Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

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Samarian Sunset
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Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by Samarian Sunset »

I will be using 19.3 Cinnamon after EOL for short-term or mid-term amount of time. I do know that it's not recommended to use a distro after EOL and I know it's considered an increased security risk...but for awhile I will need to continue using my old computer.

So I need advice/opinions on the different ways I can keep Firefox updated? I've learned that I could add a PPA from ppa:mozillateam/ppa and run Firefox ESR. Or I could install a PPA from UbuntuZilla. Or I could use the Flatpak version of Firefox though I read that the Flatpak will take up more HD space and make bigger Timeshifts. Any thoughts on these methods?

A couple of questions if I do go with any of the above should I first remove my existing Firefox and then later use my backup profile? Well these methods install a Firefox icon launcher in my menu?
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by AZgl1800 »

EOL is not much of a problem, most virus attacks are against windows OS

as for Firefox, just download it direct from Mozilla and use their PPA and it will keep updating for you.

the uninstall it via the Synaptic for the MINT version
or use a different browser, delete FF and then download from Mozilla, which is what i did with previous versions...
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by Samarian Sunset »

Thanks for the reply...I can use all the advice or opinions I can get.

When you say to download Firefox direct from Mozilla and use their PPA, do you mean the tar.bz2 download
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/a ... esktop-esr
I haven't installed a tar.bz2 file before does that install like a deb file?
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by haanpm »

>I haven't installed a tar.bz2 file before, does that install like a deb file?

Nope. First decompress it in the folder you want. I used folder ~/apps/firefox/

Then run it from the terminal. You can make a launcher too to open it.

Command is ~/apps/firefox/firefox (if you use same folder)

FF ESR can update itself without the update-manager.
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by Pjotr »

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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by AZgl1800 »

Pjotr wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 5:53 pm This is a better way:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... .html#ID16
(item 16)
it seems that in LM21.1 cinnamon that isn't working anymore?
even though the Editor comes up, I can make changes, but when I save and exit, I see this:

Code: Select all

 xed admin:///etc/default/grub

** (xed:429814): WARNING **: 16:22:39.329: The specified location is not mounted
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by Samarian Sunset »

haanpm wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 5:42 pm >I haven't installed a tar.bz2 file before, does that install like a deb file?

Nope. First decompress it in the folder you want. I used folder ~/apps/firefox/

Then run it from the terminal. You can make a launcher too to open it.

Command is ~/apps/firefox/firefox (if you use same folder)

FF ESR can update itself without the update-manager.
Thanks for help....I'm curious if you or anyone knows what the major differences are between the method you described and this one I found here https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... sr-ubuntu/
It says to run three commands in terminal to install Firefox ESR:

Code: Select all

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa

Code: Select all

sudo apt update

Code: Select all

sudo apt install firefox-esr
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by AZgl1800 »

Samarian Sunset wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 7:27 pm
Thanks for help....I'm curious if you or anyone knows what the major differences are between the method you described and this one I found here https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... sr-ubuntu/
It says to run three commands in terminal to install Firefox ESR:

Code: Select all

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa

Code: Select all

sudo apt update

Code: Select all

sudo apt install firefox-esr
[/quote]

both will do the same,
I use the method just described.

and it updates just fine
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by Samarian Sunset »

Thanks AZ for trying that out and confirming both methods work. And thanks Pjotr for his suggestion too.

I still haven't made up my mind on which way I will go when 19.3 is EOL, but I'll do one of them.
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by all41 »

Sure FF can be continued but support for other bionic packages ends as scheduled
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by AZgl1800 »

all41 wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:07 pm Sure FF can be continued but support for other bionic packages ends as scheduled
at the End of the Day,
the EOL versions are still very good to run w/o a hacker breaking into your PC.

I ran one laptop on LM17 a long time, after it was EOL, and not one instance of a problem with it.
it was ONLY used with FF to surf the web.
and, because it was small, tiny, and the battery would run 8 to 10 hours w/o charging....
made for a nice Motorcycle surf machine. Easy to pack, and no great loss if physically broken.
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by Pjotr »

all41 wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 10:07 pm Sure FF can be continued but support for other bionic packages ends as scheduled
Not if you implement Ubuntu Pro (free for personal use for up to five machines).... Then "just" the Mint-only packages will be unsupported. :wink:
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by MikeNovember »

Pjotr wrote: Thu Feb 02, 2023 5:53 pm This is a better way:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... .html#ID16
(item 16)
Hi,

Unfortunately, it does not work. See viewtopic.php?f=60&t=390863

Regards,

MN
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Re: Using 19.3 after EOL, best way to keep Firefox updated?

Post by Pjotr »

It can be made to work. The how-to on my website was incomplete. I've completed it:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... .html#ID16
(item 16)

Just tested it in a VM with a fully updated Linux Mint 19.3. With success. 8)

About my test: first I've installed Ubuntu 18.04 LTS in a VM. For reference, because I needed to know the exact contents of the identification files. Then I installed Mint 19.3, which is based on Ubuntu 18.04, in another VM.

By applying the steps I've described in my how-to, I was offered ESM updates by Ubuntu in mintupdate (Update Manager) in Mint 19.3. I was able to install those without a hitch (no surprise there).

The only drawback I've found so far, is that Software Sources (mintsources) fails to launch now in that Mint 19.3 VM. No biggie.
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