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Disable Automatic Virus Scan in Firefox 3

Most virus checkers have real-time protection enabled. I find the file virus checker in Firefox 3 to do no more than slow my computer down. Learn how to disable the automatic virus check in Firefox 3 in this guide.

Disable Virus Auto-check in Firefox 3

Please be sure you are downloading safe files. This virus check is put in for a reason and should only be disabled if you are confident you know what you are doing.

  1. Type about:config in the Firefox address bar
  2. Now filter the following browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone
  3. Set the parameter to False

Now, Firefox wont slow down after every file you download.

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix them.

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Comments

21 thoughts on “Disable Automatic Virus Scan in Firefox 3 [How To]”

  1. matticus88 says:

    Thanks for this, i came to this page via a google search and the virus scan really annoyed me so this is really useful.

  2. matticus88 says:

    Thanks for this, i came to this page via a google search and the virus scan really annoyed me so this is really useful.

  3. Nikola says:

    Awesome, thanks so much!!!

  4. Nikola says:

    Awesome, thanks so much!!!

  5. Max says:

    what is this virus checker? i think firefox is doesn’t contain any viruschecker.

    1. Rich says:

      @Max – When you download a file, Firefox will scan it when the download completes.

  6. Max says:

    what is this virus checker? i think firefox is doesn’t contain any viruschecker.

    1. Rich says:

      @Max – When you download a file, Firefox will scan it when the download completes.

  7. Max says:

    What is your antivirus application? I ask this because i use AVG and firefox doesn’t invoke that.

    1. Rich says:

      AVG on my desktop.

      Watch carefully after a file download (a bigger file is better because it takes longer to scan.) When the file is complete, a notice under the progress bar (in the download box) will notify you that Firefox is “Scanning for viruses”. Please note this is only a feature of Firefox 3.

  8. Max says:

    What is your antivirus application? I ask this because i use AVG and firefox doesn’t invoke that.

    1. Rich says:

      AVG on my desktop.

      Watch carefully after a file download (a bigger file is better because it takes longer to scan.) When the file is complete, a notice under the progress bar (in the download box) will notify you that Firefox is “Scanning for viruses”. Please note this is only a feature of Firefox 3.

  9. KJ says:

    yeah, firefox will do it regardless of what antivirus program you have

  10. KJ says:

    yeah, firefox will do it regardless of what antivirus program you have

  11. Carole Ellis says:

    In setting up my printer, I am told to close virus checking program. Does that mean I need to disable it?

  12. Carole Ellis says:

    In setting up my printer, I am told to close virus checking program. Does that mean I need to disable it?

  13. Anonymous says:

    this is a great idea, especially since IT DOESN’T DO A DARN THING!

  14. Anonymous says:

    This is good especially since Firefox’s virus scanner DOESN’T DO ANYTHING.

  15. justingoldberg says:

    this is nice especially since FIREFOX'S VIRUS SCANNING DOESN'T DO A DARN THING!

  16. Gjhhg Sdf says:

    You just need to get decent AV software… like F-Secure

  17. Grytpype says:

    Works in Firefox 4.0.1 too!

Comments are closed.


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