We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

HD crashed, reinstalled OS, how did Firefox keep my Bookmarks Toolbar?

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by lcafiero

lcafiero
lcafiero
more options

This is not really a problem, but I am wondering how this happened, if someone can explain it.

I had a hard drive crash, so I replaced it and installed openSUSE Linux. Upon rebooting after the install, I opened Firefox and my Bookmarks Toolbar was the same, with additions I had made for personal sites (some Linux help sites and job search sites I added) before the HD crash.

I do not use Sync, so that's not part of the equation, unless there's an aspect of Sync that is on by default.

My question, out of curiousity and a sense of wondering about security, is this: Is this Bookmark Toolbar information stored somewhere in the depths of a server at Mozilla/Firefox (or somewhere else) and how did my new install pick up my personally modified Bookmarks Toolbar for use in the new install?

This is not really a problem, but I am wondering how this happened, if someone can explain it. I had a hard drive crash, so I replaced it and installed openSUSE Linux. Upon rebooting after the install, I opened Firefox and my Bookmarks Toolbar was the same, with additions I had made for personal sites (some Linux help sites and job search sites I added) before the HD crash. I do not use Sync, so that's not part of the equation, unless there's an aspect of Sync that is on by default. My question, out of curiousity and a sense of wondering about security, is this: Is this Bookmark Toolbar information stored somewhere in the depths of a server at Mozilla/Firefox (or somewhere else) and how did my new install pick up my personally modified Bookmarks Toolbar for use in the new install?

Chosen solution

That would be question for openSUSE support, if you were using the version of Firefox that comes with openSUSE.

The version of Firefox which comes directly from Mozilla [which you would have installed your self] does not have Sync enabled by default. The version from openSUSE might have their own feature for that, but I would be real surprised if it was automatically enabled without your knowledge, or if Sync was automatically enabled either.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (2)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
more options

Chosen Solution

That would be question for openSUSE support, if you were using the version of Firefox that comes with openSUSE.

The version of Firefox which comes directly from Mozilla [which you would have installed your self] does not have Sync enabled by default. The version from openSUSE might have their own feature for that, but I would be real surprised if it was automatically enabled without your knowledge, or if Sync was automatically enabled either.

lcafiero
lcafiero Question owner
more options

Thanks, the-edmeister. I'll ask there. I just thought maybe there was a common Firefox version across Linux distributions, but apparently that's a false assumption.

I'm going to mark this solved since it's not really a Firefox issue. Thanks again for your help.