Should I install FF 70.0?

Topic

New Reply

I am currently using FF 69.0.3 as my current browser and and I’m very happy with it. I am continually prompted to update to 70.0 but after reading the comments On ghacks.net I’m not certain that I’m up to the challenges that it poses.

I’ve inserted a link to the post as well as all of the comments. I’m not conversant enough in the problems that are posed or the corrections suggested but I do know that if the profile that I have established in my current version does not transfer that I’m going to have some issues creating a new profile unless I have some help. Any suggestions or comments on the ghacks post would be appreciated.

Reply | Quote

Replies

I suggest that you type Firefox 70 into the “Search The Lounge” and you will see a few posts on the subject.  I was holding back on installing FF 70 mainly because of possibly having to go to a dark GUI only and this turned out not to be the case (for me on Windows 7).  Things may be different on Win 10.

I’m okay with it after having it installed for three days with no problems on Win 7.  But there are others who don’t like some of the changes.  So, review the posts and maybe ask some questions and then decide.  The 70 update does contain “critical” security updates so they claim.

Hope this was of some help.

 

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

1 user thanked author for this post.

Lars220

Reply | Quote

You may not have to change now, but soon.

As for the security improvements & fixes, WebRTC has always been a problem even if yourself doesn’t use it. (WebRTC probably still leaks internal private network addresses.) WebRTC can be disabled if you do not use it for Skype or some other kind of in browser communication. Otherwise updating now looks like a good idea. Many of the past bug fixes for WebRTC have been important, some of the other usual listed culprits are important.

Although possible you may not have encounter all of the problems these other users are experiencing.

Usually older profiles are picked up without issue, before updating current profiles can be copied to a safe place.

There are a few other things I don’t like: Tracking protection report does not tell you which blocked domain names were considered harmful.

The change from green to gray for the lock icon is not good, traditionally black or gray meant disabled or off. Fortunately it can be changed back to green!

We can help you or find help if you wish to update.

2 users thanked author for this post.

BigBadSteve, CAS

Reply | Quote

If FF 70.0 doesn’t look appealing to you, possibly consider switching over to FF 68 esr.  It will get another year of security updates.  Then you can decide what to do.

You shouldn’t have any issues with your profile.  But as already mentioned, back it up just the same.

3 users thanked author for this post.

BigBadSteve, CAS, Microfix

Reply | Quote

+1 for the FF ESR version
ESR only gets ‘security updates’ much like the Group B Windows patching on Askwoody. The best thing I’ve found about ESR is less frequent updates/upgrades.
FF ESR also seems slightly quicker than the mainstream bells and whistles version once tweaked.
There are many good alternatives abased on firefox ESR (albeit slightly older versions)
e.g waterfox, cliqz, palemoon, seamonkey etc..
As of posting, the most current version of Firefox ESR is version 68.2 available in the link below:

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/

for more in depth admin, this is a great link:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/products/firefox-enterprise?utm_source=www.mozilla.org-enterprise&utm_campaign=enterprise&utm_medium=referral

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

4 users thanked author for this post.

KP, Alex5723, BigBadSteve, CAS

Reply | Quote

Thanks to all of you who suggested FF ESR. For years I used it without any issues. About six months ago, after finally deciding to install Win 10, I decided to try FF Quantum. Everything was fine until the advent off FF70.0.

After reading the many comments on ghacks about FF 70.0 I knew that I was in over my head especially with the long list of comments involving preference changes that appeared to be so daunting for me. I’ve returned to FF ESR. I feel as if I have returned to a safe harbor.   Thankfully, I always keep a back up my all bookmarks and extensions so the switch was flawless and simple.

Reply | Quote

[EP]

for me, I either skip every other Firefox versions (install FF 69, skip 70 & wait for & install FF 71, etc.) OR install a Firefox ESR version.

do realize starting in 2020, Mozilla will be releasing new Firefox versions EVERY FOUR WEEKS instead of 6 or 8) as noted in this Ghacks.net article:

https://www.ghacks.net/2019/09/17/mozilla-will-release-a-new-firefox-version-every-4-weeks-from-2020-on/

• This reply was modified 5 years, 6 months ago by EP.

Reply | Quote

After having Firefox for years and years about 2 months ago I gave up on Firefox after losing all my past data and could not access my backups!  FF kept having updates in such a short time and after losing that data I just gave up and am now on Opera.  Opera seems to have the addons and back ups that seem to work okay.  By by Firefox

Tony

Reply | Quote

I waited until the FF 70.0.1 point release was issued a few days ago.

Version 70.0.1, first offered to Release channel users on October 31, 2019

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/70.0.1/releasenotes/?utm_source=firefox-browser&utm_medium=firefox-browser&utm_campaign=whatsnew

No problems on Win 10 so far!

I currently have the Enhanced Tracking Protection set to “Standard”

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

1 user thanked author for this post.

Charlie

Reply | Quote

Hi everyone. I’ve got a question that relates to this thread: is it as simple as choosing to go back to regular Firefox downloads once you’ve opted for the ESR version? I’m thinking ESR might be a good idea for me right now since I don’t want to upgrade to vs 70, but I don’t want to make any problems for myself by going to ESR if it does complicate things.

Windows 11 Pro
Version 10.0.22621, Build 22621
Dell XPS 8950, 12th Gen Intel i7

Reply | Quote

Firefox 70.0 was buggy as can be and broke a lot of websites. However, it’s successor 70.0.1 fixed all those problems and it runs quite smoothly. I would encourage you to install it.

A word of warning. Before you install FF 70.0.1, make a complete back up of your Firefox profile. That’s because once you run your profile under a newer version of Firefox, and then reinstall an older version (if you’re not happy with the new version), Firefox will alert you that you’re trying to use a profile from an older version — and not run. So all you have to do after you reinstall the older version is bring back your old profile.

Again, Firefox 70.0.1 is safe to use.

1 user thanked author for this post.

SueW

Reply | Quote

Microfix wrote:

+1 for the FF ESR version

I use the Portable versions of FF ESR :

https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Ed./Mozilla%20Firefox%20ESR%2C%20Portable%20Edition%2068.2.0/

1 user thanked author for this post.

KP

Reply | Quote