QUESTION: How can I enable access to ftp sites in new Firefox -- (or else revert to older version)? SOMETHING MESSED UP THE FORMAT OF MY QUESTION SO I AM REPOSTING IT HERE: terry0051  : Today at 10:09 AM : Until recently, I resisted allowing updates for Firefox because of the announcements of changes to prevent access to some technical kinds of website which I use. These include the public websites of the Paris Observatory which include useful informational ftp pages with important text, data and software files.  : I did recently allow a Firefox update, and now I find that I am cut off from access to these ftp pages. How can I re-enable access to ftp? If it can't be done in the new version of Firefox, how can I return to an older Firefox version that does allow such access?

.......

FTP support was disabled in Firefox 88 for security reasons, according to the release notes: https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/88.0/releasenotes/ (For more information, see bug 1691890 and bug 1574475.)

Also https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2020/04/13/what-to-expect-for-the-upcoming-deprecation-of-ftp-in-firefox/

FTP support has been removed in Fx 90.0

You should not use a old vulnerable version of Firefox just to access a FTP site. Also if you do, do not share the same Profile between Fx 99 and the old Firefox version.

You could use a older version of portable Firefox since the custom launcher keeps Firefox self contained whether you run it off hard drive/ssd or of a usb flash drive. https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Ed./

If you do FTP a lot you could always use a FTP client such as the long running open source FileZilla ftp client (no relations to Mozilla) https://filezilla-project.org/index.php

I have Win 7, let me see if I can replicate the issue. What are the site(s)?

Thank you for replying, but the issue has nothing to do with the sites. Access was working perfectly on Firefox 77. It's a Firefox issue, clearly due to the deliberate breaking of compatibility in the new version. I wouldn't have installed the new version if it hadn't been for an accidental click on one of the incessant nag popups, nagging me to update. It looks as if I may be on my own in trying to return to the older version, doesn't look as if there will be any help to do that.

FTP support was disabled in Firefox 88 for security reasons, according to the release notes: https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/88.0/releasenotes/ (For more information, see bug 1691890 and bug 1574475.) Also https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2020/04/13/what-to-expect-for-the-upcoming-deprecation-of-ftp-in-firefox/ FTP support has been removed in Fx 90.0 You should not use a old vulnerable version of Firefox just to access a FTP site. Also if you do, do not share the same Profile between Fx 99 and the old Firefox version. You could use a older version of portable Firefox since the custom launcher keeps Firefox self contained whether you run it off hard drive/ssd or of a usb flash drive. https://sourceforge.net/projects/portableapps/files/Mozilla%20Firefox%2C%20Portable%20Ed./ If you do FTP a lot you could always use a FTP client such as the long running open source FileZilla ftp client (no relations to Mozilla) https://filezilla-project.org/index.php

While I must thank you for replying, I regret both the content and the tone of the reply.

It has pleased you to instruct me not to revert to an older Firefox version for the sake of accessing the ftp sites, and it has pleased you to instruct me that if I do, not to share the profile with the ver.99 -- but no reasonable explanation is offered for either of these instructions.

Otherwise, you suggest I use another program for ftp access.

Access was working perfectly on Firefox 77. It's a Firefox issue, clearly due to the deliberate breaking of compatibility in the new version. I wouldn't have installed the new version if it hadn't been for an accidental click on one of the incessant nag popups, nagging me to update. It looks as if I may be on my own in trying to return to the older version, doesn't look as if there will be any help to do that.

This is not a breaking anything but fixing security concerns.

https://groups.google.com/g/mozilla.dev.platform/c/FqCZUT9ay_o/m/jt4DLRDjAwAJ

We're doing this for security reasons. FTP is an insecure protocol and there are no reasons to prefer it over HTTPS for downloading resources. Also, a part of the FTP code is very old, unsafe and hard to maintain and we found a lot of security bugs in it in the past. After disabling FTP in our code, the protocol will be handled by external application, so people can still use it to download resources if they really want to. However, it won't be possible to view and browse directory listings.

Chrome and Chromium also removed the FTP the old insecure FTP protocol as of 81. https://textslashplain.com/2019/11/04/bye-ftp-support-is-going-away/

Older versions of Firefox have vulnerabilities that is fixed in current versions https://www.mozilla.org/security/known-vulnerabilities/

Not a good idea to try and share a Profile between two Firefox versions, especially if far apart. This is why I suggested to use portable Firefox if you want to use a older version just for viewing/downloading FTP in mind. Or you can use a FTP client.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/dedicated-profiles-firefox-installation

As you didn't provide a FTP site when request so the one asking you can replicate the issue then it's at a endpass here for anyone to know what is happening.

The FTP site does not matter as web browsers like Firefox, Chromium, Chrome etc does not support the insecure FTP protocol anymore.

As you didn't provide a FTP site when request so the one asking you can replicate the issue then it's at a endpass here for anyone to know what is happening.

Your selective reply omits to take into account that I did provide the information that Firefox 77 was working perfectly on ftp before the (accidental) update. The site identity is irrelevant (as James has also acknowledged). There is no need for anyone to go through the motions of 'replicating the issue': the only thing that changed was the version of Firefox. It is a Firefox issue.

This is not a breaking anything but fixing security concerns. https://groups.google.com/g/mozilla.dev.platform/c/FqCZUT9ay_o/m/jt4DLRDjAwAJ We're doing this for security reasons. FTP is an insecure protocol and there are no reasons to prefer it over HTTPS for downloading resources.

Thank you for your further reply and additional information. I do not dispute that the change was made for security concerns. But it certainly did involve breaking something, namely the compatibility with ftp. I lost that upon the (accidental) update. I accept that the new Firefox will not use ftp. But is there any way I can get back to the older Firefox that did have this capability? I have other ways of looking after security and do not require the new Firefox version that lacks ftp. There are difficulties with the portable version that I do not want to get into.

Is there really no source of help for reinstalling an older version of Firefox?

Take your pick. https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/ Or just use my favorite FileZilla as mentioned earlier.

Is there really no source of help for reinstalling an older version of Firefox?

There are many sites where you can get help with Firefox, but this official forum only supports current releases.

By the way, what is the benefit of using a browser for ftp:// addresses rather than a dedicated FTP client?