Bring back feature to check the plugin's version
There was webpage to check of actual version of plugins. There is no more. But big percent of users still continue to use browser's version with plugins and they need this webpage to provide a security for yourself.
All Replies (9)
Firefox 42 is no longer supported. You should be running Firefox 56 or later. Plugins are not supported in future versions of Firefox, and most plugin vendors are killing those plugins off anyway, so there is no longer a need for the plugin update check page.
If you need to use plugins other than the Shockwave Flash plugin then look at the Firefox 52 ESR version.
Why-do-Java-Silverlight-Adobe-Acrobat-and-other-plugins-no longer work.
I know, but there are still about 1.6% (or ~16 millions) from a total Internet users that still continue to use. It maybe various reasons, for example there is no same addons for actual version - it's important, because some addons help with tasks and save time. So, this page are actual for them.
It could just the link to old webpage.
It requires engineering effort to keep that page up and running. Users shouldn't be running old versions of Firefox, it leaves you horribly vulnerable to attacks and stuck using a slower browser.
Why are you using Firefox 42 and not 56?
It requires engineering effort to keep that page up and running What are types? Webpage needs only: server (done), free space about ~10 KB of codes (there was). I don't know how webpage recognized installed plugins and found actual versions (parsing), maybe JS, it's user-side.
stuck using a slower browser Every version became faster to previous. So, 56 version must faster of 4 version, but nobody tested that.
It requires work, it wasn't a simple static page, it had an entire backend to manage plugins and versions.
And yes, we do test performance. In fact, Firefox 57, which comes out in a few weeks, is over twice as fast as Firefox 52, and far far faster than Firefox 42. Plus, look at the security bugs you are vulnerable to (basically everything from Firefox 43 on up in the list here: https://www.mozilla.org/security/known-vulnerabilities/firefox.html)
So, update Firefox ASAP
Flash and Java both install updaters. You do not need to manually check for updates as long as those are running normally.
Most other plugins tend to update infrequently and probably were not covered by the Plugin check page anyway (they would just have a button to research them).
The old Plugin check page was far from perfect. Some problems that were never solved included not fully understanding which OS versions were compatible with which plugin releases. It also would tell you a plugin was outdated (e.g., Adobe Acrobat XI) even if it was the latest in the series and was just patched, because it always expected you to run the newest version (e.g., Adobe Acrobat DC). The information also would get out of date or inaccurate when manufacturers didn't send the team managing the website their latest version numbers or messed up the applicable operating systems. This created a lot of support threads on this forum where users were killing themselves trying to update when it wasn't applicable to them.
If you want a program that alerts you to available updates for vulnerable software on a moment-by-moment basis, you could consider something like Personal Software Inspector from Flexera (formerly Secunia PSI, free for home use):
It worked before well. Even me could write this page for one day where hardest is regular expressions and to learn how to detect versions from user's browser. As you say, old version is vulnerable and old version of plugin only increases that.
Tyler Downer сказал(а)
far far faster than Firefox 42
and never more functional. ;) What about me, I can't update, because the actual version is incompatible with my work. Don't think that I'm only.
jscher2000 сказал(а)
Flash and Java both install updaters. You do not need to manually check for updates as long as those are running normally.
If user allowed to check updates automatic, but is not so. Not all like when some process looks for updates to software. Don't need to detect OS, because it great see on download page (e.g., Adobe).
Thank You for your feedback. It is time to move along and find a solution. There is nothing further Firefox Support Volunteers can help you with.
Note somethings block Flash from updating and yes you need to Update your Flash to Version: 27.0.0.170 https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, Win IE . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>