Updates 9/28/17 - Firefox

Question

Mozilla is expected to release FF 56 later today.   Normally, I wait until the actual release before posting.   But there's a lot of 'chatter' already, which I think warrants a 'preview'. First and foremost, a reminder that FF 56 is supposed to automatically 'upgrade' users on 64-bit systems (with at least 2 Gig RAM) from the 32-bit version to the x64-bit version.   Users will likely find that several of their add-ons were only 32-bit compatible, and hence, will be disabled (or removed) upon opening the x64-bit version.    [Keep in mind that all 'legacy' add-ons will be disabled in the next version, FF 57... so if you don't lose your 'older' 32-bit add-ons now, you'll probably lose them next time...]  EDIT:  This anticipated change did NOT happen. FF 56 will also be introducing a new 'ScreenShot Tool', and reorganizing it's OPTIONS panel, consolidating the present 8 options  (General, Search, Content, Applications, Privacy, Security, Sync, Advanced) into 4 (General, Search, Privacy & Security, Firefox Account).   For more details, with screenshots, see https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/firefox-56-released-with-built-in-screenshot-utility-new-options-panel/

ky331 · Answer

Firefox 56.0 https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/56.0/releasenotes/

Version 56.0, first offered to Release channel users on September 28, 2017

Today's release gives Firefox users a better experience with features like Firefox Screenshots, Send Tabs, and more control over the browser with an improved (and searchable) preferences section. It also includes incremental performance improvements that move us closer to our biggest release of the year, coming in November.

New

Launched Firefox Screenshots, a feature that lets users take, save, and share screenshots without leaving the browser
Added support for address form autofill (en-US only)
Updated Preferences
- Added search tool so users can find a specific setting quickly
- Reorganized preferences so users can more easily scan settings
- Rewrote descriptions so users can better understand choices and how they affect browsing
- Revised data collection choices so they align with updated Privacy Notice and data collection strategy
Media opened in a background tab will not play until the tab is selected
Improved Send Tabs feature of Sync for iOS and Android, and Send Tabs can be discovered even by users without a Firefox Account

Changed

Replaced character encoding converters with a new Encoding Standard-compliant implementation written in Rust
Added hardware acceleration for AES-GCM
Updated the Safe Browsing protocol to version 4
Reduced update download file size by approximately 20 percent
Improved security for verifying update downloads

ky331 · Answer

Security vulnerabilities fixed in Firefox 56https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2017-21/

Virus & Spyware

Version 56.0, first offered to Release channel users on September 28, 2017

New

Changed

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