- Mozilla has announced the release of Firefox 109, which brings a few new features alongside a couple of security fixes.
- The new features include support for Manifest Version 3 extensions, while the support for Mv2 currently continues.
- Alongside the Manifest Version 3 extension support, Mozilla Firefox 109 comes with a new extension button on the toolbar, allowing users to manage their extensions.
Mozilla’s Firefox web browser has reached version 109, bringing a couple of new features and security fixes. The new features in Firefox 109 include the controversial Manifest v3 extension support, while the Manifest v2 support currently continues.
Manifest v3 problem
Manifest v3 is a group of rules that web browsers allow developers for their extensions. The Manifest sets the limits of the extensions by defining their capabilities. The problem with Manifest v3 is that it removes some of the capabilities of Manifest v2; especially the ones that are being utilized by the adblockers. A complete transition to Manifest v3 would effectively kill the adblockers, which is a huge victory for Google. FBI, on the other side, recommends ad blockers for safe browsing.
Firefox 109 also brings a new extensions button which lets users manage or remove the extensions directly from the toolbar. Additionally, the Arbitrary Code Guard exploit protection is now enabled during media playbacks for extra security for Windows users.
The native HTML date picker can now be used with only a keyboard, enabling users to navigate the calendar grid and month selection spinners through keyboard shortcuts for improved accessibility. The latest version of the web browser also brings built-in dictionaries for Spain and Argentina locales.
A couple of security fixes
Firefox 109 delivers a couple of security fixes as well that includes four high-severity vulnerability fixes, which can be seen below:
- CVE-2023-23597: Logic bug in process allocation allowed to read arbitrary files
- CVE-2023-23598: Arbitrary file read from GTK drag and drop on Linux
- CVE-2023-23605: Memory safety bugs
- CVE-2023-23606: Memory safety bugs
With the latest Firefox version, Colorways will no longer be available for new users; the saved and active Colorways can still be used. The macOS version of the browser will scroll the page when Cmd + trackpad/mouse wheel shortcut is used, instead of zooming. The Recently Closed section will allow users to remove the URLs from the list, and the messages and graphics in Firefox View, while it is empty, are updated.
Download Firefox 109
Firefox 109 is now available for download through Mozilla’s official website or, for existing users, through an update. You can go to Help > About Firefox section to force an update check to immediately update your Firefox instance.
You can use the link below to download the Firefox 109 version suitable for your system:
Click here to download Firefox 109
FAQ
What is the latest version of Mozilla Firefox?
The latest version of Mozilla Firefox is Firefox 109 and it was released on 17 January 2023.
Is Firefox still used today?
Yes, Firefox is still widely used today. It is a popular web browser that is known for its speed, security, and privacy features. It continues to be a popular choice among users who value privacy and security when browsing the web.
Is Mozilla Firefox a Chinese company?
No, Mozilla Firefox is not a Chinese company. It is a free and open-source web browser developed and maintained by the Mozilla Foundation, a non-profit organization based in the United States.
Is Mozilla Firefox free?
Yes, Mozilla Firefox is a free and open-source web browser. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems and can be downloaded from the official Mozilla website. Firefox is free to use, download, and distribute, and it is supported by a community of developers and users who contribute to its development and maintenance.
What are the system requirements for running Mozilla Firefox?
For Windows
- Windows 7 or later
- Pentium 4 or newer processor that supports SSE2
- 512MB of RAM / 2GB of RAM for the 64-bit version
- 200MB of hard drive space
- macOS 10.12 or later
- Mac computer with an Intel x86 or Apple silicon processor
- 512 MB of RAM
- 200 MB hard drive space
- Firefox will not run at all without the following libraries or packages:
- glibc 2.17 or higher
- GTK+ 3.14 or higher
- libstdc++ 4.8.1 or higher
- X.Org 1.0 or higher (1.7 or higher is recommended)
- For optimal functionality, we recommend the following libraries or packages:
- DBus 1.0 or higher
- GNOME 2.16 or higher
- libxtst 1.2.3 or higher
- NetworkManager 0.7 or higher
- PulseAudio