Hello Kymber,

I look at your previous thread here and I understand (and share) your frustration ....

In this bug report I suggested to create a preference on the "about:config" page that will give users the opportunity to enable Flash permanently, but that is not going to happen. Ever.

Firefox is not the only browser that makes it hard to use sites that still use Flash (every browser does the same, and for a good reason), but what we really need to do is keep telling the sites that still use Flash, to hurry up and change from Flash to HTML, if they want people to keep using their site.

You can go back to a prior version of Firefox or an ESR version.

Install Older Version Of Firefox {web link} Be sure to read everything here.

If you still want to downgrade, look under; I still want to downgrade. Click the Directory of other versions and languages link. Look for the directory of the version that you want. But, remember that old versions may have security issues.

You should also check out Firefox; Extended Support Release {web link} ESR Notes System Requirements

I think that you should see the "Social media tracking block" notification only once or possibly a few times to make you aware that something has changed. That happens with more features the Whats New button on the Navigation Toolbar. You only need to open/read such a notification and you shouldn't be bothered anymore (i.e. do not ignore it, but click it so Firefox knows you've seen it. Some of these notifications have a counter and you might see them a few times. Most such notifications can be closed via the Escape key or by clicking the icon it originates from another time.

You probably have noticed that as long as you do not close Firefox that you do not need to re-allow Flash during the current session once you have clicked allow.

FredMcD said

You can go back to a prior version of Firefox or an ESR version.

Excellent idea - especially for those who do not want to keep the tabs that use Flash open 24/7. Just till it's the end-of-life for Flash, and then use the (at that time) current Firefox version (if one so wishes).

Going back to a previous Firefox version is never an Excellent idea as that makes you vulnerable to disclosed security vulnerabilities.

If you really need to use an older Firefox version or compatibility reasons then use a portable Firefox version.

You can install a portable (ESR) Firefox version to access websites that do not work with the current Firefox release. The portable version comes with its own profile folder and doesn't interfere with currently installed Firefox versions.

• https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
• https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox-portable-esr

cor-el said

Going back to a previous Firefox version is never an Excellent idea as that makes you vulnerable to disclosed security vulnerabilities.

McCoy said

Just till it's the end-of-life for Flash, and then use the (at that time) current Firefox version (if one so wishes).

In the article Fred linked to it says :

"Warning: Old Firefox versions pose a significant security risk."

McCoy said

Firefox is not the only browser that makes it hard to use sites that still use Flash (every browser does the same, and for a good reason), but what we really need to do is keep telling the sites that still use Flash, to hurry up and change from Flash to HTML, if they want people to keep using their site.

Going backwards with Firefox isn't going to pressure sites to move forward.

If you really want to go "back in time" : https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Ed./

RobertJ said

Going backwards with Firefox isn't going to pressure sites to move forward.

That's not what I said - we (the users) need to tell sites that still use Flash to hurry up and change from Flash to HTML.

The EOL for Flash may be 10 months from now, but could also be 2 months from now. Using an older Firefox version till then (and accepting the possible risks, as mentioned in the article FredMcD linked to) or using an ESR version, still seems a like good idea to me for someone who uses many sites that use Flash every day (and doesn't want to keep those sites open 24/7).

(edit : typo)

McCoy said

what we really need to do is keep telling the sites that still use Flash, to hurry up and change from Flash to HTML, if they want people to keep using their site.

McCoy said

FredMcD said

You can go back to a prior version of Firefox or an ESR version.

Excellent idea

So, which is it? Backward or Forward?

RobertJ said

So, which is it?
Backward or Forward?

For the time being using an older Firefox version or ESR version (either portable or regular, that's up to the OP), and in the mean time repeatedly reminding the sites that still use Flash that they have to hurry up and to change to HTML.

@ Kymber :

Apologies for the "domestic conversation" .....

First, let me thank all of you for your suggestions, and especially for not taking a "this is happening, get over it" attitude as I experienced in some responses in my earlier threads. I am trying to be rational about this while still expressing my deeply rooted opinion that the developers should have dealt with this incrementally instead of implementing the most user-intrusive method. (I won't repeat myself, because I see you have acknowledged that in your replies ... I will simply thank you again for understanding.)

As to why I believe the developers should backtrack, McCoy is right about telling the sites to update, but realistically they aren't listening to us and probably will wait until the last minute. There are only three sites left for me that are problematic, and those are where I have my daily sessions with Hidato, Sudoku, Jumble and my crossword puzzle. All three are sites from reputable businesses like UClick but I imagine it is a colossal pain for them to retool those for HTML5 without losing the familiar interface for the users. (And knowing that, I hope cor-el can understand that yes, I did indeed know that my decision to allow Flash does hold for a particular site until I close Firefox but that it is very unlikely I would need to revisit any of those a second time in a session.)

I am not leaning toward embracing the temporary downgrade idea (it's bad enough that I am still on Win 7 Pro, and I can only do that for three more years before Microsoft ends support for Security Essentials) nor do I want to keep track of a second version of Firefox.

I really think McCoy was on to something in the suggestion he made in the bug report, especially as an about:config option would be easily eliminated in the first release after Flash really has deprecated, but he is also correct that it isn't going to happen because as I said ... the developers have a "we are gods" complex and believe their decisions and actions can never be wrong. (I will refrain from what I am thinking on a political level as I write that.)

Again, thanks for trying. I'll see you all when 74 comes out and they still haven't changed this.

I don't use Flash or visit UClick but, I just contacted them asking if they have any plans to convert to html. Maybe a little pressure will help.

Kymber said

I'll see you all when 74 comes out and they still haven't changed this.

We will see you on March 10 ....

And : https://wiki.mozilla.org/Release_Management/Calendar

Yes, I pleaded for a simple preference one could set to "true" to permanently enable Flash till its end-of-life.

One of the developers told me in a private message that "they would think about it" - but that was a long time ago ..... :(

from 07-25-2017 - Flash & The Future of Interactive Content https://theblog.adobe.com/adobe-flash-update/

It's been over 3 1/2 years since Adobe announced the end of Flash, so how long should Mozilla continue to allow Flash to run unfettered?

Plus, there is a policies approach to allow for Flash "per allowed domain" which is posted for "Enterprise" users via a policies.json (which hasn't been mentioned in this thread), which should work for the "common user", too. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1581664#c4 https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/enterprise-policy-generator/ https://support.mozilla.org/af/kb/manage-flash-firefox-enterprise

the-edmeister said

. . . so how long should Mozilla continue to allow Flash

I would say; until it is no longer needed.

Just in from UClick:

Andrews McMeel Universal Support, Feb 14, 8:41 AM CST:

Hello Robert,

We know you're concerned about the discontinuation of Flash Player, and the good news is that many of the games we offer, are already available without the aid of Flash.

That said, our developers are aware of the impending discontinuation of that plugin, but have not yet provided us with details of their plan. However, we're in the business of games, and would expect that a solution will be provided.

Thank you, The Puzzle Society Support a Universal Uclick Service

www.puzzlesociety.com