceptions:
LastPass
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@malone.m
Thank you :)
Karel
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Hi guys,
thanks to all for the information posted. We have been able to identify the problem now. Browser Cleanup is responsible for this issue. A bug in the component calculating hashes of the extension packages cause (only in some rare cases) deletion of the wrong file - the original instead the packed one.
Sorry for that and thanks again for your help obtaining the repro steps for us.
The Browser Cleanup team is now working on a fix, which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly (tomorrow).
Lukas
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@lukor
thumbs up
:)
Karel
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Hi guys,
thanks to all for the information posted. We have been able to identify the problem now. Browser Cleanup is responsible for this issue. A bug in the component calculating hashes of the extension packages cause (only in some rare cases) deletion of the wrong file - the original instead the packed one.
Sorry for that and thanks again for your help obtaining the repro steps for us.
The Browser Cleanup team is now working on a fix, which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly (tomorrow).
Lukas
Is the team also working on the glitch that redirects your homepage to Yahoo and your search provider to Bing ???
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I may have solved this.
See here https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160114.msg1152059#msg1152059 (https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160114.msg1152059#msg1152059)
Hope it helps.
Regards,
Karel
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Hi guys,
thanks to all for the information posted. We have been able to identify the problem now. Browser Cleanup is responsible for this issue. A bug in the component calculating hashes of the extension packages cause (only in some rare cases) deletion of the wrong file - the original instead the packed one.
Sorry for that and thanks again for your help obtaining the repro steps for us.
The Browser Cleanup team is now working on a fix, which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly (tomorrow).
Lukas
So Browser Cleanup deletes addons automatically? I though it was only suppose to check and warn.
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... I though it was only suppose to check and warn.
Exactly. This is how it is supposed to work.
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Oh, well that's quite a bug.
Thanks for the clarification.
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The Browser Cleanup team is now working on a fix, which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly (tomorrow).
Lukas
Thx! :)
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I was wondering why my addons were disappearing! I suppose I will wait for the update tomorrow. If this isn't resolved, I'm going to have to seek a different antivirus solution. =C
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... which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly ...
I've searched and found numerous mentions of 'VPS', but never a definition. I also cannot find a 3 word phrase beginning with V, P, and S. What exactly is a VPS? (Sorry for being a little off-topic, and new around here.)
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... which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly ...
I've searched and found numerous mentions of 'VPS', but never a definition. I also cannot find a 3 word phrase beginning with V, P, and S. What exactly is a VPS? (Sorry for being a little off-topic, and new around here.)
I think "VPS" stands for "Virus Protection Software", but I am not sure ... :-\
Greetz, Red.
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... which will be delivered via a VPS update shortly ...
I've searched and found numerous mentions of 'VPS', but never a definition. I also cannot find a 3 word phrase beginning with V, P, and S. What exactly is a VPS? (Sorry for being a little off-topic, and new around here.)
It is the old avast term, abbreviation for the virus signature updates, this I believe was Virus Pattern Signatures.
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Here's some more information about the problem:
We identified BrowserCleanup to be the cause. An update in a hash calculation mechanism caused the wrong files to be deleted instead of some temporary files. Unfortunately QA processes did not catch the problem as it affected .XPI extensions in Firefox only (which were not fully covered by the tests). We apologize for the issue and will make that it does not happen again.
The fix for this bug has been shipped this morning 8:53 (CET) with VPS version 141118-0. (VPS =~ "Engine + virus patterns")
The new VPS should be installed automatically so there's no action required from your side.
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@tosal
thumbs up!
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Oh my god and I fight so many hours!!! This was finally the problem?
And I thought I was the ccleaner... I confirm the same...
I hope the update to come to us quickly because I can not restore again the addons, settings etc..
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Oh my god and I fight so many hours!!! This was finally the problem?
And I thought I was the ccleaner... I confirm the same...
I hope the update to come to us quickly because I can not restore again the addons, settings etc..
The update has already been incorporated in a VPS update - that however only corrects the error in the hash calculation mechanism for the future. What it won't do (in my estimation) is to somehow restore the previously deleted add-ons. You would have to reinstall them, unless you had some form of backup in place, Like the firefox FEBE 8.0.5 add-on.
FEBE backs up your extensions, themes, bookmarks, preferences, passwords, cookies and just about everything else Firefox offers (it can even backup/restore your entire profile). You can selectively restore only the items you need. For instance, you may just want your bookmarks restored and leave everything else as it was.
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Here's some more information about the problem:
We identified BrowserCleanup to be the cause. An update in a hash calculation mechanism caused the wrong files to be deleted instead of some temporary files. Unfortunately QA processes did not catch the problem as it affected .XPI extensions in Firefox only (which were not fully covered by the tests). We apologize for the issue and will make that it does not happen again.
Thank you tosal for the info, however I'm not completely happy as your explanation does not completely cover the situation as it appeared to us. I and others (from what I can gather) have never allowed Browser Cleanup to proceed. It has popped up often certainly, but we have denied it any chance to remove anything (as far as we knew). In addition, whole extension folders were removed from the Firefox Extensions subfolder, not just files. And their addon info was removed from the associated Firefox json files (possibly by Firefox on startup when it discovered the loss of the extension folders). Does your understanding of the issue and fix cover this, and how it appeared to only remove addons recently updated?
