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the-edmeister's
Firefox informational webpages!
differences between 1.0.x versions and 1.5 versions
1.0 Tools > Options > Web Features Vs. 1.5 Tools > Options > Content dialog
Allow web sites to install Vs. Warn me when web sites try to
1.0.x versions
1.0.x had the option to "Allow web sites to install software" which when turned off caused many users untold grief when they attempted to update their Firefox program, Firefox extensions, and Firefox themes; they found the update wouldn't ever be completed. Not even a simple dialog/warning box appeared to explain what the problem was!
At one point in the spring of 2005, 'we' were advised to turn that option off unless we were intending to install extensions or themes due to a potential security exploit that was discovered. A fix was made to the core files of Firefox to fix the problem; this which was the major reason that either the 1.0.3 or 1.0.4 version was released. (I forget which, exactly.)
1.0.x version Tools > Options > Web Features dialog box
IMHO, the average user doesn't equate allowing vague "web sites to install software" with updating the Firefox program, and installing & updating Firefox extensions and themes from official, secure Mozilla website; I know that I didn't realize that when I first ran itno this problem when using Firefox.
I always felt "Allow extensions, themes, and updates to be installed" would have been better wording for that option, so that the average person knew what that option was really about! The ability to install any other software thru Firefox is expressly made impossible by the basic security design, so why not label that option properly?
Or should that preference not have ever been offered, due to some users who might forget that they had turned this option off?
Rant On-
Yeah sure, deny the security-conscious users that option, because of the 'un-conscious average user' who didn't bother to learn the browsers' features and options! RTFM
-Rant Off
1.5 versions
So rather than fix this problem for the 1.5 versions in obvious manner by making it clear what a user was doing when they 'ticked' that box, the developers decided to simply hide this particular option so that the average user didn't turn off the ability to update the basic program and install & update extensions and themes!
To make matters more confusing for previous 1.0.x users, the developers came up with a new preference, that is so damn similiar and located in the identical location to the former "Allow" preference, that it begs begs to mistakenly / quickly read as being the same thing!
DOH! 
1.5 version Tools > Options > Content dialog box
Wait a minute,that's not all!
There is another downside to this (IMHO) idiotic change!
If the option is turned off in 1.0.x when doing an upgrade to 1.5 there is no way to turn it back on without opening the internal configuration screen to turn it back on!
{ how to re-enable thru about:config }
Rant On-
Of course don't let me forget that sysadmins really don't like their users to be able to install software onto company owned computers, so of course the obvious solution was to remove the choice for all of us!
-Rant Off
Some questions that just beg to be asked:
Why the need for a warning bar?
Why the need for having that specific option location for the warning?
Were they afraid to have one less option in that box than in 1.0.x?
Did they let to decision lapse to the last minute before updates were closed and have no other option than agree to something that no one really wanted?
IMHO, design by committee run amuck with no one assuming final veto power.
Let me re-phrase that from design by committee, to design by baffoonery; considering the results that we are gonna have to live with til 2.0!
I doubt if anyone has experienced a ‘drive-by download’ attempt to install unwanted software into Firefox, recently! I believe that the only time a user will ever see that warning bar is when they are consciously trying to install an extension or theme.
IMHO, that is a sorry attempt to placate the developers who did oppose removing the option to turn off installations thru the Options panel.
nuff said,
the-edmeister
Continue to how to enable the installation of extensions and themes
Go back to 1.5.x.x Problems Index Page
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this page was created on 12-10-05
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