Firefox 100 for Windows 7 requires SHA-2 (KB4474419)

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https://www.ghacks.net/2022/04/01/firefox-100-requires-the-windows-update-kb4474419-on-windows-7/

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SueW, Cybertooth

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Some important news (news to me, anyway) down in the comments section:

Firefox will drop Windows 7 AND Windows 8.1 support sometime after January 2023. That’s when Windows 7 ESU and Windows 8.1 regular support timeframe run out. All Chromium-based browsers will do the same thing btw.

It looks like users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will have some decisions to make within the year.

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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Kirsty, LHiggins, SueW

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There’s always the option for Win7/ 8.1 to go to W10 for another couple of years, with a pick of the crop of any browser.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Microfix wrote:

There’s always the option for Win7/ 8.1 to go to W10

I don’t think that its an option for those still running Windows 7/8.1 otherwise they would have switched years ago. Linux is an option.

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bassmanzam, SueW

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I’ve got 2 Win 8.1 computers. I haven’t moved them to Win 10 yet because 8.1 is rock solid – more than any other Windows version I’ve ever used. I will either convert them to Linux or Win 10. I don’t want Win 10 but due to circumstances beyond my control will probably have to. Neither computer comes anywhere near qualifying for Win 11. The computers are Dell refurbished and I just hope the OEM license (I think, I’ll have to check) will allow the free upgrade to Win 10.

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Kirsty, Microfix

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I’m going to Win10 soon on one of three Win8.1 Pros, two others to Linux and one of two Win7 Pros remain offline.(other being ESUbypass) So the browser issue doesn’t bother me in the slightest as I also use Firefox ESR for the foreseeable future.
Based on the Chrome EoS for Win7, I’d be interested in the direction @CanadianTech is taking come 2023, as none of those 80 or so Win7’s are patched beyond May 2017 IIRC.. and they are configured to use the Google Chrome browser.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Kirsty, SueW

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To verify that you do (or maybe don’t?) have it:
– Control Panel
— Programs and Features
— [top left] View installed updates
—- either wait for panel to fill, and visually scan down – tedious; or
—- [top right corner, in the “Search Installed Updates” box]
—- key in: KB4474419 — you must include the ‘KB’ as part of the search

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opti1, Charlie

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KB4474419 came out in Sept. of 2019.  I checked and I have it installed on my Win 7.  No worries for now at least.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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As far I remember, I was forced to add SHA-2 support because with out it, Windows Defender was unable to receive fresh database updates.

I am at Firefox 91.7.1 esr by choice.

Win7 Pro (Blue Retail Box) i7 4770 - 16GB DDR3 2400XMP - GTX1060 6GB - Professional Workstation

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Cybertooth wrote:

Some important news (news to me, anyway) down in the comments section: Firefox will drop Windows 7 AND Windows 8.1 support sometime after January 2023. That’s when Windows 7 ESU and Windows 8.1 regular support timeframe run out. All Chromium-based browsers will do the same thing btw. It looks like users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will have some decisions to make within the year.

So – what browsers will work with Win 7 after this happens? Opera?

I do have KB4474419, but am concerned about the browser issue come Jan 2023.

Thanks!

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LHiggins wrote:

Cybertooth wrote:

Some important news (news to me, anyway) down in the comments section: Firefox will drop Windows 7 AND Windows 8.1 support sometime after January 2023. That’s when Windows 7 ESU and Windows 8.1 regular support timeframe run out. All Chromium-based browsers will do the same thing btw. It looks like users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will have some decisions to make within the year.

So – what browsers will work with Win 7 after this happens? Opera?

I do have KB4474419, but am concerned about the browser issue come Jan 2023.

Thanks!

I was using last Firefox 57 esr, compatible for windows XP for seven years, there is no security risk,  Facebook and YouTube got too much in to  html5  and the browser was unable to use such technologies.

Its too soon for thoughts of panic and of what if ?  There is no answers up to date.

Win7 Pro (Blue Retail Box) i7 4770 - 16GB DDR3 2400XMP - GTX1060 6GB - Professional Workstation

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Cybertooth

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Thanks! And not panicking – just trying to think ahead and make some decisions going forward.

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Depending on exactly how they ID what system they’re running on, you may be able to use the “portable” versions of a browser instead of the install/update version.

Or you could simply copy all the browser files from a working installation on a Win10 PC over the older version on a Win7/8 PC.

FYI, I’ve been doing the “copy from Win10 to Win7” thing with FF to keep it up-to-date on my old Win7 laptop simply because it takes s-o-o-o-o long to update it over its slow WiFi connection (it can only use 802.11b and maxes out at ~5 Mbps.)

So far, copying the files over has worked just fine.

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Cybertooth, LHiggins

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Thanks!

Just another Forum Poster wrote:

Depending on exactly how they ID what system they’re running on, you may be able to use the “portable” versions of a browser instead of the install/update version.

I’ve never used a portable version – does that mean it is run from a thumb drive and not actually installed?

Just another Forum Poster wrote:

Or you could simply copy all the browser files from a working installation on a Win10 PC over the older version on a Win7/8 PC.

