I turned off auto-update in Prefs, but FF still updated itself without even telling me - much less letting me choose. What do I do now?
I turned off auto-update in Prefs, but FF still updated itself without even telling me - much less letting me choose. What do I do now?
Since when is it acceptable for a software company to take control away from the user?
How does Mozilla or Oracle or whoever runs the show justify taking away my control over my own computer, and my control over what software runs on it?
This does not make me feel secure - quite the contrary. I hear a lot of yap from Mozilla.org about security, but this is an attack on my security.
For myself, I am going to drop Firefox, as that software is totally out of my control, and that makes me nervous.
Meanwhile, is the internet community going to lie down for this?
Michael B. Kaye michaelbkaye@uchicago.edu
Michael B. Kaye
Toutes les réponses (5)
Not acceptable, but you need to understand how the available settings really work. And it's been like this since Firefox 3.0 was released back in June of 2008. This "update thing" drove me up-the-wall during the pre-release development stage with nightly updates in late 2007, until I got a handle on it.
Check for updates, but let me choose whether to install them. It just doesn't work as any rational human being would expect it to work. The notification about an update being available is too easily sent to the background, behind the main browser by a simple key-press at the wrong instance. There's a delay in checking for updates of like 20 to 30 seconds after Firefox is launched; and if your Firefox is quick to load you might be ready to start "clicking" to navigate to a webpage or typing a password to log into your own homepage or webmail account. And then that hidden window will "time out" within like 5 seconds while waiting for user response; at that point it will just start downloading the update without providing further notification or waiting any longer. And there is no preference that can be set to increase the "wait time" or to force that update notification to stay in front of the main browser window.
Never check for updates (nor recommended: security risk) is what you want if you want to have control over when Firefox is updated. But please take note of the Release Calendar and make sure you keep Firefox in a timely manner. https://wiki.mozilla.org/RapidRelease/Calendar
Additionally note that if you check the Firefox version by using the menu button and then the about firefox that is also the method for forcing a Firefox upgrade and it will override the setting and update.
If you want to check the Firefox version without it updating use the Troubleshooting Information page instead. Tip key in about:support & press enter as quick method of getting to that page.
Furthermore Firefox restarts before it completes upgrades. If you accidentally trigger an upgrade and want to abort it that is possible if you delete certain Profile Files prior to the restart.
- This article will not be available at all soon, you may wish to make a copy(see) of the instructions: Updates reported when running newest version_delete-update-configuration-files Renaming those files & the folder will prevent a pending upgrade from occurring.
Whilst you are free to use outdated versions of Firefox please remember it is then a unsupported and insecure unsafe browser. You may wish to mitigate risks by running in a VM & or having a well rehearsed bare metal recovery plan. There is probably no harm in delaying an upgrade a few days but staying on old versions you will not get any critical security updates, and will be at rtsk of exploits from what is then a list of publicised vulnerabilities. Certainly not a browser to use for financial transactions.
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MichaelBKAYE Today at 3:47 PM
Thanks for yr fast and knowledgeable responses! Sadly, they did not address the problem, which I still have, hence the question at the end of this. Thanks for yr patience and understanding. This is not a flame, but a reporting of what I consider a problem - and a pretty elementary problem.
In re FF updating itself automatically with no notice, ignoring my preferences setting: response 1: The Edmeister wrote a response which included the following gem. "Never check for updates (nor recommended: security risk) is what you want if you want to have control over when Firefox is updated. But please take note of the Release Calendar and make sure you keep Firefox in a timely manner." This is precisely what I reported as not working. Firefox updated itself without informing me, much less asking permission or letting me decide, when I had set it never to check for, much less install, updates.
Response 2: John 99 wrote: "Additionally note that if you check the Firefox version by using the menu button and then the about firefox that is also the method for forcing a Firefox upgrade and it will override the setting and update."
What the actual f***? Since when it is all right to execute a hidden command such as you mentioned (the auto-expire auto-update dialog), and since when is it even elementary programming design to update, when a user chooses what looks like an information-only command such as checking the version?
Your answers are not helpful, and just confirm my impression either that Mozilla mangament feel privileged to put software on my computer without permission, or that their programming managers are inept and cannot control their own software.
Hidden commands, and commands which do things other than what they say, are NOT good programming. The fact that you need me to tell you this is shameful.
Perhaps you might consider not issuing five or six new versions every year? It is hard to do good work on the rush; programmers slip into quick-and-dirty when pressed for hasty re-writes. (I have retired from programming, but this still holds true.)
Meanwhile, back to my original question: what do I do to get FF not to do things without my knowledge?
Again, thanks and forgive any acrimony resulting from the nasty surprise I got this morning.
Michael B. Kaye
I'm just a long term user. I am not a Mozilla employee, nor am I paid to put up with this type of attitude. I'm out of here and handing this thread off to someone else.
Hi Michael, Sorry you are dissatisfied with Firefox.
We are just fellow users of Firefox. Firefox is not perfect, but Development resources are finite, and often stretched. This forum is right now in the process of migrating to third party outsourced software & development.
If you want help with how Firefox works currently then its best to keep the posts within the support forum.
If you wish to discus policy then we can provide suggestions of where to post but we are not Developers and it is pointless trying to discuss policy in the support forum.
Bugs may be filed for changes to Firefox, however it is much better to post elsewhere rather than try to file a bug yourself because Bugs may already have been filed, or decisions made, and the relevant Developers will be aware of the current situation.
You ask
Meanwhile, back to my original question: what do I do to get FF not to do things without my knowledge?
You should now be knowledgeable about how Firefox behaves in relation to Upgrades. Our posts should have given you the information needed to prevent or delay upgrades if you so wish. But if you do use an old version of Firefox you are now aware that is not recommended, and does have some risks.
I will post this reply in the support forum. I will not post your full Private message as maybe you did not intend that to be made public.
John
Update: a new blog on the Firefox add-ons changes
- Mozilla Add-ons Blog: Add-ons in 2017
... Throughout the year we’ll expand the set of APIs available, add capabilities to Firefox that don’t yet exist in other browsers, and put more WebExtensions in front of users. ....