Firefox's massive overhaul moves to beta

Based on what statistics?
Or A has Feature X, B does not, hence A more secure?
Mrk

 

I heard a while back that this was being worked on. Is that correct? If so any idea how far along it is?

 

I am sorry, but I don't have any statistics. Of course I would be delighted to see some. Since they are important to you, I guess you have some statistics comparing system infections originating from Chromium sandbox bypasses with infections that come through vulnerabilities in Firefox?

From my - very limited - point of view I would say that it is harder to infect the computer by achieving remote code execution of a chrome process (Tab, PDF, PepperFlash) than it is with Firefox.

 

If you don't have any data and stats, how can you claim that firefox is not secure?
Mrk

 

If you don't have any data and stats as well, how can you claim that it is secure?

And if it's so secure, say you are running it on Windows, taking into account that the browser is the main threat-gate application: is there no need for content control extensions like NoScript and others? Can't be, cause the browser is so secure. Policy management, deny execution in user-space folders? Unnecessary. The browser is secure, so there are no drive-by downloads that could launch. Sandboxie and other restrictions? Unnecessary, because the browser is so secure.

Every update fixes vulnerabilities that could lead to remote code execution - and introduces new undiscovered vulnerabilities along with it. On Windows it's easier to steal files and compromise the system further when it's done through Firefox.exe than a Chrome tab.

 

Sigh...
You're the one maligning a product, not him.
And he never said it was. He just wanted you to back up what you claimed.

 

The burden of proof is on you.
Because if I follow your logic: prove you don't have AIDS. See?
Innocent until proven guilty. You're a murderer. See?
Mrk

 

Yes, I see.

 

To answer your question: both
- Statistics is correct: out of the box URL blocking and reputation checking (compared to IE and Chrome) link
- Features is also correct: Chrome with double sandbox and IE with (enhanced)protected mode, FF is still researching it link

Please don't tell me with noscript FF is much more secure. When it comes to crippling browser functionality nothing beats the security and simplicity of my Lynx browser. Don't need noscript on my (secure by design) Lynx browser.

 

Chrome is so secure that last week when I had to clean some stupid adware called Awesomesearch (or something similar) every time after a browser restart my changes were removed and those stupid things were back. While IE and Firefox had no problems after I disabled/deleted those addons.

 

I've spent the day playing with the beta 2 of Firefox 29 and it really was uneventful. Pretty much the same user experience as always with different looking tabs. I don't look for it to be a major transition. Actually I am kind of happy to be rid of the big orange button at the top. It was never very attractive.

 

I have a feeling I'll be hanging onto 28 for awhile just like I did with 3.6 before migrating. At least until I figure out how to tweak the about:config to make it look like the old way again, or use that addon (favorited).

Always trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm all about change that brings about marked improvements, namely in the way of security and usability. But not cosmetically just for the sake of change. Usually it results in it being less user friendly, like Comodo 6.

 

I have installed Nightly version. Except curved tabs part, i like all the other aspects of Australis.
I think there would be ways to make it squared tab with out much hassle..

Here is screenshot of the Australis UI Vs Firefox Current Vs Chrome..

 

From earlier comment:

True - especially to more advanced users. To avg or new users, the interface & options from it being more like Chrome, likely more often translate to "being just like Chrome," even though it isn't.

Also probably true. However, for some (not more advanced users), NOT having to add extensions is a plus. That's not to say from Advanced users' perspective, addons aren't needed in Chrome, to make it safer / more private. I don't use Chrome, but obviously it has appeal. I'd use Chromium or some other fork. It's a toss up between Google & M$, for which browser I'd never use.

Status Bar removed in Fx 29?: We're talking about window that opens temporarily at screen bottom, showing a URL when a link is hovered, or general progress when loading pages?
If that's what was removed, I find it very useful - esp. to show the URL of hovered links, before I click.

 

Agreed. Given that Chrome has a separate, low integrity process for each tab it may be more secure "out of the box". Have there been any head to head tests of Chrome and Firefox without extensions?

I'd also like to find out more about this. I'm not sure what people mean when they refer to the status bar. The pop-up in the lower left corner showing the URL when hovering over a link is very useful, so I hope it's not going away.

 

Afaik the Statusbar was already killed some versions ago when they introduced the Addonbar. Then the mouse-over URL became visible in a pop-up. In my VM my FF nightly doesn't show that pop-up anymore and it looks like they also killed the Addonbar.
In the past you could restore the Statusbar with the status-4-evar addon, and it seems to be working with Australis as well.(https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/status-4-evar/) Though I'm not sure if it also works as the Addonbar in the sense that you can add icons and buttons from other addons to it.

They're working on separate processes and it seems they're also planning sandboxing, but I don't know how far away that is:
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Electrolysis

That's an old article, it talks about the 'new' Addonbar.

EDIT: Found a new article:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-happened-to-the-add-on-bar

 

Meanwhile, Aris is working hard on the amazing Classic Theme Restorer. Its discussion thread is here:

http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=2773133

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/classicthemerestorer/

 

Thanks. I'm not sure of any serious, head to head comparisons of Fx & Chrome - though there should be. I was just commenting on "perception" of avg to below avg users (right or wrong), of having a complete, "all-in-one" product in Chrome. It <may> well need as many addons to make it acceptably safe. I'm not sure Chrome could ever be made "private." I wouldn't count on it. Chromium, Iron, etc., are diff matters.

Status Bar (now a pop up). Thanks for link - that's exactly how it's been a long time, as others said. What's the change to that in Fx 29, being mentioned? Even the pop up is gone? Or we're not talking about the same thing?

Link to "what happened to addon bar": Thanks. Still confused - Addon Bar not = Status Bar (pop up one, or otherwise).
Is the status pop also gone in Fx 29? (still there in Fx 2.

Note on some of statistics on browser market share. No doubt Fx has lost share to Chrome & even IE, more recently. But everyone needs to qualify how stated numbers were determined & preferably provide a source.
Some "market share sites" use downloaded copies of browsers - maybe not most accurate of usage.

Others use data gathered from many of "top sites," as to which browsers are used. Even that can give false impression, depending on monitored sites. If the "firefox crowd" is more / less likely to visit those sites, etc. Some users may even spoof useragent header to show a different browser.

 

Now that's funny because when this interface was introduced with Firefox 3 or 4 people complained left and right about it. There was even a theme which restored the old theme. Now the new ugly theme is the new classic.

 

LOL! I don't think the Fx 2/3 theme has been bettered really.

 

How to change the new Firefox Australis looks

I'm pleased to present this super-important tutorial explaining how to change and disable the new Australis theme default look in Firefox 29 and above and restore the old, classic look using several addons and extensions, including Classic Theme Restorer, Status-4-Evar, Classic Toolbar Buttons and NoUn Buttons, with additional tips and tweaks on customization and layout, bookmarks toolbar spacing, webpage quickdial tiles, and more.

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/firefox-disable-australis.html


Cheers,
Mrk