Firefox 2 users to be offered 3.0.1 - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 21st Aug 2008, 12:46

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/08...ffered-3-0-1/1

Users of the previous-generation Firefox 2.0.0.x series of web browser will begin to receive messages telling them to upgrade to Firefox 3 from next week.

Liquid K9 · 21st Aug 2008, 13:43

wait a minute

does this mean mozilla can remotely issue commands to firefox 2.x?

am I the only one finding this a bit unsettling, sounds like an attack vector waiting to be exploited

Gareth Halfacree · 21st Aug 2008, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid K9

does this mean mozilla can remotely issue commands to firefox 2.x?

No, it means that the automated update service that /previously/ offered a "There is a new version of Firefox 2.0.0.x available" message will now offer a "There is a new version of Firefox 3 available" message instead. The protocol to do so has been built into Firefox for a long time.

Liquid K9 · 21st Aug 2008, 14:46

yes, but still... couldn't that be spoofed?

im being paranoid of course. What worries me more is the possibility of being reminded every couple of weeks to upgrade - i can imagine some systems would not want that (for various reasons) and that could be annoying.

Veles · 21st Aug 2008, 15:18

Very paranoid

I don't really see why anyone wouldn't upgrade to FF3, it doesn't take very long and the majority of plugins work with it. There are a few dead plugins that haven't been updated but that's about it.

Xir · 21st Aug 2008, 15:30

...I'm getting nagged by my emailservices allready every time I login with my old firefox or IE...

On the topic of Firefox 3:
...the "Miracle Bar" is a real pain in the ****, especially as there's no official way to turn it off*..also note the absense of the old "Delete all" Button in Firefox. (well now there is one, except it doesn't delete miracle bar entries.)

For those of you that haven't seen it: It's the normal Adress-Bar, but it remembers everything you've ever typed in and auto-finishes the word you are just typing. Appearently also tying in a search for websites with this name.
Apart from hating datagathering in the first place, my computer is shared...so this is a nono.

*yes I know, you can turn it off by using about:config.
But that's not the point, it should be normally configurable in settings or preferences or so.

Still, even when turned off in about:config...it just doesn't show you the results, but still gathers (now useless) data.

kenco_uk · 21st Aug 2008, 15:57

But, but.. the miracle bar is awesome!

I like it, anyway. I've only recently shifted over to FF, with a later version of 2.something. Version 3 works just as well and still doesn't crash like ie7.

Cinnander · 21st Aug 2008, 15:58

You can try this:
Tools > Options (Edit > Preferences if you're on Linux) > Privacy > Always clear my private data when I close Firefox. Turn on. If the pop-up annoys you, turn off "Ask me" BUT this disables asking when you do a Ctrl+Shift+Delete too, which *is* annoying.
Then, click settings. Turn on "Browsing History" and any other things you want gone.

Badabing! Ctrl+Shift+Del or just close firefox and your history is history. The bar still knows your bookmarks though, so don't be surprised if after clearing the history typing in "bit-tech" still shows a result - it's because you have it bookmarked. You err... you do have it bookmarked don't you?

As it's a shared computer why not give everyone their own user account? Or use firefox profiles?

Talking of firefox updates Ubuntu seem to have reinstalled their annoying update-disabler extension again somehow - irritating because I did my own independent install :|

Liquid K9 · 21st Aug 2008, 16:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnander

Ummm
Tools > Options (Edit > Preferences if you're on Linux) > Privacy > Always clear my private data when I close Firefox. Turn on.
Click settings. Turn on "Browsing History".

Badabing!

had to do that recently after an all too long awkward silence when my sister saw YouPorn at the top of my list when typing in her college website.

naturally i explained how a mate "fooled" me into going to that website.

she believed me. it was the truth... honest

kenco_uk · 21st Aug 2008, 16:27

TBH, you're a human. You're on the internet. What else is there to do besides look at tittays?

