Drive-by Download Attacks

A common way to get infected with malware is by visiting compromised websites. Cyber criminals use drive-by download attacks to gain access to your system. Drive-by downloads are malicious programs that are installed on your computer while visiting an infected website or viewing an HTML email message. Just like other malware, drive-by downloads are installed without your consent and can infect your PC, tablet, or smartphone.
Drive-by downloads are dangerous because you don't have to have to click on a hyperlink within a webpage or email to get infected. The malware installs on your computer just by visiting the compromised website or by opening the infected email. Drive-by downloads are considered to be client-side attacks, which target vulnerabilities within your system. The malware can exploit browser and system vulnerabilities due to low security settings.
Once installed, the malware deployed by a drive-by download is capable of stealing your personal information by logging your keystrokes and can install additional malware.  iLivid and Seedabutor are malware examples that are deployed by drive-by downloads. The best prevention method is to ensure that you have the latest Internet browser version installed and that you have the appropriate settings configured. Furthermore, you can view your emails in plain text with no HTML formatting. Disabling HTML features can prevent an infected email from compromising your system.

The Firefox Redirect Virus

The Firefox Redirect Virus can be an annoying, dangerous malware. Similar to the iLivid Virus, it reconfigures your Firefox browser by changing your security settings and home page, and modifying your Domain Name System (DNS) settings. Consequently, the Firefox Redirect Virus manipulates your search engine results and loads malicious websites. It will attempt to infect your system with additional malware, such as logic bombs and Trojan horses.

Please be aware that Mozilla Firefox is not responsible for the Firefox Redirect Virus. Mozilla offers a simple way to restore your Firefox Internet browser to its default settings. The Reset Firefox feature provides a fast and easy way to fix most of your issues, including the Firefox Redirect Virus. This feature also allows you to keep your bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, and Internet cookies. Perform the following steps to reset your Firefox browser to its default state:

    Launch your Mozilla Firefox Internet browser. Click on the Firefox button located on the upper-left corner, select Help, and click on Troubleshooting Information.
    The Troubleshooting Information support page will be displayed on your Firefox browser. Click on the Reset Firefox button located on the upper-right corner.
    When the confirmation window opens, click on Reset Firefox.
    The Firefox browser will close and a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish, and Firefox will open with its default settings.

These steps may help you remove the Firefox Redirect Virus. As always, keep your antivirus and antispyware applications updated to combat the latest malware threats. If you use other browsers, such as Internet Explorer, you will encounter similar security threats. Ensure that your browser is running the latest version.

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