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The problem still persist for me.
Everything is up-to-date but every time I restart my computer 2 plugins are deleted:
firebug and Tamper Data.
It is annoying as hell, a few other FF addons like dictionaries, cookie manager, Dust-Me Selectors are fine.
I checked and they are really just completely removed.
P.s. what an incredible worthless captcha this forum has, what are you trying to keep out with that, people?
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Rob104, I never run Browser Cleaner. I think it possessed my computer for some time >:( I uninstalled it via windows and so far everything seems fine. (crossing fingers here)
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I also had a the problem with Avast removing Classic Theme Restorer and Classic Toolbar Buttons without any notification. It occurred yesterday with Avast 2014 and then only for Classic Toolbar Buttons with 2015 after I updated today. I went into the browser cleanup settings and set it to ignore Classic Toolbar Buttons. What puzzles me is how or why Classic Toolbar Buttons extension was given a one star reputation? It is, in fact, perfectly reputable and by the same well regarded author of the Classic Theme Restorer. Any ideas on how this happened?
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Thats a shocking bug to let through to be honest. :o
I had so many addons, that I cant remember what I have to re-add.
And many of my addons I've been using for years, so basically lost years of browsing exceptions, settings, rules etc..... >:( >:( >:(
Is there any way to recover these, does avast at least backup deleted stuff?
Seriously need to check update more thoroughly before releasing, next time it could be computer files and folders that are deleted...
Oh, and please make the captcha more clear, even more important/sensitive/secure sites have clearer captchas... I had to listen to it! ???
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Thats a shocking bug to let through to be honest. :o
I had so many addons, that I cant remember what I have to re-add.
And many of my addons I've been using for years, so basically lost years of browsing exceptions, settings, rules etc..... >:( >:( >:(
Is there any way to recover these, does avast at least backup deleted stuff?
Seriously need to check update more thoroughly before releasing, next time it could be computer files and folders that are deleted...
Oh, and please make the captcha more clear, even more important/sensitive/secure sites have clearer captchas... I had to listen to it! ???
This was never found in the beta and release candidate versions and I believe only became an issue after the firefox 33.1 update - I still haven't experienced this on either XP or win7 systems. That said the fault has been found in the Browser Cleanup function and they are working on a resolution.
This should have now been implemented in a VPS update - https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160289.msg1152011#msg1152011 (https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160289.msg1152011#msg1152011) - https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160289.msg1152293#msg1152293 (https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=160289.msg1152293#msg1152293).
<snip quote>
The update has already been incorporated in a VPS update - that however only corrects the error in the hash calculation mechanism for the future. What it won't do (in my estimation) is to somehow restore the previously deleted add-ons. You would have to reinstall them, unless you had some form of backup in place, Like the firefox FEBE 8.0.5 add-on. This add-on is very handy and not just for this issue.
FEBE backs up your extensions, themes, bookmarks, preferences, passwords, cookies and just about everything else Firefox offers (it can even backup/restore your entire profile). You can selectively restore only the items you need. For instance, you may just want your bookmarks restored and leave everything else as it was.
The captcha has to be tough or there is little point in it - this anti-spam measure is for the first 3 posts.
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Same issue here guys even after the supposed fix offered. Running FF 33.1.1 with latest Avast engine and def files.
I ran the Avast installer and decided to dump the Browser related scanning stuff.
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Same here. Avast really, I mean really (!), needs to stop deleting my add-ons (Media Converter and Mixer 0.1.0 and Youtube Video and Audio downloader 0.4.2)
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BTW as a temporary (hello Avast) 'work around' you could install MozBackUp http://sourceforge.net/projects/mozbackup/files/
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Same here. Avast really, I mean really (!), needs to stop deleting my add-ons (Media Converter and Mixer 0.1.0 and Youtube Video and Audio downloader 0.4.2)
You have an option:
(http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1417961149761-6182.png)
Simply select Ignore if you want to keep the add-on. :)
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This happened to Me on the 2nd January - wiped out, most of my add ons. When Avast updated
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The thing I have to ask is why is AVAST taking it upon itself to question what are very likely perfectly safe and legitimate add-ons seemingly based on little more than some arbitrary, high unreliable user reputation rating?
You get the same sort of thing with what AVAST decides to flag as a suspicious program when you go to download it. AVAST pops up a blocking, warning message saying this is an obscure, rarely downloaded piece of software you need protecting from. Its rarity is apparently the only criteria being used to suggest it must be have been written by demons intent on corrupting your PC's soul.
Although there is no specific ignore button in this case you can just cancel the message and continue. But why the annoying interference, which can sometimes occur after the download has started messing it up, simply because it is unusual and not, as you want, because it actually contains something malicious?
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This happened to Me on the 2nd January - wiped out, most of my add ons. When Avast updated
How did Avast wipe out your ad-ons ? Did you click on something or, are your ad-ons simply missing ???