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..."

Note: If Firefox is slow when opening new tabs or windows, go to Add-ons » Speed Dial Options » Main, and uncheck Load in blank new windows and Load in blank new tabs under Automatic load.

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..."

Privacy and security:

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

• NoScript Options » Whitelist tab, remove any default sites that should not be allowed to execute scripts.
• NoScript Options » Notifications tab, uncheck Show message about blocked scripts.
• NoScript Options » Notifications tab, uncheck Display release notes on updates.

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

HTTPS Everywhere "...switches your browser to SSL automatically for any web sites where a secure connection is available..."

BetterPrivacy "...serves to protect against not deletable longterm cookies..."

Flash-data directory:

• Linux: ~/.macromedia/Flash_Player/
• Windows: %AppData%\Macromedia\Flash Player\

Cookie Monster "...provides proactive cookie management on a site or domain level basis..."

Firefox options and settings:

• Options » General » Startup » When Firefox starts: select Show my windows and tabs from last time
• user_pref("browser.startup.page", 3);
• Options » General » Startup » Home Page: enter chrome://speeddial/content/speeddial.xul
• user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "chrome://speeddial/content/speeddial.xul");
• Options » General » Downloads: check Show the Downloads window when downloading a file
• user_pref("browser.download.manager.showWhenStarting", true);
• Options » General » Downloads: check Close it when all downloads are finished
• user_pref("browser.download.manager.closeWhenDone", true);
• Options » General » Downloads: select Always ask me where to save files
• user_pref("browser.download.useDownloadDir", false);
• Options » Privacy » Tracking: check Tell web sites I do not want to be tracked
• user_pref("privacy.donottrackheader.enabled", true);
• Options » Privacy » History » Use custom settings for history: uncheck Accept cookies from sites
• user_pref("network.cookie.cookieBehavior", 2);
• Options » Security » Passwords: check Use a master password, and then enter a password
• No options available in config or js files
• Options » Sync » Setup Firefox Sync: Add account
• No options available in config or js files
• Options » Sync » Sync options: check Bookmarks and Tabs only
• No options available in config or js files
• Options » Advanced » Update: select Ask me what I want to do
• user_pref("app.update.auto", false);

Settings not available via options menu:

• Enable "All Tabs Preview" button (shows thumbnails of all open tabs): browser.allTabs.previews = true
• user_pref("browser.allTabs.previews", true);
• Enable the backspace key [Linux only]: browser.backspace_action = 0
• user_pref("browser.backspace_action", 0);
• Enable "Ctrl+Tab Preview" (shows a preview thumbnails list): browser.ctrlTab.previews = true
• user_pref("browser.ctrlTab.previews", true);
• Open new tabs at the far right of the tabs bar: browser.tabs.insertRelatedAfterCurrent = false
• user_pref("browser.tabs.insertRelatedAfterCurrent", false);

Default the Search Box to google.co.uk not .com [Ubuntu only]:

Reference: Google.co.uk in Firefox? - Ubuntu Forums 

• Open the /usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-GB/google-en-GB.xml file in a text editor.
• Replace any .com entries with .co.uk

  Note: There should be three instances, however, it is recommended to leave the suggestqueries.google.com as .com

Go back to the How-to Guides main page.