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- 1Overview
- 2The Plan
This page describes a plan for improving software update for Firefox, Thunderbird and other applications. (I'll refer specifically to Firefox from now on.) See also Firefox 1.5: Software Update.
Module owners: Update Service module.
Requirements
- Support for silent or explicit downloading
- Support for binary patching or full upgrade
- Support for cryptographic signatures
- Minimize impact on backend build and distribution processes
- Allow users to easily view and control the process
Schedule
Security updates are a reality, so we need a better way to push out updates to people whodesire them. With that in mind, the goal is to implement this system for Firefox 1.5.
Revise the existing toolkit code which downloads XPI updates. Provide a silent mode that will be used for security updates. Do this only if the user has agreed (via some UI during installation perhaps) and only if the user has write permission to the installation directory. We don't want this update system to get in the way of RPM or MSI based solutions, etc.
Use a XPI-like package to deliver the update. The update itself will contain a manifest of files which need updating/removal. The update may happen once the download is complete, at app shutdown, or the next time Firefox is launched. That behavior is a policy decision to be decided upon by the user-facing update service.
The application must not be running while the update is being installed. Our systems, including the JAR cache, are not designed to deal with changes to their underlying files. In addition, the Windows filesystem does not allow files to be unlinked from their parent directory while they are in use. The Firefox executable will run a separate update binary (using execv or another method). This executable will process the update manifest and may leverage the binary patching technology of bsdiff (with modifications for reliability). Once the update executable completes, it will re-launch the Firefox executable. This will allow Firefox to perform any post-upgrade operations (e.g., modifying registry keys, etc.).
Users will have the option to view silent upgrade progress, and choose to cancel, suspend, or 'complete it now.' They will also be provided with simple controls to alter the upgrade policy (notifications, silent or not, etc.).
Downloading the Update
Firefox will periodically check the Mozilla.org update servers (AUS) for available updates. The update server will return a manifest file (which is a simple XML file) over HTTPS that will point Firefox at the right update package to download.
In silent download mode, Firefox will use byte-range requests (supported by the Mozilla.org mirror network) to download the update package in small pieces. Each time Firefox starts up it will check to see if it should resume downloading the update package. It will not try to download the update package while Firefox is not running. This simplifies the implementation of the downloading system because it enables us to make use of the Firefox networking stack. Firefox will try to minimally impact the user's network bandwidth in the process.
Once the update package has been completely downloaded, its integrity will be verified by computing a hash (e.g., SHA-2) over the entire update package. This hash will be compared to a hash included in the XML file received from AUS. If the hash checks out, then assuming that Firefox has permission from the user, it will unpack the update package and signal Firefox to start the upgrade process.
Processing the Update
At startup, Firefox will look for an update manifest in a fixed location. If it finds the manifest, then assuming it has permission from the user it will launch the update executable to process that manifest.
Before making any changes to the existing Firefox installation, the update executable will scan all files to be modified and verify that they are the expected version. If it finds that any files are not in sync with what it expects to find, then it will not apply the update. Otherwise, it will proceed to either: add, remove, replace, or patch existing files.
Before the update executable exits, it will record status to a log file that will be read by Firefox on next launch to determine if the update was successfully applied. This will allow Firefox to present good UI to the user in the advent of an unexpected problem.
Windows Update Service
An enhancement will be made to use a windows service to silently update the application. Windows Service Silent Update
If you have any comments on this plan, please add them to the Discussion page.
Update Mozilla Mail
Firefox by default shares data to:
Improve performance and stability for users everywhere
Interaction data: Firefox sends data about your interactions with Firefox to us (such as number of open tabs and windows; number of webpages visited; number and type of installed Firefox Add-ons; and session length) and Firefox features offered by Mozilla or our partners (such as interaction with Firefox search features and search partner referrals).
Technical data: Firefox sends data about your Firefox version and language; device operating system and hardware configuration; memory, basic information about crashes and errors; outcome of automated processes like updates, safebrowsing, and activation to us. When Firefox sends data to us, your IP address is temporarily collected as part of our server logs.
Read the telemetry documentation for Desktop, Android, or iOS or learn how to opt-out of this data collection on Desktop and Mobile.
Set a default search provider
- Location data: When you first use Firefox, it uses your IP address to set your default search provider based on your country. Learn more.
