550722 - urlclassifier3.sqlite automatically removed by 3rd party program

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Toolkit :: Safe Browsing, defect)

Description

[kimsland]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2) Gecko/20100115 Firefox/3.6
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2) Gecko/20100115 Firefox/3.6

Hi I reported this here already: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=499362#c17
But was informed to create a new report (also note I'm not sure if it's in the right area still!)

urlclassifier3.sqlite (Phishing protection data). Removed by free program Temp File Cleaner (TFC by OldTimer)
Not a Firefox bug, but yes a concern.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Download http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/TFC.exe (Free Temp File Cleaner program)
2. Close Firefox and run the 3rd party utility
3. urlclassifier3.sqlite is then removed, and defaulted back on next Firefox restart
Actual Results:  
Folder fully removed: %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profilename>
urlclassifier3.sqlite defaulted to original file on next restart of Firefox

Plus also removed and defaulted:
 XUL.mfl (FastLoad cache file for user interface extensions data)
 XPC.mfl (FastLoad cache file for user interface components data)

Expected Results:  
The software is performing normally

Happens only when running the 3rd party cleaning utility: TFC.exe

Now I realize this is not a Firefox bug.
And its also the intended operation of a 3rd party cleaning tool.

But since urlclassifier3.sqlite (Phishing protection data) is defaulted back to original form, I wanted to suggest to move it back to the original (untouched) location: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<profilename>
Or at least have a cache backup of it in there.

I also wanted further information on urlclassifier3.sqlite ie What's its current file size or version (I believe it automatically updates?)

Since I'm new here and not sure if this type of thing requires a "bug" report, please move or otherwise remove this report if not required/relevant.

Comment 1

[Jo Hermans]

I think that TFC.exe tries to delete the Firefox temporary files by nuking C:\Documents and Settings\hermaj3\Local Settings\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxx . That folder contains the Cache, but also urlclassifier3.sqlite and xul.mfl and xpc.mfl.

This is an error on the part of TFC.exe : only the cache should be removed. Granted, all the files will be regenerated, which is not a problem for *.mfl, but results in a 30 MB re-download for urlclassifier3.sqlite (and you're not protected for a short while too).

Moving these files to the normal profile folder is not an option, because the latter is saved as part of a roaming profile (when you log out), while the former is NOT part of the roaming profile on purpose (especially the cache should never be saved). People are already complaining on the size of those files (places.sqlite for instance is inside the roaming profile), and you make it worse ? And you even want to keep a backup copy ???

PS : the current file size is about 30MB in one of my profiles, 49 MB in another. It can vary because vacuuming isn't (yet) used when information is deleted from that file (there's a bug about it). There's no specific version of the file, as it is being continuously updated, and it's actaully a database, not a file. And besides, it's way to large to send all the information at once, so the download stream is interrupted at some point. It will be resumed later on, but in the mean time new entries will be added and old ones removed (when they're not a threat anymore). That's also why 2 computers might not have exactly the same data in them, it just depends on what updates they're seen so far.

Comment 2

[kimsland]

Wow, thanks  Jo Hermans

I am very satisfied with that answer, it may help many out there
I'll try to get this "error" with TFC fixed, by contacting the forum.
Thanks again :)

Comment 3

[Jo Hermans]

I think that TFC.exe is trying to nuke ALL Local Settings, assuming that it would speed up the computer, and that information can be regenerated again. But some of those files might be very expensive to regenerate. Google Earth for instance stores hundreds of megabytes in this location, and you will have to download them again if you removed them by using a "spring cleaning" application like TFC.

Comment 4

[kimsland]

Thanks again Jo Hermans,

The developer "OldTimer" is not convinced that removing the file is a concern, even after referring him to this report.
I created a new topic on his forum here: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/TFC-Critical-Issue-t270576.html

As I am not convinced either way, (Nor able to debate technically further) I have to lean towards User safety first and have decided not to quote the program unless this file is removed from automatic deletion (just use CCleaner instead)

I either need others to back me up on his forum, or show me the light! and say its safe (meaning better) to delete.

Either way, all resolved.

Comment 5

[David Dahl :ddahl]

If the entire profile directory is being removed, then this is a serious issue. I would even say that if this is true, then "TFC.exe" is malware. If you machine is not backed up and you have data in places (bookamrks) you will have lost them with no recovery possible. The backs ups that firefox creates are also stored in that directory.

Comment 6

[Jo Hermans]

It's not Windows, only the Local Settings was removed (mainly cache + urlclassifier3.sqlite), not the rest of the profile.