Odd Problem, But What Might Be The Cause

[KARL]

I used a different computer yesterday and had strange manifestations. Without seeming terse, I would like advice from someone who has very good knowledge about these things, I don't need my concerns reinforced by anyone whose instinct is intense fear of the unknown/spells and to pull up the drawbridge and batten the hatches. I want to receive and understand rational analysis.

My work is all done from a bootable, portable hard drive and the operating system is Ubuntu. Yesterday my Firefox repeatedly crashed on the checkout page of eBay, I was never able to log into PayPal (although I did try) to actually pay - I ended up making the orders on another computer altogether. The same happened, a crash, once when I was logging onto my online bank account but on a second attempt I succeeded to log in and complete having a look at things (no operation/transfer/payment).

My limited understanding is a) that all I was using on the computer in question was the Bios, that everything went on within my hard drive. Then b) there is very little malware in circulation that is directed at or can cope with/use Ubuntu.

That said, I wonder whether the most likely cause for the "problems" was malware or whether it is as or even more likely to have been some otherwise innocuous software glitch.

Informed advice very welcome, thanks.

[ToraToraTora]

Well you probably won’t like this but your assumptions are mostly wrong.
Ubuntu is a linux/unix/debian OS largely written by enthusiasts in their own image. Often minor changes in world wide payment systems will cause this sort of problem. Now your points:
a) No, the BIOS is merely the basic I/O system for the hardware, you will be using the OS features as installed. Nothing “goes on” within the hard drive beyond the storing and retrieval of data.
b) Correct, this is unlikely to be malware, but not because of not being able to “cope with” but because so few bother using these amateur operating systems so it’s not worth the effort.
In my opinion your problems are caused by subtle changes in the world wide payments systems that have not been propagated to your OS. I recommend installing Windows 7 (Not any later) and then using GWX to prevent MS from forcing W10 on you. I hope that helps, Buenchico is pretty good in these areas, he may well offer more advice.

[KARL]

The bios kicks in on start up so it is involved, but beyond that it is Ubuntu on the portable drive that deals with all handling and interaction ("talking"). Using other computers than the one in question I have not had and do not since have this sort of problem - hence the mystery.

[KARL]

Agreed, as I understand it malware is designed to robot-like interact with an OS and Windows is the primary target - the vast majority of malware will not "fit" Ubuntu or other Linux based OSs.

[TheChair]

"Ubuntu on the portable drive that deals with all handling and interaction ("talking")"
Ubuntu on the portable drive is loaded into the RAM of the computer, and runs on the processor of the computer in question, using all the other associated hardware (motherboard, i/o ports, processors, GPU, etc). The fact that it has been loaded from a portable drive instead of a built-in one is completely irrelevant.

[KARL]

The Chair, except that if there is a software problem then that problem arises from what is resident on the portable hard drive ? You raise an interesting point: Maybe the problem is one of hardware, namely the RAM. Thanks.

[Guilbert53]

>>>and then using GWX to prevent MS from forcing W10 on you.

Nobody needs GWX any more as Microsoft have stopped offering the free upgrade to Windows 10.

I removed GWX from all my computers and not had any attempt to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10.

[Buenchico]

The problem you're experienced sounds like a fault with Firefox (which can be fixed simply by resetting the program to its default settings). Such software glitches can easily occur due to minor power surges or even due to electromagnetic radiation from the sun's surface corrupting an essential file. (It will make no difference as to whether that file is stored on your hard drive or on a USB memory stick used as a 'live CD' to boot an alternative OS).

I regard the probability of malware having caused the problem as being close to nil.

[KARL]

I missed a bit TTT: Nothing would induce me to use Windows.

[ToraToraTora]

then enjoy your problems mate, good luck!