Suggest relevant content
Firefox displays content, such as “Snippets” (messages from Mozilla), Add-on Recommendations, Top Sites (websites suggested by Mozilla for first-time Firefox users), and Pocket Recommendations (which is part of the Mozilla family).
Location data: Firefox uses your IP address to suggest relevant content based on your country and state.
Technical & Interaction data: Firefox sends us data such as the position, size and placement of content we suggest, as well as basic data about your interactions with Firefox’s suggested content. This includes the number of times suggested content is displayed or clicked.
Webpage data for Snippets: When you choose to click on a Snippet link, we may receive data about the link you followed. This information is not associated with any other information about you. Learn more.
Webpage, Language, and Location data for Pocket Recommendations: We recommend content to you based on your browsing history, language, and country location. The process of deciding which stories you should see based on your browsing history happens locally in your copy of Firefox, and neither Mozilla nor Pocket receives a copy of your browsing history. To help you see relevant Pocket Recommendations based on your location, Firefox shares your language and country location with Pocket.
Mozilla and Pocket receive aggregated data about the recommendations you see and click. We also share aggregated data about the sponsored content you see and click with our third-party ad platform Adzerk so advertisers can see how many people click on their articles. This aggregated data does not identify you personally.
Location data and Interaction data for Top Sites: When you click the Amazon.com Top Site tile on New Tab, we share your country and the time you clicked with Amazon and AdMarketplace (a third-party referral platform) to verify you navigated to Amazon. Firefox does not share your IP address or any other information that could be used to identify you with either Amazon or AdMarketplace.
Add-on and Feature Recommendations: We recommend Add-ons in two places: the Manage Your Extensions Page (about:addons) and the Awesome Bar, where you search or type in URLs. We may also recommend Firefox Features in the Awesome Bar. We base the recommendations in about:addons on a cookie. We base the recommendations in the Awesome Bar on your interaction with Firefox. Mozilla does not receive your browser history. The process happens locally in your own computer’s copy of Firefox. Learn More about Awesome Bar recommendations or Extensions Page recommendations.
Improve security for users everywhere
Webpage data to DNS Resolver service: For some Firefox users in the United States, Firefox routes DNS requests to a resolver service that has agreed to Mozilla’s strict privacy standards for resolvers. This provides added protection from privacy leaks to local networks and also from certain DNS security attacks. System logs of your DNS requests are deleted from the service within 24 hours and are only used for the purpose of DNS resolution. Learn more or see our default DNS resolver service providers below:
Technical data for updates: Desktop versions of Firefox check for browser updates by persistently connecting to Mozilla servers. Your Firefox version, language, and device operating system are used to apply the correct updates. Mobile versions of Firefox may connect to another service if you used one to download and install Firefox. Learn more.
Technical data for add-ons blocklist: Firefox for Desktop and Android periodically connect to Mozilla to protect you and others from malicious add-ons. Your Firefox version and language, device operating system, and list of installed add-ons are needed to apply and update the add-ons blocklist. Learn more.
Webpage and technical data to Google’s SafeBrowsing service: To help protect you from malicious downloads, Firefox sends basic information about unrecognized downloads to Google's SafeBrowsing Service, including the filename and the URL it was downloaded from.Learn more or read Google’s Privacy Policy. Opting out prevents Firefox from warning you of potentially illegitimate or malicious websites or downloaded files.
Webpage and technical data to Certificate Authorities: When you visit a secure website (usually identified with a URL starting with 'HTTPS'), Firefox validates the website's certificate. This may involve Firefox sending certain information about the website to the Certificate Authority identified by that website. Opting out increases the risk of your private information being intercepted. Learn more.
Crash reports
By default on desktop versions of Firefox, we will ask you to share a report with more detailed information about crashes with Mozilla, but you always have the choice to decline.
Sensitive data: Crash reports include a ‘dump file’ of Firefox’s memory contents at the time of the crash, which may contain data that identifies you or is otherwise sensitive to you.
Webpage data: Crash reports include the active URL at time of crash.
Technical data: Crash reports include data on why Firefox crashed and the state of device memory and execution during the crash.
Read the full documentation here.
Measure and support our marketing
Campaign and Referral Data: This helps Mozilla understand the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.
On Desktop: Firefox by default sends Mozilla HTTP data that may be included with Firefox’s installer. This enables us to determine the website domain or advertising campaign (if any) that referred you to our download page. Read the documentation or opt-out before installation.
