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Firefox loses history of most-visited sites

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  • Valiny farany nomen'i ruphus

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Every once in a while, Firefox loses my history of most-visited sites. The Most Visited folder in Bookmarks becomes empty and the thumbnails in the New Tab page return to the defaults. Any clue as to what could cause this?

FF 60.0.2 for macOS

Every once in a while, Firefox loses my history of most-visited sites. The Most Visited folder in Bookmarks becomes empty and the thumbnails in the New Tab page return to the defaults. Any clue as to what could cause this? FF 60.0.2 for macOS

All Replies (11)

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Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player or remove it using these links; http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html Uninstall Flash Player | Windows http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-mac-os.html Uninstall Flash Player | Mac

Note: Windows users should download the ActiveX for Internet Explorer. and the plugin for Plugin-based browsers (like Firefox).

Note: Windows 8 and Windows 10 have built-in flash players and Adobe will cause a conflict. Install the plugin only. Not the ActiveX.

Flash Player Version: Version 30.0.0.113

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Direct link scans current system and browser Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only>

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, Win IE . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only> +++++++++++++++++++ See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

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Profile data can be removed or not recorded several ways;

  • 1) Running Firefox in Private Mode (nothing is recorded)
  • 2) Privacy settings; (In the address bar, type about:preferences#privacy<enter>)
  • 3) Many disk cleaners and anti-virus type programs can remove data from browsers. Open their settings and have them leave the browsers alone.
  • 4) Mal-ware.
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FredMcD said

Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player or remove it using these links; http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html Uninstall Flash Player | Windows http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-mac-os.html Uninstall Flash Player | Mac Note: Windows users should download the ActiveX for Internet Explorer. and the plugin for Plugin-based browsers (like Firefox). Note: Windows 8 and Windows 10 have built-in flash players and Adobe will cause a conflict. Install the plugin only. Not the ActiveX. Flash Player Version: Version 30.0.0.113 https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Direct link scans current system and browser Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only> https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/ Step 1: Select Operating System Step 2: Select A Version (Firefox, Win IE . . . .) Note: Other software is offered in the download. <Windows Only> +++++++++++++++++++ See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

I don't see how this is relevant.

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FredMcD said

Profile data can be removed or not recorded several ways;
  • 1) Running Firefox in Private Mode (nothing is recorded)
  • 2) Privacy settings; (In the address bar, type about:preferences#privacy<enter>)
  • 3) Many disk cleaners and anti-virus type programs can remove data from browsers. Open their settings and have them leave the browsers alone.
  • 4) Mal-ware.

I can rule out #1-3. As to #4, is there specific malware that you know of that does this (on a Mac)?

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dhnyny said

I don't see how this is relevant.

FredMcD said

Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player

dhnyny said

I can rule out #1-3. As to #4, is there specific malware that you know of that does this (on a Mac)?

Further information can be found in this article; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

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FredMcD said

dhnyny said
I don't see how this is relevant.

FredMcD said

Separate Security Issue: Update your Flash Player

dhnyny said

I can rule out #1-3. As to #4, is there specific malware that you know of that does this (on a Mac)?

Further information can be found in this article; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

There is no realistic chance that this is caused by malware. First, it doesn't fit any of the reported effects of malware that I've been able to find. Second, even if malware existed that could have this effect, I don't have it on my computer. While macOS is not impervious to malware, it has very strong built-in protection. As long as a Mac user knows what not to do and doesn't engage in risky, stupid behavior, the chances of getting a malware infection are very small.

As for the suggestion that I update my Flash player, it doesn't help to offer unsolicited and totally irrelevant advice. Plus, I don't have Flash installed precisely because it's vulnerable.

Maybe other folks have ideas about what's causing this. It's not a serious problem, just annoying.

