Some security companies choose to use software that messes with Firefox and usually needs updating for each major update of Firefox. Mozilla the Firefox people are totally open about the new versions of Firefox, and aim to put out new versions about every 6-8 weeks.

• Please see https://wiki.mozilla.org/RapidRelease

The release dates are well publicised and the revised versions are available for anyone to test. Right now I personally am using Firefox 54 & Fx55 even though Fx53.0.2 is the standard current Release.

The procedure is changing slightly at present as one of the steps is being removed

• See: Simplifying Firefox Release Channels and Improving Developer Edition’s Stability https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/04/simplifying-firefox-release-channels/

Thank you for the reply. I do not wish to seem ungrateful but it would be appreciated if, having discovered, as in this case the latest version of FF is not compatible with Trusteer it would be possible to go back to a version which is.

I have started FF jut now and been told to wait while FF updates (again). I have no objections to people making improvements but it is annoying when the improvement stops security software running.

My bank has supplied Trusteer for free and so expects me to use it. I wonder what would happen if, now FF has stopped T running, I use the bank website and my account is compromised.

If I tell the bank FF stopped T running do you think I would have much sympathy from my bank?

I also think people are being optimistic to expect IBM to adjust their software to make it FF friendly.

Thank you,

Tregarth

I would be helpful if Firefox warned you that an update was incompatible with security ware as it isn't just Trusteer that can be affected.

And why such frequent updates, every six to eight weeks? Presumably all are not security ones, some are also "improvements".

But there must be a limit to "improvements" and where does the need for all these improvements come?

Do users ask for them, or are users being software developer led? If the latter, then the software developers have an interest in finding new "improvements".

I'm sure that there are a large number of internet users who just want a basic fast and secure browser which offers basic internet functions and, especially important, is economical in bandwidth usage, because not everyone has high speed superfast broadband.

It is the responsibility of the security software companies to check their software remains compatible with Firefox not her other way round.

Firefox and other software including your Operating System will evolve continually. How Often does Windows update at the moment is it about every month ?

Often the changes include Security fixes and improvements. Security companies could use software that is provided as an ordinary Firefox extension and that would probably not need updating when Firefpx changes, but that choose to use binaries that do need updating when Firefpx changes.

If you user outdated software whether the browser or the OS you are increasing risks. You are probably safer using up to date software and not using additional incompatible software. You could of course use IE or Edge for banking assuming IBM is managing to keep its software compatible with those browsers.

If you wish to discuss the principles and reasons behind Firefox updates then this is not the place to get answers. You could try somewhere like Reddit just because it is likely to get noticed or you could try one of the official Mozilla fora where hopefully your questions will be seen by developers and those making decisions:

• https://www.mozilla.org/about/forums/
  I will leave you to try to find an appropriate forum and ask whether your question is on topic. ** If you do post over their feel free to provide a link to your new post - others may be interested in following it.
• https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/

We are only fellow users of Firefox. We are not the developers or decision makers.

Nonetheless, it would be interesting to know how fellow users of Firefox feel about updates every six to eight weeks, and I would be surprised if developers and decision makers do not look in on this forum and might, therefore, contribute.

We know from past and current experience Developers and decision makers only very rarely comment in this forum. That may surprise you but it is a fact.

We can not be certain they do not occasionally look without commenting, but why post here when we know some staff monitor Reddit, and we have official fora in which Developers and decision makers do post.

What fellow Firefox users think is probably irrelevant to the decisions made. My personal opinion is that the six week rapid release was not implemented very well initially and did cause problems at first, but it is now running well and is a big improvement on the original System.

That is a surprise and the first sentence of the last paragraph is a disappointment. It sounds as if the users of Firefox are not considered as part of the community by the developers and decision makers.

The problem is that the decisions and planning for something like the change to the Rapid release procedures will have been fully thought through and discussed years ago.

The change did bring benefits, and it is unlikely a major decision and change in procedures is going to be reversed now.

If you do want to try to influence the developers and decision makers then you are not in the right place. Talking amongst ourselves about Development decisions in a thread about a specific issue - Use of Trusteer - is not helping those seeking help with Trusteer.

This is a thread already marked as solved. I will close the thread. If anyone needs to post an update - such as details of an IBM announcement that it has software compatible with the Firefox Release - please send a Private Message to me or any moderator.

General update on use of third party security products.

We have just had big problems with Free Bitdefender AV breaking Firefox 53. To be fair the Bitdefender people did react quickly and fix that (Although possibly there could be issues being reported about paid for versions of Bitdefender - too early to be certain yet.)

I did come across this very interesting blog article and tweet

• (January 2017 )Disable Your Antivirus Software (Except Microsoft's)
  http://robert.ocallahan.org/2017/01/disable-your-antivirus-software-except.html
• And a 2016 set of tweets: You misunderstand your own ignorance. AV is my single biggest impediment to shipping a secure browser.
  https://twitter.com/justinschuh/status/802491391121260544 => https://twitter.com/justinschuh/status/802492110981058560