SillyDog701

[Antony]

I did not specify Firefox 1.5.0.2 to download Firefox 1.5.0.3, but it appears to be doing that at background without my knowledge.



I know Firefox 1.5.0.3 was released, and I know they recommanded people to use the latest version, but I will don't feel that I need to jump to 1.5.0.3 yet.

My Firefox 1.0.7 was updated to Firefox 1.5.0.2 few days ago with a similar dialogue, but I forgot to take a screenshot. I was not happy about that either.

What is the point to download an update in such unethical and stealth way?

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.8.0.2) Gecko/20060308 Firefox/1.5.0.2

[Fulvio]

I don't know if the Mac settings are different or not from windows, or is it just me being careful. In Tools|Options|Advanced|Updates tab, there are two options to choose from. The top one is: Ask me what to do.
In fact, I seem to beat the updater all the time, and get it before it does something. But, I wonder if you have the other option checked, i.e. "automatically download and install updates?
I have never had a problem, and I would not allow automatic installations of any software on my computer, without my approval.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.3) Gecko/20060426 Seahawk Firefox/1.5.0.3

[Andrew T.]

That's funny, I've always been prompted when an update is available before anything else can happen. And that's with automatic updates enabled.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win95; en-US; rv:1.8.0.3) Gecko/20060426 Firefox/1.5.0.3

[Antony]

I don't know if the Mac settings are different or not from windows, or is it just me being careful. In Tools|Options|Advanced|Updates tab, there are two options to choose from. The top one is: Ask me what to do.

Thanks, I've never checked that section of the Preference in Firefox.



It's now fixed.

Now, why does Firefox set to download the update automatically as default setting? Using the latest version might be the interest of Mozilla Foundation/Corporation, but the default setting should've informed users, not in a secrective way.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.8.0.3) Gecko/20060426 Firefox/1.5.0.3

[Don_HH2K]

I may not be representative of most users, but the first thing I do with any new piece of software is change its "default" settings to what I'm comfortable with. If I were to switch to Firefox today, I'd most likely find and disable a pref like that within a few minutes.

So, for the most part, everyone that's ever customized Firefox's settings have had the opportunity to disable that. The question is, do people even know what it means?

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.1) Gecko/20060130 Donzilla/1.1PR1 (WML/1.3)

[James]

Probably not, Don. I think for the majority of us (and I place myself in that category), we simply don't care. I take whatever automatic update is offered. It's nine years now that I've been messing about with my computer and during that time I can't really think of any times I've regretted an automatic update. Granted, I know there's always a first time and it could be a disaster. The other part of this issue is the ability (of lack thereof) to actually configure one's browser and operating system so that he was in control rather than the other way around. Again... I think that most people are incapable of doing this (and again, I'd likely place myself in that group). I can't speak for anyone but me. In my case, it's not a lack of ability but rather of disinterest. I spend most of my day away from the computer and the older I get, the less attracted to the computer I find myself becoming. I mentioned to another frequent poster here (who has posts in the thousands) that for me... life is away from the monitor. Life is exciting... to be lived... and generally that means, activity outdoors with friends and family. I'd argue that most people see their computers as a means to an end. It's the reason why 90% still use Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. It's the reason why most just let their Windows Update come by means of automatic updating. And for the few of us relatively disinterested folk who are Firefox fans, it's the reason why we just let it automatically update itself.

By the way, I'm not advocating this. I'm just giving the reason I think most follow this pattern.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.3) Gecko/20060426 Firefox/1.5.0.3

[Fulvio]

James,
I think that you are, mostly, correct, but while most people would allow a Windows update to do its thing, and, be thankful for it, I would like to know what hits me. The same should go for the Firefox default settings. But, here no one gives you the option to make changes first. I must have made some changes, at one time or other, but I would, also, be upset, if I would be confronted with Antony's situation.
I think that the Mozilla corp. should educate the user, because some settings are rather obscure.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7.13) Gecko/20041220 K-Ninja/Samurai

[James]

I entirely agree, Fulvio...with you and with Antony.

All the best.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.3) Gecko/20060426 Firefox/1.5.0.3

[Antony]

Personally, I recommend users to get the latest versions of browser from Mozilla Foundation (now Corporation). The main reason I was not happy was that I was being informed the updates have been downloaded and were ready to be installed, twice within a week.

If those messages were to tell me updates were available, I would be fine. Many software do check for updates once a while, but not many software would secretively download updates at background as default setting.

Let's take Mac OS X's Software Update as an example, there's Download important updates in the background option, but is definitely not enabled as default setting.


And in fact, you can even ignore certain updates.

Why am I so annoyed by such stealth update? It could be the thing that I came from a place where internet is expensive, and usually come with download quota. There are also times that I need to allocate the internet bandwidth or quota for some other stuffs, rather than updating a browser. (Yes, I can live without the latest update/patch, and I know I will be fine.)

And I also realise that most people don't bother to go through every single tabs/pages of options in preferences.

I admit that I did not check every single options in Firefox, unlike I would've done on Windows' Control Panel, because I trusted Firefox.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.7.10) Gecko/20050716 Firefox/1.0.6

[Pu7o]

In a way, I agree with you Antony, while in another side, I can see the Mozilla Corporation's point of view as well. While it is definitely wrong to automatically download and install an update without the user's consent, most people reject update notices without even looking at them. I know that because the other day when I went into my parents's PC and opened a PDF, Acrobat Reader notified me that there was an update... That's all well and good, except that said update was already several months old. In Firefox's case, though, it was up to date, because there was no "Update Later" option.

UserAgent: Opera/8.54 (X11; Linux ppc; U; en)