Skype and The Browser Highlighter add-in automatically installs updates in Firefox without asking

19 Jan 2010 - Dave

Skype is the free instant messaging and VOIP (voice over IP) program. Skype is popular to make free phone calls to another Skype user any where in the world. eBay bought Skype a few years ago.

A recent automatic update by Skype installs another program without prompting the user. The program is ‘The Browser Highlighter’. The Browser Highlighter linked to spyware infections. It was also reported as causing problems with Firefox.

The Browser Highlighter program is only installed if Skype is left configured to get updates automatically. If the Skype updates download from their website The Browser Highlighter program is not included. If you use Skype at home avoid this problem by disabling Skype’s automatic updates. Look under ‘Options/Advanced’ for the settings.

Uninstall the Browser Highlighter program using Windows Control Panel – Add and Remove Programs. Check Firefox add-ons and uninstall it there as well.

Resources:

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/11808
• https://www.west-wind.com/Weblog/posts/871907.aspx