Users who were too enthusiastic about getting the latest version of Mozilla Firefox browser were tricked by adware slingers who directed them to the fake website to download bogus software.

The bogus website looks like a kosher browser download site and might easily fool the unwary. Still, aware users know that Mozilla recently released 3.6 version of its popular browser while the counterfeit resource offers Firefox 3.5.

Those who fall prey to the fraud will have their new fake browser stuffed with the Hotbar toolbar from Pinball Corp, formerly Zango. When the user surfs the web via this browser the application incessantly opens pop-up ads while also further slowing performance by loading the Hotbar weather application in the system tray.

According to the security company eSoft the ruse is more likely the brainchild of a rogue Pinball agent rather than the firm itself. Pinball rewards its pay-per-install affiliate with up to $1.45 per install.