Error Code but no malware
Hi
Yesterday, I was getting the error code ssl_error_rx_malformed_alert. I ran malware/virus scans. Found the malware and got rid of it. I ran reboot scans and more malware/virus scans after, just to make sure it was gone. None of the scans showed that the malware was still around. (Please note, I use 3 different anti-virus software to run these scans). I even uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled it.
Today, I am still getting the ssl_error_rx_malformed_alert error code. My chrome browser works just fine. I ran scans again, and there was no malware.
What could be the issue?
Wšě wotmołwy (8)
Could you check the following settings:
- Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Settings (previously "Options")
- Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
- Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
- Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it
In the search box at the top of the page, type proxy and Firefox should filter to the "Settings" button, which you can click.
The default of "Use system proxy settings" piggybacks on your Windows/IE "LAN" setting. "Auto-detect" can lead to a flaky connection. Try "No proxy".
Any difference?
It was already set to "No proxy" so I switched it on. No difference. Switched it back. No difference. If I was able to get past the error code, the website would be highly deformed with imaged taking up the whole screen and things out of place.
Since it has been a problem with just Firefox, I made an assumption that the malware must have altered one of the files stored on my PC that is not removed when you uninstall/reinstall Firefox.
Although tedious, I removed every file possible linked to Mozilla Firefox and reinstalled it. Ran scans and tests, restarted, etc. The ssl_error_rx_malformed_alert came up again as I went to different websites (like Gmail and youtube) to "test the waters." I changed to proxy settings again and it did not make a difference.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1024043 I used the malwareBytes' Anti-Malware, and it worked perfectly, it solved my problem, and I am glad that I now know the solution. Thanks!
Hmm, tough problem.
Coincidentally (?), someone else posted a thread with this ususual error code today (unsolved): https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1349814
Their user agent string had some odd text added to the end after 92.0 -- does yours? I have a test page which shows your user agent string in red, or you can use a different site if you like: https://www.jeffersonscher.com/res/jstest.php
What security software do you have? Do you possibly have Avast security software ?
Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or userChrome.css is causing the problem.
- switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
- do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Troubleshoot Mode start window
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/diagnose-firefox-issues-using-troubleshoot-mode
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems
Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support to see if that has effect in case security software is causing problems.
jscher2000 -- My user agent string looked normal.
cor-el -- Avast Security is one of the software I use. However, Avast did not detect the malware. Spybot was the one that caught it. After the malware was removed I ran every single troubleshoot possible with Firefox. I did boot the computer in safe mode and nothing was indicating what was wrong.
This is what I ended up doing -- Since I am vigilant about backing up my drives, I decided to just do a factory reset. Start from square one. I slowly worked through each security software. When I installed Avast, along with its other packages (Driver updater, secureline, etc), Avast Anti-Track showed a notification that its installation had failed. But, I could open the application and work with it just fine. However, I started getting the error codes again. So, I got rid of Anti-track.
So far, no error codes have popped up and websites look normal.
awalkersonco said
When I installed Avast . . . . Avast Anti-Track showed a notification that its installation had failed.
Did you contact Avast support about this?
It is quite possible that Avast Anti-Track is causing problems with Firefox as there have been more reports that point to this Avast component, so best is to keep it uninstalled.