my saved logins/password list seems to have been lost or reset; is this the effect of an update, or should I suspect malware?
As of 31 Oct 2017, or before, Fire Fox began saving logins to a clean sheet. I didn't notice until today. I think they were stored locally, as I do not use the sync feature (I did, however, sign up to it many years ago, but abandoned using it when some new rules made it stop working). Of course, I would like the list back, but mostly I would like to know if this is an occasional side effect of an update, or I should suspect that the file was compromised and erased and that I am exposed. Whatever information you have would be appreciated. Thanks, Mark Stephenson
Chosen solution
Was possible update be Firefox or combined update by Microsoft. Can figure out when it updated last from Settings, Update & Security then View Installed Update History.
What has happened by the sound of it is that what ever happened when it did Firefox found that your Profile was corrupt and made a new one when starting. So this was before ver 57 Quantum release date Nov 14th.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer As HTML save new ones.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-lost-or-missing-bookmarks
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles Only work with copies, careful not corrupt new.
fyi for the future :
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer As HTML
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/import-bookmarks-html-file
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
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Chosen Solution
Was possible update be Firefox or combined update by Microsoft. Can figure out when it updated last from Settings, Update & Security then View Installed Update History.
What has happened by the sound of it is that what ever happened when it did Firefox found that your Profile was corrupt and made a new one when starting. So this was before ver 57 Quantum release date Nov 14th.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer As HTML save new ones.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/recover-lost-or-missing-bookmarks
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles Only work with copies, careful not corrupt new.
fyi for the future :
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer As HTML
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/import-bookmarks-html-file
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
You can check if you have an "Old Firefox Data" folder on the desktop in case the Refresh feature in Firefox has been used and a new profile has been created.
One last thing In the event that the passwords information is lost, you should record all information in a separate text file somewhere else on your hard drive, or written down. You can easily copy and paste if you need to do so. If you are concerned about someone else looking at that file, you can compress it using a password.
Thanks, all. I have encrypted copies of most of the information. I was primarily interested in assessing the probability that the information could have been compromised in order to decide how quickly I needed to run around and change everything.
You only need to change your passwords if you think the account was accessed by others, or you lose the password.
If you want to reset a password, Such e-mail is always sent to the address on file with the website.
Check your user profile at the site.
One last thing. In the event that the passwords information is lost, you should record all information in a separate text file somewhere else on your hard drive, or written down. You can easily copy and paste if you need to do so. If you are concerned about someone else looking at that file, you can compress it using a password.