siditious said

I recently updated to version 38.0.1 which resulted in firefox crashing constantly. I then tried upgrading to 39 beta which did not fix the issue. Finally out of frustration I reverted to 36 which seems to have fixed the crashing issue. During installation I unchecked install maintenance. Immediately after install I went into update configuration and checked never automatically update. Amazingly, despite my specific instructions Firefox decided it was okay to go ahead and automatically update itself. This is not okay.

Hello, I am a mozillian just for some minutes and have the problem speaking another mother language (and using a german firefox version). Maybe a malware could be the reason? I made the experience that a frieds' firefox opened "unwished" links and the problem stayed even if I deinstalled the browser and tried to eliminate all remaining data: Every new installation had the same problem ... untill I tried this: I suggest to test the installation of firefox portable: Portables are not so much interwoven with the operation system (and so can be taken with you on an USB flash drive). You can use both versions parallel and test if the problem arises again without loosing the data of your "old" installation (that you possiby have "overwritten" already by the new installation). A malware test additional to you anti virus programm can be made by spybot portable (freeware) -in doubt "installed" and updated on another "clean" PC/notebook and "brought" to yours by a flash drive. Best regards MH

If you have submitted crash reports then please post the IDs of one or more recent crash reports that have a "bp-" prefix:

• bp-xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

You can find the Report ID of recent crash reports on the "Help > Troubleshooting Information" page (about:support).

• Click the "All Crash Reports" button on this page to open the about:crashes page and see all crash reports.

If necessary then you can open about: pages via the location/address bar.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Mozilla_Crash_Reporter
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Mozilla+Crash+Reporter

That is an interesting idea about the portable firefox, I have run Malwarebytes which does not find any malware.

cor-el said

If you have submitted crash reports then please post the IDs of one or more recent crash reports that have a "bp-" prefix:

• bp-xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

You can find the Report ID of recent crash reports on the "Help > Troubleshooting Information" page (about:support).

• Click the "All Crash Reports" button on this page to open the about:crashes page and see all crash reports.

If necessary then you can open about: pages via the location/address bar. See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Mozilla_Crash_Reporter
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Mozilla+Crash+Reporter

I'm not going to test bugs for mozilla, that is not a viable option here. The question was why is firefox updating without permission, it had nothing to do with me asking why firefox is crashing. 36 is working perfectly, 38 is not, your answer honestly just makes me even more angry.

Hi siditious, Sorry if you feel angry at the helpful and well intentioned answer you received.

I'm not going to test bugs for mozilla, that is not a viable option here.

Submitting your Crash IDs is not about you working to test bugs for Mozilla !

It is letting Mozilla have, and process the data about your Crash, that may help us to understand it and offer you advice, and we hope, a solution.

• Please see Firefox crashes - asking for support
  • Troubleshoot Firefox crashes (closing or quitting unexpectedly)

Why does Firefox update without you giving it permission ? Old versions are insecure unsafe and not supported. Firefox now ordinarily checks and automatically updates Firefox. If you manually check the version that will trigger an update if one is available. Firefox no longer offers options to prevent updating. (There are advanced methods to prevent that, but not something we shout about, because it would put users data and systems at risk.)

If you need a temporary and relatively secure method of using a previous version whilst we help you sort out your crashes I suggest you try Firefox portable ESR as an additional browser. That will not at present update to Firefox 38.

• ESR (Currently Fx31.7) http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox-portable-esr
• Note
  • Personal suggestion only - not a Mozilla recommendation
    • It is a third party build. Not from Mozilla
    • Mozilla does not recommend individual end users use ESR day to day.
    • Firefox portable is entirely separate from your Firefox Release and easy to install, without affecting your main Firefox browser.

Once you upgrade your main Firefox browser again, to a supported version and let us have the Crash IDs we need we will be able to help you further.

So what is the point of even having the option to turn off automatic updates if the software is just going to ignore it completely? You can try to make it sound like you are providing a service to me, but you're really completely violating my well thought out decision to not upgrade. I have multiple computers and the one I'm running firefox on does not have any sensitive data, so why exactly do I need added security?

If I ask a woman if I can have sex with her and she says no and then I do it anyways, well that is called rape. I feel raped by Firefox.

Siditious, Sorry this is only a user support forum, mainly answered by fellow Firefox users like myself.

Sorry I my not be explaining the situation well enough. I will try again:

Developers and decision makers do not use this forum so will not see your questions. We have apolicy of not discussing development decisions and policy. All I can say is Firefox no longer offers an option not to upgrade from its User Interface.

Even if you have no sensitive information on your computer you do not want those with evil intent violating it and changing your data or programs, using it as part of a botnet, or misdirecting or monitorig your browsing, maybe installing a keylogger and taking financial advantage.

Those are the sorts of risks you could expose yourself to.

Feel free to intall and use an old official versions of Firefox

• Install an older version of Firefox

But they are not supported and you can not expect us to give you advice on taking risks with your data and System. You will need to ask elsewhere.

If you have problems or Crashes with a supported version of Firefox then we are here to help. I have even explained a method of temporarily using an older version that will NOT immediatly update.

• Did you try that ?
• What happened ?
• Do you have any problems or crashes with that version ?

This forum does not officially support that product and version. However Mozilla is currently maintining and supporting the core code of that, and as long as you are using it for troubleshooting purposes we we will try to help you with it.

If you want further assistance please edit start your own question correction I had intended to say please start a new question using a supported version of Firefox.

1. Use /questions/new/desktop/fix-problems
2. Please
   • Ensure you follow the prompts to provide troubleshooting informtion
   • Post using a supported version,or at least Firefox Portable ESR
3. Post back here in this thread to confirm you have done that we will then be able to follow your question and help you.