Firefox 3.5.4 closes security holes
Mozilla released Firefox 3.5.4 for Windows, Mac, and Linux on Tuesday to patch six critical security holes and some other problems.
The new browser version also improves stability and fixes a problem with clearing browser history, according to the release notes. Mozilla updated the corresponding version of its earlier browser to fix some of the same security problems by issuing Firefox 3.0.15.
The six vulnerabilities potentially could let remote attackers take over the computer by running their own software on the machine. For details, check the Firefox security site.
Meanwhile, Mozilla is on the brink of releasing the first beta of Firefox 3.6, a version that will add the Personas feature for a customizable look. Mozilla, trying to move to a faster Firefox release cycle, is debating whether to issue 3.6 as a minor release that arrives automatically or a major release that people must actively download.
Also Tuesday, Mozilla released SeaMonkey 2.0, which combines the Firefox browser and Thunderbird e-mail software into an all-in-one package. It uses Firefox 3.5.4.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
The upgrade path:
FF 3.0.14 -> FF 3.0.15.
FF 3.5.3 -> 3.5.4
Just right click and Run as Administrator. Its not that difficult.
I agree with SergeM256 in the fact that non-admins could just request the admin password, but its not a bug.
Then I double checked and made sure my Flash was updated for IE too by going directly to the site in IE.
But the point is, when installing the new Flash either through the FF prompt or through the IE ActiveX prompt (don't know which and perhaps both), somewhere along the way (because I wasn't friggin paying attention) Adobe sneakily installed McAfee Security Scanner or some crap on my machine as well which I didn't want!
Also with a nice shortcut put in the Start Menu's startup folder so something called McAfee Security Scheduler or some crap would run in the background on every boot of the computer. Like I need more crap running in the background every time I start my computer! Why would it have to run at startup every time I boot my computer to scan one single friggin download I'm only going to install once? Talk about friggin bloat! I have quickly removed said scanner.
Anyway, when doing the FF update, if it prompts you to update your Flash plugin and you don't use or like anything McAfee pay attention so you don't get a bunch of McAfee crap installed along with it from the wonderful people at Adobe along with your stupid Flash plugin.
You know it's crap when they can't sell it directly and they have to sneak it in behind enemy lines hoping someone doesn't notice the nefarious defaults. This goes for any company that ships those friggin toolbars with their software too. STOP IT! JUST STOP IT! If I want your software, I'll go to your site and get it. Stop piggy backing on other people's wares.
If you like McAfee though, then I guess it's not that big of deal.
Anyway, the point is just don't be lazy like me and pay attention.
Okay now that's just plain annoying. I've had someone else today tell me they disabled it as well and it still installed too. Oh well. At least it's fairly easy to remove.
And it's really annoying that I have to physically go to each user's workstation, login as Admin, then update their software. It is so much easier when the "updates" is not grayed out, and I can simply type-in the Admin password.
Or you can just download the new Firefox exe package.
My add-ons and plug-ins won't work; my Norton 2010 is in a tizzy keeping me out of firefox; and, worst of all, all the features that made my using Firefox a breeze keep telling me 'invalid errors' or "error 203"!!! What gives my ISP is no where the speed and convenience I once had with Mozilla.
I am not a techno-geek but when I follow the directions I expect results. What gives???
I need help and fast for some personal research endeavors dependon Firefox delivering the goods! My system is hurting and I need help!
1. Norton
2. Norton
3. Norton
" I have to agree with drbyte. In my experience Flash vids sputter and stall in my copy of Firefox (3.5) but run smoothly in IE8 and Chrome. Still, it's not enough to make me use IE on a regular basis."
To fix Flash performance on Firefox, the network/perf is affected by session restore capturing restore history every 10 seconds. This can be easily changed via pref change in Firefox.
Here are the steps to improve flash performance on Firefox.
1. Open a new tab
2. type about:config in the location bar
3. hit enter
4. click the button past the warning page.
5. Type "browser.sessionstore.interval" in the search field.
6. Change the value to something like 120000 for every 2 minutes or 300000 for every 5 minutes.
10000 = 10 seconds session capture of all the tab/forms and other things etc so it can be restored if you do quit and save or run into a crash, your data comes back up. Try doing that with IE.
Flash will work much better afterward!
- by SJ2571 November 21, 2009 7:34 PM PST
- Can anyone explain why there is a 3.0 and 3.5 release anyway? Why are Mozilla maintaining two versions? Ditch the 3.0 I say. Why bother supporting it?
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(46 Comments)Also, when is the bug of favicons EVER going to be fixed? I've got a YouTube logo next to Yahoo's link, for example. So sick of that, and it's never fixed with each new update.