MAJOR firefox issue

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Drew99GT

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Gawd oh mighty this thing is buggy. I've had 1.5 but decided the bugs had to be worked out of 2.0. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can not install any extensions. I get error code 203, whatever the ____ god ____ ____ that is. I've posted and searched on Mozillaline forums, done every possible fix to solve this issue and it will not god ____ work!!!!!!!!!!

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Does anyone know anything about this issue?

I'm ____. This piece of ____ software will not work anymore.
 
Download and install version 1.5 over version 2 and see if that don't help?

You can download it from the following web site.

Link to Firefox Ver 1.5

Let us know if that solves you problem. If not have another procedure we can try that will save your bookmarks, etc., and should fix things.
 
Running Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.8.1.4) Gecko/20070515 Firefox/2.0.0.4 with no issues.

Does sound like a bad install. All my many extensions (add-ons) working flawlessly. None of the forums have helped you?
 
I installed Firefox on computers I owned in the past and I liked Firefox, but after the anti-Trojan program A Squared found a possible backdoor in Firefox I just could not use it again. Another thing that convinced me to avoid so-called open source software was information that serious potential security holes are being found in open source software as compared to Unix and Windows.

Now, don't get me wrong. We all like a bargain. If the Linux people could show me a secure Linux operating system with a nice graphical user interface (it does not have to be as pretty as Windows Vista or Mac OS X), compatible with scanners and printers that I need, with a good secure Office program (like OpenOffice) which is compatible with Microsoft Office, and able to run the latest versions of Photoshop, and either free or low in cost and able to run on a fairly low powered computer, I (and most everybody else) would jump on it.

It just does not ever happen, as the years go by, and because of what I have found out and my own personal experience I am very leery of open source software. Sorry to be against the Revolution. Actually, I am not against the Revolution-I keep waiting for it to actually happen.
 
Seems that most of the bad things done attack Windows Operating Systems as that is what over 90% of the world's computers run on. Unix in used in mainly commercial applications(We used in at work on our servers before I retired).

Apple Computers have had very few in the way of problems with spyware/scumbware but their operating systems are not as widely used as Windows.

There too has been problems with commercial software and myriad security issues.

You may notice that patches pertaining to security are issued every month in many cases for the Windows operating system/software.

One thing we can do that when running Windows that helps is by going to Microsoft update and use the "Custom" feature and install the security - other updates that you need.
Link To Updates

Make sure that you have Windows set to automatically download critical updates.

If you are using Cable Modem or DSL make sure that your hardware firewall in your box furnished by the company - router, etc., is setup properly regarding the hardware firewall.

A good software firewall and anti-virus is a must too.

I use the freeware Comodo products which is discussed in another thread here.

If you are still using dial-up then you must rely on keeping your system updated and use a good software firewall and anti-virus product.

I to have used a-Squared and other products like it and once in a while one can have a false positive detection.

One reason that Firefox is recommended has been security issues of others.

Another browser that you may try is Opera which offers good security and is also discussed here in another thread.
 
SrDriver I am not trying to argue with you but if you go to the Secunia security website and check out the information there in recent years there have been more potential security holes found in Unix, Linux, and Mac OS X than in Windows XP and especially Windows Vista. Vista really does seem to be living up to its security potential.

Unix has been around a very long time and they have never been able to completely close all of the security holes. By its very nature Unix is designed to be an operating system made for communications. Linux and the BSD operating systems (including Mac OS X) are branches of Unix.

There are a lot of potential security holes being found in so-called open source software such as Linux. Recently some kind of virus was found in OpenOffice (an application often found in desktop Linux) that can affect Linux and Mac OS X if OpenOffice is used on a Mac OS X computer.

Certain computer operating systems have reached cult like status and no criticism is allowed of those operating systems. This is true of Linux and Mac OS X.

The evidence available today indicates that if Mac OS X were as commonplace as Windows Mac OS X would probably be LESS secure than Windows. The bad guys target the various Windows operating systems because they are over 90% of the desktop operating systems. The bad guys have ignored Mac OS X and desktop Linux because they are not worth the trouble. They are not common enough to even merit consideration. But when people do take a good look at Mac OS X they find potential security holes in abundance.