And that’s one I’m not sure of either. I do have a Win 10 laptop and right now, both that and the Win 7 run the same version of FF. I know it is way early to be thinking about it – but that sounds like I’d be able to “circumvent” getting the non supported updates on the Win 7 after Jan 2023 by updating FF on the Win 10 and then copying those files into Win 7 version? Is that right?

Of course by then, I may have decided to either use a non-Chromium browser (I used to use Opera but it seemed pretty slow), or replace the Win 7 with something else, so it might not be an issue.

Or – my Win 7 is updated via 0Patch whenever they feel it is needed – paid subscription. Wonder if they’d be sending patches out for FF after the EOL date. Maybe something else to look into?

Thanks for the input!

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Opera is Chromium based, as is Brave, Vivaldi, Edge.

FWIW, my experience with Opera is that the older an operating system gets the slower it (Opera) runs. Towards EOL for Vista, Opera became unbearable slow, even though it worked just fine on W7. I’m noticing now that Opera is slowing noticeably on my 2 W7 machines. It’s still OK for surfing, but updates can take several minutes.

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That’s right, a portable version doesn’t get “installed” (i.e. it doesn’t include an installer program) and, while the intended purpose of such versions is too allow you to run the browser from a “plug-in” drive, they actually run just fine if all the files are copied into a directory on the main drive.

One catch with most portable versions is, because they aren’t “installed“, the auto-update modules and the hooks in the Windows registry that make them work are missing so the browser needs to be manually updated to keep it current.

As for the “copy all the files” trick, normally it only works if a functional version of the browser was previously installed and working on the target PC.

The possible “gotcha” with either method is, if the browser gets changed in such as way that it requires a particular O/S module that Win7/8 doesn’t contain, it’ll stop working (or at least some parts of it will stop working.)

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LHiggins

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Further to the issue of FF no longer supporting Win 7 – I posted a question in the Mozilla forums and got this answer from one of the moderators:

Technically extended support for Windows 7 ended Jan 14, 2020 as it is only the pay for Extended Security Updates that will go as late as Jan 10, 2023. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-7

Firefox Releases works fine on Windows 7 now so why would it not after Jan 10, 2023 ?

Unless there is something OS dependent there is no reason for Firefox web browser to stop supporting Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 anytime soon. Win8.1 extended support ends Jan 10, 2023

If anything Mozilla may stop supporting 32-bit Firefox for Windows before Firefox is not able to run on 7, 8 and 8.1.

Microsoft stopped WinXP extended support on Apr 8, 2014, yet Mozilla supported the EOL WinXP (and Vista) til Fx 52.9.0esr released June 26, 2018. Over two years after Chromium, Chrome, Opera dropped WinXP/Vista support back in April 2016.

Hopefully that will still be the case come Jan 2023!

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WSBirdLady, Charlie

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This sounds wonderful, if in fact this Mozilla person knows what they’re talking about.  It makes me wonder – what exactly do they mean by support?  If you’ve got SHA-2 installed it seems you should be alright.  No one has actually said that Firefox will stop sending updates through.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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Yes, hopefully this will be the case.

As to “supporting” – I’m guessing continuing to issue updates that can work with Win 7? Though I guess time will tell.

Charlie wrote:

No one has actually said that Firefox will stop sending updates through.

Indeed – no one has said that!

Charlie wrote:

The most expensive trip people take today is to the grocery store.

Love your tag line! Especially if you have a long drive to get there…

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Charlie

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Here’s more on Win 7 and Firefox version 100 – direct from Mozilla:

Will Firefox version 100 work on Windows 7?

So – it sounds like FF versions beyond 100 will work as long as you have KB4474419 installed.

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Steve, SueW, Charlie

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This speaks volumes about how much Windows 7 is loved.  I personally started learning Linux because of the train wreck Windows 10 was and still is.  As program software companies stop supporting Win 7, I will be relying solely on Linux to go on the web/Internet.  I only wish I had started getting more serious about Linux sooner!  In the past few years, except for one minor problem, Linux has worked fine for me.  YMMV.

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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SueW, LHiggins, Cybertooth

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Firefox 100 will be fine with KB3033929.

 

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abbodi86

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For SHA-2 activation there is needed for 64bit,  windows6.1-kb4474419-x64  along windows6.1-kb4490628-x64  MSU.

Here are the instructions.

This update introduces SHA-2 code sign support for Windows 7 SP1

Starting in early 2019, the migration process to SHA-2 support began in stages, and support will be delivered in standalone updates. Microsoft is targeting the following schedule to offer SHA-2 support.

System Upgrade require installations at Win7 SP1:

Step 1) KB4474419 -> REBOOT

Step 2) KB4490628 released to introduce SHA-2 code sign support -> REBOOT

Windows defender will now accept newer updates of SHA-2 code (stored or due web update).

Win7 Pro (Blue Retail Box) i7 4770 - 16GB DDR3 2400XMP - GTX1060 6GB - Professional Workstation

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Steve

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Oh really. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/4472027

Firefox 100 will still be fine with KB3033929, as is Windows Defender.

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According to my records, KB4474419 was installed on this computer in January 2020. So I would state it is probable that you have already have it.

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OscarCP

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Did this requirement actually get pushed? Stock Firefox up to 115 works fine on Windows 7 RTM/SP0, which never got a SHA-2 update. I’ve also tested my fork and it works too. (Currently 124)

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