ParaHelix.org · 21st Aug 2008, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid K9

yes, but still... couldn't that be spoofed?

im being paranoid of course. What worries me more is the possibility of being reminded every couple of weeks to upgrade - i can imagine some systems would not want that (for various reasons) and that could be annoying.

Even if your system was unstable enough to get attacked in that way (by really stupid crackers) the only thing they could do is change the message to "Yu gt PwNeD INIT MEH!".

ParaHelix.org · 21st Aug 2008, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenco_uk

TBH, you're a human. You're on the internet. What else is there to do besides look at tittays?

ROFL + O_0 + LULZ WTF! + RANDOMNESS! = ... you.

CI32>sl2P,%G{c.)l? · 21st Aug 2008, 19:34

The desire to move all users to the latest version (of any product) is understandable, but browsers are a "platform" now, with all the dependencies that term suggests:

Computer: Laptop w/ Vista 64-bit

Experience:
1) Load Firefox 3 (32 bit): Load failed and trashed configuration. Removal of broken v3 and Reload of v2 with plugins burned 6 hours.
2) I only use a few plugins, but they are essential to my day. I don't blame plugin authors for not rolling updates when Mozilla does, but until they do, I can't upgrade.
3) Proxy providers cannot use Firefox v3. Laptops use wireless connections. Proxy providers offer improved security (fulltime SSL), but some proxy providers can not yet work within Firefox v3 and even blame Mozilla for the incompatibility (e.g., Anonymizer.com).

So, Mozilla can remind me all it wants because I am not budging until I can keep what I have working.

(and I actually WANT to move forward . . . maybe even to a 64-bit version--hint, hint)

Hamish · 21st Aug 2008, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by CI32>sl2P,%G{c.)l?

(and I actually WANT to move forward . . . maybe even to a 64-bit version--hint, hint)

there are 64bit builds of firefox, the main problem with them is theres no 64bit flash plugin
works great if you dont mind being flashless

ps, not sure how it took you 6 hours to reinstall ff2 but you should probably backup your profile once in a while

Cinnander · 22nd Aug 2008, 00:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid K9

had to do that recently after an all too long awkward silence when my sister saw YouPorn at the top of my list when typing in her college website.

naturally i explained how a mate "fooled" me into going to that website.

she believed me. it was the truth... honest

Haha classic : ) I think we've all done that... (right?)
There's a lot to be said for a separate installation for 'that kind of thing' filled with addons like noscript, ABP, trackmenot, etc.... I mean errm.. Who? What? When? <_<

Xir · 22nd Aug 2008, 08:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinnander

As it's a shared computer why not give everyone their own user account?

Yeah I used to do that... 2 Reasons I stopped it:
1. Many Programs are still not programmed to install for multiple users. So I install it, and it doesn't work for another user. *sigh*
2. Wiping your Disk now and again is a good thing in windows, but it's a pain to get everything instralled again, especially becuase many programs save stuff in their own folder, somewhere under Users-All users and somewhere in the Users-"insertusername". I'm busy for a day setting up for one login, let alone three!

That's also the reason I moved to 100% web based mail...

21st Aug 2008, 12:46	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,940	Firefox 2 users to be offered 3.0.1 http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/08...ffered-3-0-1/1 Users of the previous-generation Firefox 2.0.0.x series of web browser will begin to receive messages telling them to upgrade to Firefox 3 from next week. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

21st Aug 2008, 13:43	#2
Liquid K9 Human programmer.. heh Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 3,111	wait a minute does this mean mozilla can remotely issue commands to firefox 2.x? am I the only one finding this a bit unsettling, sounds like an attack vector waiting to be exploited __________________ - Subverting reality since 1999

21st Aug 2008, 14:46	#4
Liquid K9 Human programmer.. heh Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 3,111	yes, but still... couldn't that be spoofed? im being paranoid of course. What worries me more is the possibility of being reminded every couple of weeks to upgrade - i can imagine some systems would not want that (for various reasons) and that could be annoying. __________________ - Subverting reality since 1999

