You Need to Update Firefox by Friday
If you read enough tech news online, you’re probably used to seeing the same advice over and over again: update your software to the latest version as soon as possible. This advice is repeated often because, for the most part, it makes sense: updates not only give you access to the latest features, but also the latest stability and security fixes. If you want to protect your software, hardware, and the data it contains, update it!
Web browsers are no exception. It’s especially important to keep the tool you use to access the Internet up to date if you want to ensure your safety while surfing the Internet. While you should update all web browsers whenever possible, it’s especially important for Firefox users to update now. If you don’t do this, your browser may stop working.
Firefox root certificate is about to expire
Mozilla, the maker of Firefox, issued a warning last year urging users to update their browsers as soon as possible. Unlike most articles I write about browser updates, this particular update does not include a security patch designed to protect against vulnerabilities or active exploits. Instead, this version of Firefox updates the “root certificate” which is required for the browser to continue to work properly.
A root certificate is essentially proof that Mozilla has approved and certified the add-on . (These are what Firefox calls browser extensions.) Whenever you install something like uBlock Origin, Mozilla must first ensure that the add-on is genuine, as otherwise it will lead to instability and security risks.
This root certificate expires on Friday, March 14th. Without this root certificate, Mozilla will not be able to confirm that your add-ons are indeed legal and will therefore disable them. But it won’t just be your additions. Missing a root certificate may also prevent playback of DRM-protected content. This includes streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, since their content is, of course, digitally locked with DRM. Additionally, Mozilla states that systems that use content verification may also stop working.
Firefox itself will not stop fully functioning once this root certificate expires. If you insist, you can continue to use an outdated version of the browser. However, your add-ons and streaming services will likely stop working, among other features. Perhaps more importantly, you’re setting yourself up for security problems: without this certificate, malicious add-ons and websites can bypass Mozilla’s security features and wreak havoc on your computer, while the Mozilla feature that alerts you if your passwords are compromised may not work.
There’s really no reason not to update Firefox to update the root certificate.
How to update Firefox
Luckily, this is not the case where you need to make any major lifestyle changes to adapt. It’s actually as simple as updating your browser. If you’re using Firefox version 128 or later, you’re all set. (For context, the Firefox app on my Mac, which I rarely use, was running version 125, while the latest version is currently 136.) If you’re using a desktop computer, such as Mac, Windows, or Linux, click Menu > Help > About Firefox . Firefox will search for the latest version and, if found, prompt you to restart your browser to install it.
While this issue does not affect iOS, it does affect Android, so be sure to update your mobile browser. To do this, open the app’s Play Store page and select Update if available.