They have passed 16 years From the best time of Firefoxwhen it came to have a global market share of the 32.21%according to Statcounter historical data, and even temporarily exceeded Internet Explorer 7. Currently, the Mozilla open source browser is used by Between 6% and 7% of PC userswho could experience problems from tomorrow if they have not updated for months browser.
The cause, reminiscent of the recent problem of Google with the Chromecast that stopped working, is the Expiration of one of its root certificateswhich can cause interruptions in the operation and safety risks.
The Mozilla certificate, which expires the Friday, March 14, 2025is used to verify that content, including browser accessories and other company projects, has been approved by Mozilla.
For this reason, users must update their browsers A Firefox 128 (released in July 2024) or a later version. For those who use the extended support version (ESR), they must update to ESR 115.13 or another more recent.
Security risks and operating problems
Mozilla explains on the Firefox support page that not updating the browser can expose users to serious security risks and functional problemswhich include:
- Malicious accessories that can compromise the user’s data or privacy by avoiding security protections.
- Non -reliable certificates that can allow users to access fraudulent or insecure sites without warning.
- Committed password alerts deactivatedwhich leaves users without knowing if their accounts have been violated.
Users are recommended to verify and confirm that they are running Firefox 128 or a later version following the route: Menu> Help> About Firefox. This action automatically activates an update verification in the browser.
Impact on all platforms, except iOS
The problem affects Firefox on the following platforms:
- Windows.
- Android
- Linux
- macOS.
However, It does not affect iOSsince it has an independent root certificate management system.
Mozilla warns that users who continue using old Firefox versions after the certificate’s expiration may Continue to do it at its own risk, but the performance and functionality of the browser could be seriously affected. ‘We strongly recommend updating to the latest version to avoid these problems and guarantee that your browser remains safe and efficient ‘Mozilla remarks.
Other Firefox -based browsers must also be updated
Users of the following Firefox -based browsers They must make sure they are executing a version based on Firefox 128 or later to avoid these problems:
For any problem with the update, Mozilla has enabled a thread on the support page to help users update their Firefox browsers.