21st Aug 2008, 15:30	#6
Xir Supermodder Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 526	...I'm getting nagged by my emailservices allready every time I login with my old firefox or IE... On the topic of Firefox 3: ...the "Miracle Bar" is a real pain in the ***, especially as there's no official way to turn it off..also note the absense of the old "Delete all" Button in Firefox. (well now there is one, except it doesn't delete miracle bar entries.) For those of you that haven't seen it: It's the normal Adress-Bar, but it remembers everything you've ever typed in and auto-finishes the word you are just typing. Appearently also tying in a search for websites with this name. Apart from hating datagathering in the first place, my computer is shared...so this is a nono. yes I know, you can turn it off by using about:config*. But that's not the point, it should be normally configurable in settings or preferences or so. Still, even when turned off in about:config...it just doesn't show you the results, but still gathers (now useless) data. __________________ SN25P A64 3700+ (San Diego) 2 GB DDR400 OCZ Platinum EL 2-3-2-5 1T X1800XT 512mb Sapphire 200GB Samsung SP2004C

21st Aug 2008, 15:57	#7
kenco_uk glourious bacon? Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 6,292	But, but.. the miracle bar is awesome! I like it, anyway. I've only recently shifted over to FF, with a later version of 2.something. Version 3 works just as well and still doesn't crash like ie7. __________________ MSI X58M - i7 920 4Ghz - 6GB Corsair - GTX260 648/2520 ::: Vote for bit-tech T - theevilelephant - "it sounded like bouncing around on a pogo stick, screaming in chinese while occasionally throwing a cat at a door."

21st Aug 2008, 15:58	#8
Cinnander Flux junkie Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 394	You can try this: Tools > Options (Edit > Preferences if you're on Linux) > Privacy > Always clear my private data when I close Firefox. Turn on. If the pop-up annoys you, turn off "Ask me" BUT this disables asking when you do a Ctrl+Shift+Delete too, which is annoying. Then, click settings. Turn on "Browsing History" and any other things you want gone. Badabing! Ctrl+Shift+Del or just close firefox and your history is history. The bar still knows your bookmarks though, so don't be surprised if after clearing the history typing in "bit-tech" still shows a result - it's because you have it bookmarked. You err... you do have it bookmarked don't you? As it's a shared computer why not give everyone their own user account? Or use firefox profiles? Talking of firefox updates Ubuntu seem to have reinstalled their annoying update-disabler extension again somehow - irritating because I did my own independent install :\| Last edited by Cinnander; 21st Aug 2008 at 16:07.

21st Aug 2008, 16:27	#10
kenco_uk glourious bacon? Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 6,292	TBH, you're a human. You're on the internet. What else is there to do besides look at tittays? __________________ MSI X58M - i7 920 4Ghz - 6GB Corsair - GTX260 648/2520 ::: Vote for bit-tech T - theevilelephant - "it sounded like bouncing around on a pogo stick, screaming in chinese while occasionally throwing a cat at a door."

21st Aug 2008, 19:34	#13
CI32>sl2P,%G{c.)l? What's a Dremel? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1	Not Merely Paranoia The desire to move all users to the latest version (of any product) is understandable, but browsers are a "platform" now, with all the dependencies that term suggests: Computer: Laptop w/ Vista 64-bit Experience: 1) Load Firefox 3 (32 bit): Load failed and trashed configuration. Removal of broken v3 and Reload of v2 with plugins burned 6 hours. 2) I only use a few plugins, but they are essential to my day. I don't blame plugin authors for not rolling updates when Mozilla does, but until they do, I can't upgrade. 3) Proxy providers cannot use Firefox v3. Laptops use wireless connections. Proxy providers offer improved security (fulltime SSL), but some proxy providers can not yet work within Firefox v3 and even blame Mozilla for the incompatibility (e.g., Anonymizer.com). So, Mozilla can remind me all it wants because I am not budging until I can keep what I have working. (and I actually WANT to move forward . . . maybe even to a 64-bit version--hint, hint)