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Why is Firefox getting worse as software?

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you used to not get a stupid popup constantly telling you to update, why would something like this be added without being able to suppress the popup in the normal settings? now i have to go find an older version or maybe start using opera again even though im aware of app.update.silent just on shear principle. is firefox striving to be as bad as chrome, because things like this is how you become as bad as chrome.

you used to not get a stupid popup constantly telling you to update, why would something like this be added without being able to suppress the popup in the normal settings? now i have to go find an older version or maybe start using opera again even though im aware of app.update.silent just on shear principle. is firefox striving to be as bad as chrome, because things like this is how you become as bad as chrome.

Chosen solution

The reasoning stated in the issue tracking is: "The "Never check for Updates" option is easy to enable and forget about. Once enabled this exposes users to severe security issues and it seems unwise to expose this feature in the preferences? This also contributes to orphaned users."

A little later, that is extemporized with: "...it makes it much more difficult to strand people, deliberately or accidentally, on insecure and outdated versions of Firefox. Because this can happen via either user action or malicious software, and has been allowed to stand for as long as it has, this has become a significant issue for the Firefox user population, and we need to address it.

The nature of the internet - in particularly, the nature of risk on the internet - has changed dramatically since the Phoenix and Firebird days when early design decisions like this one were first implemented. Today, we need to balance the freedom of our users to configure Firefox as they see fit with an equal right to participate in the world free from harassment, exploitation and the rest of the carnival of malfeasance that makes up the background noise of the modern internet."

Is there a specific reason why you don't want to update Firefox? Maybe we can pass that reason on to the product team, and get that addressed in a future version, so you'll get the latest secure version and not be unhappy with it. ☺️

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All Replies (6)

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FYI firefox hasn't given me the majority any problems and since no one here knows how your install was done making finding it harder to know.

Modified by WestEnd

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jibo said

constantly telling you to update, why would something like this be added without being able to suppress the popup

Type about:preferences#advanced<enter> in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select Update.

[v56+]; Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Select Update.

Check the settings. "Do Not Check For Updates."

Also turn off Use a background service to install updates <Windows Only>

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Hi, The setting to never check for updates was removed, but you can change how often it checks for updates.

  1. In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear.
  2. Click I accept the risk!, to continue to the about:config page.
  3. Search for the preference app.update.interval
  4. Double-click on it, and set the value to the number of seconds between update checks.
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but the point is why the hell did they change this? whats the point of obfuscating and trying to force people to do things? is this the way firefox is going now? if so i should just stop using firefox completely now, that is as stupid as chrome's bs.

Modified by jibo

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FredMcD said

Type about:preferences#advanced<enter> in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select Update. for v63, "about:preferences#advanced" is the same as general and "Do Not Check For Updates." doesnt exist which is bs [v56+]; Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Select Update. Check the settings. "Do Not Check For Updates." Also turn off Use a background service to install updates <Windows Only>

in v63, "about:preferences#advanced" is the same as general and there is no "Do Not Check For Updates." which is complete and utter bs

Modified by jibo

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Chosen Solution

The reasoning stated in the issue tracking is: "The "Never check for Updates" option is easy to enable and forget about. Once enabled this exposes users to severe security issues and it seems unwise to expose this feature in the preferences? This also contributes to orphaned users."

A little later, that is extemporized with: "...it makes it much more difficult to strand people, deliberately or accidentally, on insecure and outdated versions of Firefox. Because this can happen via either user action or malicious software, and has been allowed to stand for as long as it has, this has become a significant issue for the Firefox user population, and we need to address it.

The nature of the internet - in particularly, the nature of risk on the internet - has changed dramatically since the Phoenix and Firebird days when early design decisions like this one were first implemented. Today, we need to balance the freedom of our users to configure Firefox as they see fit with an equal right to participate in the world free from harassment, exploitation and the rest of the carnival of malfeasance that makes up the background noise of the modern internet."

Is there a specific reason why you don't want to update Firefox? Maybe we can pass that reason on to the product team, and get that addressed in a future version, so you'll get the latest secure version and not be unhappy with it. ☺️

Modified by Chris Ilias