If you find that your system is connecting to the “Firefox requires a manual update” offering install a fake browser update then it is possible that your computer has become a victim of an adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software). The ad-supported software is a form of unwanted software that can show a large number of pop up ads without a user’s permission. Moreover, it can redirect the browser on harmful and misleading websites such as those “Firefox requires a manual update” pages. Also, if you seeing that the Firefox tries to load an unknown web-page, when you try to open a long-known site, then you don’t need to wait! Press the stop button in web-browser’s address bar. You need to follow the steps below and clean your personal computer from adware as soon as possible. It’ll help you to get rid of reroute to “Firefox requires a manual update” site and other malicious and misleading web pages.
The “Firefox requires a manual update” is a scam
The full text of the scam is:
Firefox requires a manual update 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
Technically, the adware is not a virus, but it does bad things, it generates lots of pop up ads. It may download and install on to your personal computer other harmful and undesired programs without your permission, force you to visit misleading or malicious web-pages. Moreover, the adware can install browser hijacker. Once installed, it’ll rewrite your browser setting like search provider by default, new tab and start page with an unwanted web site.
In addition to that, as was mentioned earlier, some ‘ad supported’ software to also change all web browsers shortcut files that located on your Desktop or Start menu. So, every affected shortcut file will try to redirect your internet browser to unwanted web sites, certain of which might be malicious such as “Firefox requires a manual update”. It can make the whole PC more vulnerable to hacker attacks.
The tutorial below explaining steps to remove “Firefox requires a manual update” pop up problem. Feel free to use it for removal of the adware that may attack Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and MS Edge and other popular web-browsers. The guidance will allow you get rid of adware and thereby clean your web browser from all intrusive ads.
Remove “Firefox requires a manual update” popup warnings
Even if you’ve the up-to-date classic antivirus installed, and you’ve checked your machine for malicious software and removed anything found, you need to do the guidance below. The “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up removal is not simple as installing another antivirus. Classic antivirus apps are not made to run together and will conflict with each other, or possibly crash Windows. Instead we suggest complete the manual steps below after that run Zemana AntiMalware, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) or Hitman Pro, which are free programs dedicated to scan for and remove adware that cause misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” fake alerts to appear. Run these utilities to ensure the adware is removed.
To remove “Firefox requires a manual update”, perform the following steps:
- Get rid of “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up without any tools
- Scan your computer and remove “Firefox requires a manual update” pop up scam with free utilities
- How to stop “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up scam
- How to “Firefox requires a manual update” popup get installed onto system
- To sum up
Get rid of “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up without any tools
The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, which will help you manually get rid of “Firefox requires a manual update” popup scam from the Firefox on Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows XP.
Uninstall potentially unwanted apps through the Microsoft Windows Control Panel
In order to remove PUPs like this adware, open the Windows Control Panel and click on “Uninstall a program”. Check the list of installed software. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware, hijacker or PUPs. If yes, delete them off. Even if they are just a applications that you do not use, then deleting them off will increase your computer start up time and speed dramatically.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, click Windows button
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as on the image below.
When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category like below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as displayed in the following example.
Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your computer. Most likely, one of them is the adware that causes multiple misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” alerts and pop-ups. If you’ve many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious applications by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused application, right click to it, after that click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown on the screen below.
When the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to click ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as shown on the image below.
You will see a list of applications installed on your PC. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the programs that were installed last. Most likely, it’s the adware that causes multiple misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” alerts and popups. If you are in doubt, you can always check the application by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. After the program which you need to delete is found, simply click on its name, and then press ‘Uninstall’ as on the image below.
Disinfect the web-browser’s shortcuts to get rid of “Firefox requires a manual update” redirect
When installed, this adware that causes web-browsers to show misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” fake alerts, may add an argument similar to “http://site.address” into the Target property of the desktop shortcut file for the Mozilla Firefox, Edge, IE and Chrome. Due to this, every time you launch the web browser, it will show an annoying ad web page.
Right click on the shortcut of infected browser as shown in the following example.
Select the “Properties” option and it will display the shortcut file’s properties. Next, press the “Shortcut” tab and then delete the “http://site.address” string from Target field as displayed below.
Then click OK to save changes. Repeat the step for all web-browsers that are redirected to the “Firefox requires a manual update” annoying page.
Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks
If the undesired “Firefox requires a manual update” website opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and remove all tasks that have been created by malicious program.
Press Windows and R keys on the keyboard simultaneously. This displays a dialog box that called Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and click OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, press “Task Scheduler Library”, as displayed on the image below.
Task scheduler
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Please choose the first task, its properties will be display just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Pay attention to that it launches on your computer. Found something like “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address”, then remove this malicious task. If you are not sure that executes the task, check it through a search engine. If it is a component of the malicious application, then this task also should be removed.
Having defined the task that you want to remove, then click on it with the right mouse button and choose Delete as shown in the following example.
Delete a task
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks which have been created by adware. Once is complete, close the Task Scheduler window.
