Mozilla Firefox configuration and setup

Useful add-ons:

Web development:

Firebug

"...integrates with Firefox to put a wealth of development tools at your fingertips while you browse."

Html Validator

"...extension that adds HTML validation inside Firefox..."

ColorZilla

"Advanced Eyedropper, ColorPicker, Page Zoomer..."

Appearance, bookmarks and tabs:

Tab Mix Plus

"...includes such features as duplicating tabs, controlling tab focus, tab clicking options..."

Speed Dial

"...easily access your most used websites..."

AutoPager

"...automatically loads next pages when you reach the end of a page..."

FireGestures

"...customizable mouse gestures extension which enables you to execute various commands..."

Firefox Sync

"Weave Sync lets you securely take your bookmarks, history, tabs and passwords wherever you go"

Privacy and security:

NoScript

"Allow active content to run only from sites you trust, and protect yourself against XSS and Clickjacking attacks."

BetterPrivacy

"Better Privacy serves to protect against not deletable longterm cookies..."

Adblock Plus

"...allows users to prevent page elements, such as advertisements, from being displayed..."

Firefox options and settings:

Run Firefox

Go to View » Toolbars, and de-select Bookmarks Toolbar

Go to Tools » Options... » General, and under Downloads:

• Check Show the Downloads window when downloading a file
• Check Close it when all downloads are finished
• Select Always ask me where to save files

Go to Tools » Options... » Security, and under Passwords:

• Check Use a master password, and then add a password

Go to Tools » Options... » Advanced, and within the Update tab:

• Select Ask me what I want to do

Go to Tools » Options... » Sync, and under Browser Sync:

• From the drop-down box beside Firefox will: select Use my custom settings
• Check Bookmarks and Tabs only

[Linux only] Within the address bar type about:config

• Find and hightlight browser.backspace_action
• Set the value 0

Blocking cookies for a single site:

Step 1:

Run Firefox.

Step 2:

Load the page (domain) that is to be blocked.

Step 3:

Go to Tools » Page Info » Security » View Cookies:

• Select any cookies from the window, click Remove Cookies
• Click close

Step 4:

Go to Tools » Page Info » Permissions, and under Set Cookies:

• Uncheck Use Default
• Select Block

Disabling third party cookies:

Reference: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Disabling+third+party+cookies

Step 1:

Run Firefox.

Step 2:

Go to Tools » Options... » Privacy:

• From the drop-down box beside Firefox will: select Use custom settings for history
• Uncheck Accept third-party cookies

Backing up firefox:

[Optional] Backup/Export bookmarks:

To take a backup as a json file:

• Go to Bookmarks » Organise Bookmarks...
• Click Import and Backup and select Backup...
• Choose a backup destination and click Save

To take a backup as a html file:

• Go to Bookmarks » Organise Bookmarks...
• Click Import and Backup and select Export HTML...
• Choose a backup destination and click Save

[Optional] Add-ons:

• Go to Tools » Add-ons and take a screenshot of the addons/extensions dialog box
• Take a screenshot of any add-on settings
• Look for any backup utilities within the add-ons (e.g. speed dial, tabmixplus)
• Connect and sync to Firefox Sync

[Optional] Current tabs in use:

Take a note of any tabs currently open.

Back up the profile:

Step 1:

Shut down Firefox, if running.

Step 2:

Copy the Firefox profile:

• For Windows XP browse to:

  C:\Documents and Settings\[USER]\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

• For Ubuntu browse to:

  /home/[USER]/.mozilla/firefox

Duplicating a tab in Firefox:

From the keyboard, press:

• Ctrl+L, then
• Alt+Enter

Adding and removing icons from the top toolbar:

Step 1:

Run Firefox.

Step 2:

Go to View » Toolbars » Customise...

Step 3:

To add an icon (item), drag it from the customisation area onto the toolbar.

To remove an icon (item), drag it from the toolbar onto the customisation area.

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