Firefox updated without permission. How do I downgrade and KEEP IT THERE!
First of all, words cannot expressed just how ANGRY I AM so I will TRY to reign this in but know that I consider this behavior MALICIOUS!!! I also consider it THEFT to steal bandwidth on a metered connection.
Now, with that out of the way, I was intentionally keeping Firefox on a version that I needed it to stay on for work I was doing. I ONLY use Firefox with that work, and, in fact, the reason why I am logged into this forum in Chrome right now is because I don't want syncing and other data stuff to happen in the background without my permission.
For a few months firefox would bug me that an update is available and I would annoyingly have to keep dismissing it, but apparently the last time I ran Firefox a few weeks ago it updated without telling me what it was doing or getting my permission first. It just freaking DID IT. So now I am on a version of firefox I don't want to be on and I can't take the time to keep reinstalling it.
This is MY COMPUTER. It BELONGS TO ME, not Mozilla. I do NOT give Mozilla permission to steal my bandwidth nor do I give permission for any changes to be made to my computer without prior consent AND notification. You don't just get to make changes like this and then tell me after the fact.
Develops that think this is OK are, in my opinion, worthy of my absolute hatred. Again, I am reigning in just how MAD I am about this. Any program that installs itself without my permission is a security threat. FIrefox is malware until it stops.
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Note: Firefox settings still says "Check for updates but let you choose to install them" so clearly that's a lie.
I need a nuclear option here. I need to know exactly where firefox downloads it's updates to so I can set them to read only and then for good measure I need to know what IP address is used to check for and download updates so I can block them like I'd block any malware website.
You should be able to disable Firefox updates (if you are using anything past Firefox 60.x) using a policies.json file. The relevant information is available here. However, it should be noted that refusing to update a browser can come with its own inherent security risks.
Step one: How do you completely turn off update checks in Firefox v64? You can use a policies.json file to disable updates for all users. https://github.com/mozilla/policy-templates/blob/master/README.md or https://winaero.com/blog/disable-updates-firefox-63-above/
You can use a policies.json file in the distribution folder in the Firefox installation folder instead as also listed in the article, so no need to use GPO keys in the Windows Registry. • https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customizing-firefox-using-policiesjson ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You can use the ManualAppUpdateOnly policy in Firefox 87+ to enable only manual updates e.g. via "Help -> About Firefox".
- https://github.com/mozilla/policy-templates#manualappupdateonly
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/customizing-firefox-using-policiesjson
Note that it is important to stay up to date and install the latest security patches.
Step two: Note: Some versions of Quantum change how the data files are set up, so they may not be backward compatible.
Install Older Version Of Firefox {web link} Be sure to read everything here.
If you still want to downgrade, look under; I still want to downgrade. Click the Directory of other versions and languages link. Look for the directory of the version that you want. But, remember that old versions may have security issues.
You should also check out Firefox; Extended Support Release {web link} ESR Notes System Requirements