Remove “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up from Mozilla Firefox
If the Firefox browser application is hijacked, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Firefox settings such as newtab page, home page and default search provider to its default state. It will save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, and open tabs.
First, launch the Mozilla Firefox and press 
button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the web-browser. Further, click the Help button (
) as displayed on the screen below.
In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the web browser adress bar and press Enter. It will open the “Troubleshooting Information” page like below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.
It will show the confirmation dialog box. Further, press the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Mozilla Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the ad-supported software that causes multiple misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” alerts and popups. When, it is done, press the “Finish” button.
Scan your computer and remove “Firefox requires a manual update” pop up scam with free utilities
It is not enough to get rid of “Firefox requires a manual update” popup scam from your internet browser by completing the manual steps above to solve all problems. Some the adware related files may remain on your PC system and they will recover the adware even after you remove it. For that reason we suggest to use free anti malware tool like Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM), MalwareBytes Free and HitmanPro. Either of those programs should has the ability to search for and get rid of ‘ad supported’ software that causes multiple misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” alerts and pop-ups.
Run Zemana Anti-malware to remove “Firefox requires a manual update” popup
Zemana Anti-malware highly recommended, because it can scan for security threats such adware and adwares that most ‘classic’ antivirus programs fail to pick up on. Moreover, if you have any “Firefox requires a manual update” fake alerts removal problems which cannot be fixed by this utility automatically, then Zemana Anti-malware provides 24X7 online assistance from the highly experienced support staff.
Download Zemana Free from the link below.
164113 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
When downloading is finished, close all programs and windows on your PC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup as shown in the figure below.
When the install starts, you will see the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana on your PC system.
Once setup is finished, you will see window as displayed on the image below.
Now press the “Scan” button for checking your machine for the ‘ad supported’ software that causes web-browsers to show misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” popup. A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your PC. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
After Zemana completes the scan, you can check all threats detected on your personal computer. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti Malware will begin to remove ‘ad supported’ software that designed to display misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up scam within your internet browser.
Run HitmanPro to remove “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up warnings
All-in-all, HitmanPro is a fantastic tool to clean your PC from any unwanted apps such as ad supported software which cause misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” popup to appear. The Hitman Pro is portable program that meaning, you don’t need to install it to use it. HitmanPro is compatible with all versions of Microsoft Windows operating system from MS Windows XP to Windows 10. Both 64-bit and 32-bit systems are supported.
- Click the link below to download the latest version of Hitman Pro for Microsoft Windows. Save it to your Desktop.
- Once the downloading process is done, double click the Hitman Pro icon. Once this tool is opened, click “Next” button to perform a system scan for the adware that causes misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up on your web-browser. While the HitmanPro utility is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified as being infected by malicious software.
- Once that process is finished, you can check all threats detected on your PC system. When you are ready, press “Next” button. Now click the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to remove all malware found.
Use Malwarebytes to remove “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up scam
You can remove “Firefox requires a manual update” pop up scam automatically with a help of Malwarebytes Free. We advise this free malware removal utility because it can easily remove browser hijacker infections, adware, potentially unwanted apps and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
Click the link below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Free for Microsoft Windows. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
326464 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the downloading process is complete, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the MalwareBytes will try to update itself and when this process is done, press the “Scan Now” button for checking your system for the ‘ad supported’ software which cause misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” fake alerts to appear. This task can take some time, so please be patient. When a malware, ‘ad supported’ software or PUPs are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is finished. When you are ready, click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is a free application that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malicious software removal tool, we suggest you to read and follow the instructions or the video guide below.
How to stop “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up scam
Run an ad-blocking utility such as AdGuard will protect you from malicious ads and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam webpages. Additionally, ad-blocker apps will help you to avoid intrusive pop-up advertisements and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.
Download AdGuard from the link below.
26659 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the screen below.
Follow the prompts. When the install is done, you will see a window as displayed on the image below.
You can click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop popups, “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up scam, as well as other harmful or misleading webpages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which is located on your desktop.
How to “Firefox requires a manual update” popup get installed onto system
The adware come in the composition, together with various freeware, as a supplement, which is installed automatically. This is certainly not an honest way to get installed onto your PC system. To avoid infecting of your computer and side effects in the form of unwanted “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up advertisements, you should always carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license. Additionally, always choose Manual, Custom or Advanced installation type. This allows you to disable the install of unnecessary and often harmful applications. Even if you uninstall the free applications from your machine, this ad-supported software will not be fully removed. This means that you should manually delete adware which displays misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” pop up warnings on your computer by follow the step by step guidance above.
To sum up
Now your PC should be free of the ad-supported software that created to display misleading “Firefox requires a manual update” pop-up within your browser. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted ads and unwanted malicious web pages) and Zemana Free (to periodically scan your personal computer for new adwares and other malicious software). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove “Firefox requires a manual update” popup from the Firefox, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