Novain'i dhnyny t@

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Hi, attitude is running high I see : https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/ If you reject the Suggestions which are actually instructions you make it very hard for us to figure out or eliminate things. It is best to follow instructions like updating Flash. I have seen weird things of that fixing issues. As to irrelevant, no it is not as it is part of Firefox Support Volunteers to notify you of issues. As users like you, please be respectful. There is no need to blockquote everything, you make pages longer, use it properly please : https://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_blockquote.asp

Firefox loses my history of most-visited sites.

Sorry, no idea other than it should be over writing sites as it gets to a certain number of URL's stored. If it is important that it works correctly please follow below.

So on that note this is the help provided to help solve your issue : please try a Refresh but Note that this does more than uninstalling and re-installing does. Normal uninstalling does not remove some preferences which may have become corrupt. Please Refresh but do this 1st: Delete your Cookies and Cache and TEST.

then

TEST....... If no issues then Extensions which need to be added back in 1 at a time and tested ..... Or it is your Profile : Make a new one and test ...:

If is your Profile :

Note: Any customization will revert back to default, you will also need to reinstall Extensions.

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

Novain'i Shadow110 t@

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This can happen if the history gets cleared, either by doing this yourself (e.g. via "Clear Recent History") or when Firefox would detect a problem with places.sqlite and creates a new places.sqlite file. Places.sqlite stores bookmarks and history and there is a no backup for the history like there is for the bookmarks in the bookmarkbackups folder.

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Pkshadow said

If you reject the Suggestions which are actually instructions you make it very hard for us to figure out or eliminate things. It is best to follow instructions like updating Flash. I have seen weird things of that fixing issues.

I haven't rejected any suggestions before trying them or ruling them out because it is impossible that they could be the cause. For example, I rejected the suggestion to adjust the settings in my disk cleaners and anti-virus programs because I do not use such programs. And, despite the minute likelihood that malware could possibly be at fault, I did go through the steps needed to rule out any malware. As far as Flash goes, I'm not updating it because I have already uninstalled it.

As to irrelevant, no it is not as it is part of Firefox Support Volunteers to notify you of issues. As users like you, please be respectful.

There are all sorts of really useful and important issues that we all need to be aware of, and it can be very helpful to have them pointed out. Sure, if you use Flash, you should be certain to keep it updated. But you should also take other security measures as a matter of course, such as backing up your data, using two-factor authentication, and leaving attachments from unknown senders unopened. Where do we draw the line in pointing out good practices that may have no bearing on the topic?

I meant no disrespect and apologize if anyone read my comments that way.

There is no need to blockquote everything, you make pages longer, use it properly please : https://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_blockquote.asp

Thanks for the reminder. You're right.

As for your suggestions about refreshing, wiping the cache and cookies, ruling out bad extensions, creating a clean profile, I'd do all that if this were a truly debilitating problem rather than a minor, occasional nuisance. But if you look at my original post, I was simply asking if anyone had a clue what could be causing the problem.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to weigh in.

Novain'i dhnyny t@

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cor-el said

This can happen if the history gets cleared, either by doing this yourself (e.g. via "Clear Recent History") or when Firefox would detect a problem with places.sqlite and creates a new places.sqlite file. Places.sqlite stores bookmarks and history and there is a no backup for the history like there is for the bookmarks in the bookmarkbackups folder.

That could well be it, since the creation date on my places.sqlite file is 6/20. Thanks.

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dhnyny said

Every once in a while, Firefox loses my history of most-visited sites. The Most Visited folder in Bookmarks becomes empty and the thumbnails in the New Tab page return to the defaults. Any clue as to what could cause this? FF 60.0.2 for macOS

I am experiencing the same behaviour on my Linux machine. I can not instantly reproduce the issue, but every now and then I recognize that Firefox (62.0 64Bit) does not present me the URLs of sites, which I have visited in the past. It feels like if FF looses the memory of sites, which have not been visited for a while. Let's say after one month FF forgets that one URL and all its.

Saving of history and download chronic is enabled btw.

While FF forgot the URL it still keeps the saved login information for those sites.