A good example is the Apple Safari web browser. Apple for unknown reasons decided to make this web browser available for Windows. On the FIRST DAY that the web browser was released several potential security holes were found. Safari for Windows made Microsoft's Internet Explorer look secure in comparison.

Based on what is known at this time I do not doubt for a second that if Mac OS X was more common major security improvements would be necessary. The same is true also for Linux operating systems. But criticism of these operating systems is not allowed because of their cult status.

The in thing is to hate Microsoft. A person can love or hate Microsoft all they want but the fact is Microsoft operating systems are on over 90% of all desktop computers in the world.

There is much more malware for Windows than other operating systems (viruses, Trojan Horse programs, adware, spyware, worms, etc.). The bad guys could easily develop malware for the other operating systems but they have not been worth the effort.

In the past the bad guys have wanted to target the desktop operating systems behind the Unix servers. They did not want to bring down the Unix servers. Bring down all of the servers in the world and you have no internet. How do the bad guys make cash that way? You can make a name for yourself that way (and do some prison time) but the bad guys mostly want to make money. They are mostly targeting the desktop computers and the desktop computers for all practical purposes are Windows. There are times when servers are targeted but the bottom line is-take down the servers and there is no internet. You can't make money on the internet through criminal activity if there is no internet. Terrorists are the ones who would probably try to bring the internet down.

If Linux was as common as Windows there would be as much malware for Linux as there is for Windows.

If Mac OS X was as common as Windows there would be as much malware for Mac OS X as there is for Windows.

Is anything I am saying not true? If we can get beyond the cult status of certain operating systems we will probably find there is no truly secure operating system. They can ALL be targeted.

We have to live in the real world. In the real world Microsoft OWNS the desktop market. We would probably all be better off if there were 3-4 different desktop operating systems each with 25%-30% of the pie but that is not the real world. It is a different story with servers. There are different kinds of servers.

I am not anti-Linux. I am also not anti-Mac OS X. I have used Macintosh computers since 1996. When I first started to use Apple Computers I had no doubt whatsoever that the Macintosh operating systems were far superior to the Windows operating systems. But Microsoft has improved its operating systems. And recently there have been potential security holes found in Mac OS X. And there are some possible design flaws as well.

I think Windows 2000/XP/Vista are far superior to Windows 95/98/ME. And on a purely practical note remember that regardless what your personal feelings towards Microsoft may be Microsoft OWNS the desktop market. This is a simple fact that any logical person cannot argue with. Microsoft could go into decline right now and start losing 5% of the market every year and they would STILL BE 50% OF THE MARKET 8 YEARS FROM NOW! This is simple math that apparently is beyond the understanding of the people in the cults.

I consider myself a fairly logical person and I cannot see Microsoft collapsing in 1 year. There would have to be a volcanic eruption or something. So there is probably ZERO chance that Linux will dominate the desktop market in say 5 years. There is probably ZERO chance that Mac OS X will dominate the desktop market in 5 years.

I can see Apple Inc (don't call them Apple Computer Inc anymore) maybe having 10% of the market in a few years and maybe even 15% down the road. That is assuming they don't trash Mac OS X.

I can't see Linux having a large share of the market until they develop an operating system that the ordinary person can actually use (assuming a person wants to do more than about 3 things with their computer). Linux would probably meet the needs of the Hollywood type who uses his/her computer for email from fans, the internet, and the occasional letter. Linux would not met my needs.

So only Windows or Mac OS X meets my needs. So which do I choose? Microsoft is likely going to be around for a while (barring a volcano exploding). Microsoft does not have any decent competition for the desktop market. I personally cannot see anyway that Microsoft would not have at least 50% of the desktop market anytime in the near future.