On Android: Firefox by default sends mobile campaign data to Adjust, our analytics vendor, which has its own privacy policy. Mobile campaign data includes a Google advertising ID, IP address, timestamp, country, language/locale, operating system, and app version. Read the documentation.
Technical & Interaction Data:
On iOS and Android: Firefox by default sends data about what features you use in Firefox to Leanplum, our mobile marketing vendor, which has its own privacy policy. This data allows us to test different features and experiences, as well as provide customized messages and recommendations for improving your experience with Firefox.
Read the documentation for iOS or Android, or learn how to disable this feature.
If you use these features, Firefox will share data to provide you functionality and help us improve our products and services:
Search
You can perform searches directly from several places in Firefox, including the Awesome Bar, Search Bar, or on a New Tab. Mozilla does not receive your search queries. We do receive data about how you engage with search in Firefox and the number of searches you request from our search partners. Query data is sent to your search provider, which has its own privacy policy. Links to our default search providers are:
Search Suggestions: Firefox by default sends search queries to your search provider to help you discover common phrases other people have searched for and improve your search experience. These data will not be sent if your selected search provider does not support search suggestions.
Learn more, including how to disable this feature.
Update Mozilla Firefox Free Download
Firefox Accounts & Join Firefox
Registration data: Mozilla receives your email address and a hash of your password when you create a Firefox Account or sign-up to Join Firefox. You can choose to include a display name or profile image. Your email address is sent to our email vendor, Acoustic, which has its own privacy policy.
Location data: For security purposes, we store the IP addresses used to access your Firefox Account in order to approximate your city and country. We use this data to send you email alerts if we detect suspicious activity, such as account logins from other locations.
Interaction data: We receive data such as your visits to the Firefox Accounts website, dashboards and menu preferences, what products and services you use in connection with your Firefox Account, and your interactions with our emails and SMS messages. We use this to understand your use of our products and services and to send you more useful Firefox Account Tips and in-product messages.
Technical data: To display which devices are synced to your Firefox Account and for security functionality, we store your device operating system, browser and version, timestamp, locale, and the same information for devices connected to your account. If you use your Firefox Account to log into other websites or services (such as AMO or Pocket), we receive the timestamp of those log-ins.
How To Update Mozilla Browser
Read the full documentation or learn more, including how to manage your Firefox Account data or our data practices for websites and email. You can also read the privacy notices for our Firefox Account connected services, which are:
Sync
Synced data: If you enable Sync, Mozilla receives the information that you sync across devices in encrypted form. This may include Firefox tabs, add-ons, passwords, payment autofill information, bookmarks, history, and preferences. Deleting your Firefox Account will delete related Firefox Sync content. You can also read the documentation.
Technical and Interaction data: If you enable sync, Firefox will periodically send basic information using Telemetry about the most recent attempt to sync your data, such as when it took place, whether it succeeded or failed, and what type of device is attempting to sync. You can also read the documentation.
Firefox Update 2020
Learn more, including how to enable or disable sync.
Location
- Location data to Google's geolocation service: Firefox always asks before determining and sharing your location with a requesting website (for example, if a map website needs your location to provide directions). To determine location, Firefox may use your operating system’s geolocation features, Wi-fi networks, cell phone towers, or IP address, and may send this data to Google's geolocation service, which has its own privacy policy.
Learn more.
Website notifications
Connection data: If you allow a website to send you notifications, Firefox connects with Mozilla and uses your IP address to relay the message. Mozilla cannot access the content of messages.
Interaction data: We receive aggregate data such as the number of Firefox subscriptions and unsubscriptions to website notifications, number of messages sent, timestamps, and senders (which may include specific website providers).
Read the full documentation or learn more, including how to revoke website notifications.
Add-ons
Update Mozilla Firefox In Ubuntu 18.04
You can install Add-ons from addons.mozilla.org (“AMO”) or from the Firefox Add-ons Manager, which is accessible from the Firefox menu button in the toolbar.
Windows Update Mozilla
Search queries: Search queries in the Add-on Manager are sent to Mozilla to provide you with suggested Add-ons.
Interaction data: We receive aggregate data about visits to the AMO website and the Add-ons Manager in Firefox, as well as interactions with content on those pages. Read about data practices on Mozilla websites.
Technical data for updates: Firefox periodically connects with Mozilla to install updates to Add-ons. Your installed Add-ons, Firefox version, language, and device operating system are used to apply the correct updates.