We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

why does it open so many ports?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 43 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

i understand add-ons open connections.. but why does FF itself need 8 ports opened? if i was hack i would def target these. TCP 1100 and upwards.. then i just piggyback on the traffic. There is no need for this many port openings. and every time you close their connection.. boom.. they reopen on a diff port range. This is a major vulnerability.

i understand add-ons open connections.. but why does FF itself need 8 ports opened? if i was hack i would def target these. TCP 1100 and upwards.. then i just piggyback on the traffic. There is no need for this many port openings. and every time you close their connection.. boom.. they reopen on a diff port range. This is a major vulnerability.

Chosen solution

Firefox needs to open ports to communicate with other Firefox processes.

You may see three or more Firefox processes running.

  • one process for the main Firefox thread (user interface)
  • one or more content processes set via dom.ipc.processCount
    Options/Preferences -> General -> Performance
    remove checkmark: [ ] "Use recommended performance settings"
  • one process for the compositor thread (Windows;graphics)

You can find the current multi-process state on the Troubleshooting Information (about:support) page.

  • "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" -> "Application Basics":
    Multiprocess Windows
    Web Content Processes
Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (2)

more options

If you are aware of a way to exploit those open ports, please file a bug report: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/

To reduce the number of background connections, see: How to stop Firefox from making automatic connections.

more options

Chosen Solution

Firefox needs to open ports to communicate with other Firefox processes.

You may see three or more Firefox processes running.

  • one process for the main Firefox thread (user interface)
  • one or more content processes set via dom.ipc.processCount
    Options/Preferences -> General -> Performance
    remove checkmark: [ ] "Use recommended performance settings"
  • one process for the compositor thread (Windows;graphics)

You can find the current multi-process state on the Troubleshooting Information (about:support) page.

  • "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" -> "Application Basics":
    Multiprocess Windows
    Web Content Processes