What about Mac OS X? Well, Apple took the word 'Computer' out of their corporate name. So what does that mean? They say that they delayed Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard) because they transferred some people to the iPhone so it could be released on time. So I guess the iPhone gizmo is more important to them than their new operating system. They did not announce any new hardware when they were talking about this wonderful iPhone gizmo. Well, I don't want to be left high and dry with investments in expensive equipment when and if they decide just to toss Mac OS X.
 
I agree for the simple reason that folks target Microsoft because of the size of their user base.

Keeping the system updated with the latest security patches along with a firewall anti-virus, etc, helps prevent infection.
 
Quote:


found a possible backdoor in Firefox


Click to expand...

Of course with open source code, you can actually POINT to the backdoor in the code. Waiting to see that snippet of code.

Of course you can trust Windows, a closed source program

http://www.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9909/03/windows.nsa.02/
http://www.grc.com/sn/SN-022.htm

"Leo and I carefully examine the operation of the recently patched Windows MetaFile vulnerability. I describe exactly how it works in an effort to explain why it doesn't have the feeling of another Microsoft "coding error." It has the feeling of something that Microsoft deliberately designed into Windows. Given the nature of what it is, this would make it a remote code execution "backdoor." We will likely never know if this was the case, but the forensic evidence appears to be quite compelling."
 
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It is entirely possible for any computer operating system manufacturer to put hidden backdoors in their software. Various European countries in fact accused Microsoft of doing stuff like this maybe so that the CIA could engage in industrial espionage in Europe.

There are some 8 million lines of code in typical Linux operating systems. Some 5 million lines of code in Mac OS X. Some 40 million lines of code in Windowx XP and some 50 million lines of code in Windows Vista. We hear all of these stories that open source software can be checked out by anybody and there is no way that there could be hiden backdoors in Linux or Unix or BSD because somebody would discover it.

Well, if I am going to examine 8 million lines of code in a Linux operating system to see if there are any hidden backdoors I want to get paid for it. And I think I will need an entire team of people to complete that assignment. That is a lot of code.

How many lines of code are there just in Firefox? Are there really people out there going through all of that code-for free, just to be good citizens? And even if the code is clean when it is developed what happens when it is distributed? Could some crafty fellow add a little something in the distribution system?

If parts of a Linux operating system or the entire operating system are developed in another country, like say Iran, what is stopping the developers of that software from installing hidden gifts? If Microsoft might be willing to install a few hidden gifts, what stops the software developers of Linux, Unix, BSD, or Mac OS X from perhaps installing a few hidden gifts? Hidden messages (Easter Eggs) used to be put in Apple software according to some people.

Oh, I forgot. There are nice people out there willing to examine 8 million lines of code of open source software so that we will not find any hidden gifts.

You know what I think? I don't think there are many people out there going through all of that code. That code gets written somewhere, probably usually by corporations (like Sun or whoever), and then distributed.

So was there a backdoor in Firefox? I don't know. But after that anti-Trojan program found a possible backdoor I was not too eager to keep using Firefox. I figured Microsoft's Internet Explorer was okay.

And going back to the orginial post here-the guy said he was having problems with Firefox.
 
Quote:


Unix has been around a very long time and they have never been able to completely close all of the security holes

Click to expand...


I can close all of the security holes on any Unix machine. It's really not that difficult. The main thing is, turn off all unneeded services--and this applies to any OS, Windows included.

Many of the security holes you see are for services that would never be needed for a server, let alone a desktop machine.
 
It is kind of hard to turn off all services on a server. A server has to be able to communicate on the internet. Even on a home computer if a person plays internet games they may have to make exceptions so that the game can communicate on the internet.

If you go to the Secunia security website you will find that Sun's Solaris system had potential security holes not just long ago in the past, but recently. There were potential security holes found in Mac OS X, Redhat, etc.

There are no services turned on by default when a new Apple home computer is sold to a customer. In Mac OS X by default all services are turned off. Even the firewall is turned off and has to be turned on by the owner. Some of the most serious recent problems involving the security of Macs have involved applications such as Safari, Quicktime, iTunes, Mail, even fonts (which are stored in 6 different places).

The Apache web server in Unix has been patched again and again through the years because of potential security holes that have been found.

