758294 - Firefox 3 users who are unable to update getting plugin nagging on almost every page

Status: VERIFIED WONTFIX

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[Terry R.]

I have received numerous Mozilla webmaster emails today from users of Apple computers who cannot update to a newer version of Firefox.  They state they are getting a "Update plugins" on almost every page they visit.  This occurs even after disabling auto-update and the 3 options, and changing the home page.

Is there a pref setting that can be changed to stop nagging our users?

Comment 1

[Andre Klapper]

(In reply to Terry R. from comment #0)
> I have received numerous Mozilla webmaster emails today from users of Apple
> computers who cannot update to a newer version of Firefox.

Version in use is 3.6, I assume? What are reasons to not be able to use 10.x LSR or 12.x?

> They state they are getting a "Update plugins" on almost every page they visit.

One example testcase (public URL) is highly welcome.

Comment 2

[Terry R.]

(In reply to Andre Klapper from comment #1)
> (In reply to Terry R. from comment #0)
> > I have received numerous Mozilla webmaster emails today from users of Apple
> > computers who cannot update to a newer version of Firefox.
> 
> Version in use is 3.6, I assume? What are reasons to not be able to use 10.x
> LSR or 12.x?
> 

Any PowerPC based Mac.

> > They state they are getting a "Update plugins" on almost every page they visit.
> 
> One example testcase (public URL) is highly welcome.

If you have 3.6 on your machine, it should be evident.  Login in to Gmail, Yahoo, or just about any site.

Comment 3

[Terry R.]

Since this appears to only affect those with outdated plugins, it isn't happening on all platforms using 3.6.xx.  Changing Platform specific to OSX PPC for now.

Another response:

Not all of us can afford to go out and but a new computer to take advantage of the updates on the plug ins, but I, for one am sick of the "Some plug ins used by this page are out of date" message dropping down every time I check on something. Once or twice sufficed. Now it is just obnoxious and there seems to be no way of blocking it out.

Comment 4

[Terry R.]

Attachment: Attachment image of plugin nag screen

Comment 5

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

That they can't update Firefox doesn't matter, they have just an out of date Plugin installed.

You can disable this infobar in about:config
switch plugins.hide_infobar_for_outdated_plugin to true

Comment 6

[Dave Garrett]

Firefox 3.x users on PPC really should pointed to TenFourFox instead.
http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/

Comment 7

[Terry R.]

(In reply to Dave Garrett from comment #6)
> Firefox 3.x users on PPC really should pointed to TenFourFox instead.
> http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/

From what I've read, it doesn't support plugins, so no advantage.

Comment 8

[Terry R.]

(In reply to Matthias Versen (Matti) from comment #5)
> That they can't update Firefox doesn't matter, they have just an out of date
> Plugin installed.
> 
> You can disable this infobar in about:config
> switch plugins.hide_infobar_for_outdated_plugin to true

Hopefully it will work.  This is only creating anger against Mozilla at this point.  Sent to webmaster email today.

I've used this for years and now I am shut down by your nags to install plugins. I install them but the nags don't go away. If this isn't fixed by tomorrow morning I will never use this browser again.

Comment 9

[Terry R.]

Closing bug.  Readers looking for a resolve should refer to the suggestion in Comment #5.

Comment 10

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

Is this warning created by the plugincheck ?
They could disable the warning on the server for PPC users.

Comment 11

[Terry R.]

(In reply to Matthias Versen (Matti) from comment #10)
> Is this warning created by the plugincheck ?
> They could disable the warning on the server for PPC users.

Using the pref you suggested works, so it is the plugin checker.  These are all individual users, not in a network environment.

Comment 12

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

This is caused by the blocklist -> bug 754723

Comment 13

[Justin Dolske [:Dolske]]

(In reply to Terry R. from comment #3)

> Another response:
> 
> Not all of us can afford to go out and but a new computer to take advantage
> of the updates on the plug ins, but I, for one am sick of the "Some plug ins
> used by this page are out of date" message dropping down every time I check
> on something. Once or twice sufficed. Now it is just obnoxious and there
> seems to be no way of blocking it out.

Such outdated plugins are full of security problems and are being actively exploited by hackers and malicious websites. The warning being annoying is quite intentional.

Comment 14

[Terry R.]

(In reply to Justin Dolske [:Dolske] from comment #13)
> (In reply to Terry R. from comment #3)
> 
> > Another response:
> > 
> > Not all of us can afford to go out and but a new computer to take advantage
> > of the updates on the plug ins, but I, for one am sick of the "Some plug ins
> > used by this page are out of date" message dropping down every time I check
> > on something. Once or twice sufficed. Now it is just obnoxious and there
> > seems to be no way of blocking it out.
> 
> Such outdated plugins are full of security problems and are being actively
> exploited by hackers and malicious websites. The warning being annoying is
> quite intentional.

What you quoted was from a Firefox user who complained to the Mozilla webmaster email, as dozens of others have also done.  These users cannot afford new machines, nor do they feel their duo core machines are worthless.  Safari doesn't disable Flash and Java and throw up warnings on every screen, as is now being done with Firefox.  So once a user gives up on using Firefox, good chance they won't try it again.

Comment 15

[Andre Klapper]

Terry R.: I hear you. But summarizing the previous arguments: Firefox developers are not after increasing market share at any cost, but after security for the user. If people want to shoot themselves in the foot by using Safari and old vulnerable plugins we cannot stop them, but we can avoid letting them use Firefox for doing that.

Comment 16

[Terry R.]

(In reply to Andre Klapper from comment #15)
> Terry R.: I hear you. But summarizing the previous arguments: Firefox
> developers are not after increasing market share at any cost, but after
> security for the user. If people want to shoot themselves in the foot by
> using Safari and old vulnerable plugins we cannot stop them, but we can
> avoid letting them use Firefox for doing that.

It seems users would prefer to be in control of their own computer and the software that resides on it.  Here is a common question I have been asked by dozens of users who navigated their way to locate the Mozilla webmaster email to complain. I can only guess how many are just completely frustrated and don't know what to do.

"seems to have worked - though you need to explain why it woldn't have been a helluva lot easier for you people to simply put a "Count Me Out" button on the plug-in page . . ."