FS#71012 - [firefox] crosspost from upstream: updates of firefox overwrite privacy and other profile settings

Attached to Project: Arch Linux
Opened by Richard PALO (risto3) - Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 09:27 GMT
Last edited by Toolybird (Toolybird) - Saturday, 23 September 2023, 00:42 GMT
Task Type Bug Report
Category Packages: Extra
Status Closed
Assigned To Jan Alexander Steffens (heftig)
Architecture All
Severity Medium
Priority Normal
Reported Version
Due in Version Undecided
Due Date Undecided
Percent Complete 100%
Votes 0
Private No

Details

Description:

As reported https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1677482
updates of firefox overwrite privacy and other profile settings...

Apparently upstream devs have difficulty reproducing the problem, though
on arch (x86_64 and aarch64) I have no problem reproducing since a very long
time on differing machines/environments.

Therefore, I crosspost here in hope that some arch dev can determine
if he has similar problems.

Additional info:
* package version(s)
* config and/or log files etc.
* link to upstream bug report, if any

latest update:
firefox 88.0.1-1
firefox-i18n-fr 88.0.1-1


Steps to reproduce:

prior to upgrading firefox, I have the following preferences:
- download: 'always ask' instead of the default
- applications: pdf 'always ask' instead of the default 'open in firefox'
- search: 'DuckDuckGo' (or 'Qwant') instead of 'G$$gle'
- I disable authorisation to collect data by firefox as well, by default it is opt-out (In europe it is opt-in!)
numerous sites (banks, social, fiscal, and commercial sites) have cookies and popups enabled

after update and running the migration assistant, most everything is reset to the defaults
and all sites that had been opened now have nothing checked for cookies and popups preventing them from working
until manually configured again...


This task depends upon

Closed by  Toolybird (Toolybird)
Saturday, 23 September 2023, 00:42 GMT
Reason for closing:  Upstream
Additional comments about closing:  Definitely not an Arch packaging issue.
Comment by Jan Alexander Steffens (heftig) - Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 19:23 GMT
What is this "migration assistant"?
Comment by Jan Alexander Steffens (heftig) - Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 19:28 GMT
Does this output anything?

find ~/.mozilla ! \( -readable -a -writable -o -type l \)
Comment by Richard PALO (risto3) - Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 20:22 GMT
Hi, the migration wizard can be run directly from `about:support` and click `Repair Firefox` I think
or `Firefox --migration`...
when it needs, it prompts.

> find ~/.mozilla ! \( -readable -a -writable -o -type l \)
nothing
Comment by Jan Alexander Steffens (heftig) - Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 20:48 GMT
I reproduced this using the official release 88.0.1 from Mozilla. The settings you listed (downloads action, PDF action, default search engine, telemetry, site permissions) are indeed reset with a "Refresh".

So this looks like an upstream issue, and furthermore, it looks like this is intended, since the refresh does warn you that "browser settings" will be restored to their defaults.

The solution, of course, is to not perform this refresh.
Comment by Richard PALO (risto3) - Wednesday, 26 May 2021, 12:00 GMT
refresh is not the point, it was just a means to reproduce the symptoms.
I get by default the problem after an upgrade or optimisation(or migration, or whatever it is called).
As mentioned upstream, next time the latter is displayed, I'll do a screen capture...
(actually, I should be able to do it on a system not yet done.. I'll check tomorrow).
Comment by Richard PALO (risto3) - Thursday, 27 May 2021, 06:25 GMT
[added as well upstream]
The message (as indicated in the attached screenshot) is somewhat strange:
"It seems you have not started Firefox for a while. Would you like to refresh it for a better navigation?
Nice to see you again!" then a button to 'repair' Firefox (presumably the same as found in about:support)

What is strange is that Firefox is [naturally] used daily!
Comment by Buggy McBugFace (bugbot) - Tuesday, 08 August 2023, 19:11 GMT
This is an automated comment as this bug is open for more then 2 years. Please reply if you still experience this bug otherwise this issue will be closed after 1 month.

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