One of the reasons Windows had so many security problems was because a lot of services were on by default and should not have been. For example, on a Windows computer it was kind of hard to do without RPC (Remote Procedure Call).
 
Mystic,

I commend your even handed logical and educated conclusions. Always a pleasure to read even though I loath Windows....
spam.gif
 
Mystic, look around at Wilder's forums; people report all the time that A2 alerts to Firefox. It's one of the bazillion false positives that program is known for. AVG anti malware is better, and Superantispyware beats them both hands down. Firefox is not and does not contain spyware.

I fixed my problem. I have Cyberhawk behaviour blocker anti-malware software that was messing things up. Uninstalled it and all is fine. Man what a PITA to find that out.
 
Thanks a lot! I don't often receive much praise here. I try to be evenhanded, fair, and balanced.

All computer technology is just technology. It is silly for computer technology to start meaning more than it should for a person. I was so happy with Apple Computers back in the Classic operating system days I was probably near Mac Fanboy status. I have become quite a bit disillusioned since those days. Frankly I wonder if Mac OS X was really such a great upgrade. I think Mac OS 9.1 could have been greatly improved. No use going into extreme detail. I do know of a very interesting website that I kind of stumbled across one day. A website with what I feel is kind of a silly title ('The Mac Sucks') but the website itself contains page after page of detailed information about the Mac, Apple Computer, etc.

I am not anti-Linux. Heck, I tried out a Linux operating system. I was all fired up for a while, until I discovered I would probably have a hard time finding scanners, photo printers, and other stuff compatible with Linux. And until I discovered the most recent versions of Photoshop probably would not work (you can run some versions of Photoshop in Linux with special software).

What turns me off more than anything else about Linux are some of the PEOPLE I have discovered in the Linux world. Speaking personally for just myself, and not saying that all are like this, every Linux guy (and it is almost always a guy) I have ever met seemed to feel that he was the know-it-all for computer technology. One of the most complex computer applications that was ever written is Photoshop and I don't see Mac people and Windows people who actually get involved in computer graphics having a lot of problems running Photoshop.

It is a long story but I became very disenchanted with Linux websites where I could not get good information, the truth seemed to be relative, and some of the big wheels in Linux are a major turnoff for me. If I will not buy a used car from somebody I sure will not buy a computer operating system from them.

More than anything else I get tired of always hearing that next year will be the breakout year. Too many next years. Next year is vaporware.

Now, on the other hand, if somebody really did come out with a Linux system that was a dream system we would all jump on it-right? Pay a lot less and get a lot more computer. Who would not want that?

The Linux people need to stop acting like they are in some kind of a cult and instead make serious business decisions about how to truly catch up with Microsoft. They better get started. Microsoft has a billion personal computer headstart. Maybe they could stop turning off potential buyers of Linux.

I don't have a clue what is going on inside Apple. Dropping the 'Computer' from the name. Putting more effort into gizmos than the operating system. I am sorry. I am disenchanted.

Where I work it is Unix and Microsoft Windows. I think with most businesses that is the story.
 
I used TurboLinux about 6 years ago when version 7 was in beta. It's a fantastic distro! Network speed-wise, it was FASTER than the Netware servers I was working with during pre-deployment of new boxes into the environment. It was a LOT faster than Win2000 or WinNT4.

From what I understand, Turbolinux is really popular in Asian countries.

Interesting to note in that article: "with Novell's Netware following with three percent growth." I thought Netware was sliding off the horizon? Guess not...
 
I have both M$ WinXP and Linux. My preference: Linux by a long shot. Multimedia support is still hiccuppy though, but that's really the problem of so many websites catering to M$ vs. Linux. Use Firefox on both machines.

I've got something REALLY strange with Firefox going on- when I attempt to read the Washington State Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP) minutes in PDF format from their website, the Linux version prompts me for a password and so I cannot read said minutes on my Linux box; however, the Windows version has no problem with it. Same links. Perhaps the Linux version looks "deeper" into a file and maybe sees a password lock that is no longer applicable...? I dunno.
 
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