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Same 2 happened to me yesterday but my AVG picked them up, fortunately. One Java and one Flashplayer.

With anything like that, don't even click on the X to close it, as it can be enough to activate potential malware.

http://readwrite.com/2012/09/05/java-is-no-longer-needed-pull-the-plug-in

Yes, clicking the X is usually futile & may invoke more trouble. Also, a right-click for the function menu off a program on the task-bar & using Close often doesn't work either.
The buttons are simply graphic interfaces that call a subroutine, which can be replaced by malware to do something else.

Best bet is F4 which should kill the browser. That's a system level command & it hasn't failed me yet.

Thanks to all for the links. I will certainly peruse those.

Somewhat ironic is the article from The Guardian. Their Genius puzzle page has had the Java horror show for at least 2 years (since I've been accessing it).

Oops. This site interprets angle brackets a certain way so they & their contents disappear.

This should work:

Best bet is to use the Alt & F4 keys together ...

Good Morning / Evening, Syzygy! Thank you for this last tip! Is there no danger if I do that of something else being disabled?

It appears my fake Java update wasn't...got it again on the Guardian website and Norton OK'd it...it certainly looked different though.

@greedy kite & ixion

Pressing Alt & F4 together should stop any program running on Windows, such a browser which has run across something nasty. The command simply kills the program & does no harm elsewhere.
An anti-virus program such as AVG incorporates with Firefox to block attacks. Usually does the job very well, but the "nasty boys" out there are ingenious. If in doubt, kill it immediately.
Never, ever click on anything that wants to scan your computer, improve it's performance, etc.

There are plenty of legitimate programs available that will do various house-keeping functions. Go to their actual sites or try something like Cnet (Google it) to preview them.

Re Java, see my post @5
http://www.crosswordsolver.org/forum/457537/offset/4

Thanx, Syzygy: orders received & u'stood! Will do as you say!

Sorry to report, Syzygy, pressing Alt + F4 simultaneously doesn't seem to cure anything with me. After turning off and re-starting computer, the "update" messages return sooner or later. Do you know any other trick?