Here is the Norton Insight screen re the "problem" with updater.exe.

More than likely a false positive. Norton is notorious for not keeping track of Firefox updates and taking a few days to update their database when there is a new Firefox release. Send that updater.exe file to Norton so they can examine it and update their databases.

I would put money on the fact that there is nothing wrong with Updater.exe, and everything wrong with Norton.

Norton is bloatware and it baffles every programmer's mind how it could be so bad yet still do so well. It takes buckets of RAM, consumes massive amounts of CPU and hijacks your files and deletes them without consulting YOU, the owner. It the only reason I can think of at all of how it still exists is probably marketing and deals, it could not survive solely based on it's own merits.

All that being said, I recommend:

1) Go look for a new Firewall programs that offers a suite of other products (and actually works) such as ZoneAlarm. The main thing you're looking for here is the firewall, but the package deal can't hurt. It's not free, but then again neither is Norton.

2) Also download a reputable anti-virus program such as Avira AntiVir (free-av.com) . I'm in a university program full of coders and we all have 2 things in common for security: We all use AntiVir and none of us have Norton (we'd never get any coding homework done with Notron on our computers)

3) If you plan on following through with this then you will have to disable and remove Norton at this point - there's a high chance it won't let you install either of the previous two programs (or (an)other program(s) you decide to go with).

4) Install your new programs

4.5) If you decide on ZA and install it before AntiVir then you'll notice that it asks for your approval or denial of AntiVir trying to install (the main reason I like ZA - it blocks programs but still treats you as the final decision maker, it won't even allow itself on the internet to update anti-virus information without your approval [of course you can set it and other programs to permanent approval] ).

5) Update Firefox

If you're not sure of what programs to go with, keep Norton on your computer until you decide on something. It's better to have a strung out guy that eats most of your food and may even accidentally shoot and kill people that you allow over to your home, then to have nothing protecting you from zombies entering your house.

If you're still unsure of what programs to use, ask around and look up your recommendations on reputable websites (like CNet) and pay attention to the USER ratings, that is where the truth of a program reputation lies. However, if you ask a store clerk or friend what they recommend Norton, just remember the problem you already have and take it as they are probably getting paid you specifically sell you Norton and/or they have no idea what they're talking about. Remember: Always ask WHY when someone recommends you a program for protecting your computer.

All-in-all, Norton is the reason why you cannot update Firefox. Not that Firefox is (or should be at all) dangerous, but Norton thinks everything is dangerous.

Hello,

Yesterday I used Firefox updater to install the latest version 3.6.11. I have Avast 5.x (home edition) plus Spyware Terminator on my PC (Vista).

During the installation Vista started to work a bit unusual, but I didn't think it's a virus. Later on I shut down the PC and turned on this morning. Then I faced with virus activity.

Forexample:

• my clock speeded up (minutes ran as seconds),
• loging in caused error and need to log in a couple time
• my firewall (Comodo Personal) has error sign
• Avast Anti Virus has been dissabled (all 7 scanners has been stopped)
• I restarded again the PC and then while was Vista loading, the green bar worked wierd.

After wamshane post, I'm afraid that this virus came with the online installation of Firefox. :(

The only difference is that my anti-virus didn't alert me and let the virus in.

Before updating, everything worked fine and I dind't install other software, nor I was surfing the Internet. :(

Please help me. How could this happen?

@tarongazoo: No it did NOT come from Firefox, if you got it straight from Mozilla's website.

What virus? Here's the sad truth. Programs and hardware are made by fallible people. Programs are also made by people on separate parts of the globe that are making different programs for different reasons for different companies. So they don't even know about each other... but yet the programs and hardware seem to meet on a user's computer.

I've had this problem. Had a piece of video capturing software for a freelancing job I was working on. At one point when I was typing my words were being erased like someone was backspacing them. After a while I located the problem. I thought I was being hacked... it just turns out that the hardware device I was using (from a legitimate company) was conflicting with a piece of software on my computer (from another legitimate company). I removed the hardware and the problem never happened again.

Now all that being said, if your computer is messing up, isolate the problem. And don't just cry "Wolf!" (or "Virus!" in this case).

Now IF you wind up actually having malicious software on your computer (virus, malware, trojan, whatever) then it most likely did NOT come from Firefox, BUT it has embedded itself into your Firefox. I hesitate to say that, but I trust that you'll read my ENTIRE post before jumping on the 'virus bandwagon' and try to isolate the problem.

Also, here's the thing about Windows (especially Vista).... sometimes you need to restart it for it to work.

I updated to fire fox 6 three days & it disabled my Kaspersky antivirus software & has no options to enable it. Its gotta be fire fox 6 / I want to get rid of this update and go back to the Firefox 5 version. How can I get it.