BEWARE: FireFox 98 latest utorrent issue!!

[PiusX]

I just noticed with the latest FireFox 98 that if you try to download sites with utorrent files FireFox tries to save the torrent file rather then open the torrent software.  I went back to FireFox 97.0.2 and it works opening the utorrent software to download the torrent files. So before anyone goes FireFox 98 STOP!!!!!!!!!

Here's what I found: (I haven't tried this yet as when I reimaged my drive back to previous FireFox version I didn't update to FF98 but used a Regedit to stop updates until further updates changes or others have tested this to work.

https://winaero.com/disable-updates-firefox-63-above/

Edited March 14, 2022 by PiusX
update

[desmondu]

Yes, I am having this problem too.  I played around with download settings in 98 but no luck.  Thanks for putting up the post.

I rolled back to 97.0.2, had to restore old profile after 98 was removed.

While this doesn't hamper things working, it's an inconvenience to have the torrent files saved to the browser download directory instead of utorrent's designated dir.  I hope this gets fixed. 

 

[rafi]

I don't see any issue with 98.0.1 .... Maybe, make sure you have uT set correctly as the default app for .torrent and magnets in FireFox:

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2020/11/12/default-apps-actions-open-file-firefox/

https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME8RPN0

Edited March 18, 2022 by rafi

[MarkAtHome]

Hi rafi -- I have Firefox 98.0.1x64 and do see this as an issue. Under Firefox's Settings/General/Applications I have Content Type entry "magnet" which is set to "Use μTorrent". I do not have "TORRENT file" as shown at https://www.imagebam.com/view/ME8RPN0, and cannot seem to add it.

When I try to download a torrent, Firefox saves the torrent file to Firefox's default download folder/directory instead of launching μTorrent.exe and saving the torrent file to the folder/directories configured in μTorrent's app.

Am I missing something?

[rafi]

32 minutes ago, MarkAtHome said:

Am I missing something?

Yes, this (how to set to "always *open* file types in FF 98...):

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file#w_adding-download-actions

 

[Hyosung]

OH... I never noticed which version of FF introduced this as I use Nightly.... but it has become alittle annoying and never had it download to my system>

But here's the kicker, and I know it sounds silly, but I use 2 torrent clients (qBittorrent and uTorrent), weirdly, I use uTorrent for all my private tracker torrents, and then qBittorrent for public tracker stuff {Just a weird OCD thing for me}. And in the past, I never had issues of FF downloading the torrent locally first, as I have it set to "Always ask" and then I'd select which torrent client depending on tracker and then it'd open it without downloading the torrent.

Now the behavior is, it'll ask me how I want to open the torrent, and then opens the Client of choosing, but at the same time saving the .torrent locally.

So unsure if you, @rafi, have any suggestions of how to bypass that? (As I know the "always open" is a sure way, but in my case, not necessarily an option)

[PiusX]

I think this is something FireFox team did without telling people how to fix this if they have issues with this change. Their change is more a security risk then to fix the security problem.

[rafi]

43 minutes ago, Hyosung said:

but at the same time saving the .torrent locally.

What do you mean? Where is it FF supposedly saving it (except if in some temporary path of his)? As far as I know - you should regard this as temporary (like some other internet cached data) while the "real" .torrent file is being saved by the client (qBT/uT) in the designated path you defined for it's .torrent files.

Edit:

I see what you mean, FF saves it in the downloads folder. Open a bug-report with FF Bugzilla...

The W/A is to set in about:config -> browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel = false  , with the hope that they will change the behavior in the future...  Looks like you are not he only one that is not happy with this change... https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1370409

Edited March 19, 2022 by rafi

[Hyosung]

Ah, many thanks for that reference.

[rafi]

There is this as well... It looks like back-porting to 97.0.2 is something to consider seriesly... 

And t

[MarkAtHome]

On 3/19/2022 at 12:39 PM, rafi said:

Yes, this (how to set to "always *open* file types in FF 98...):

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file#w_adding-download-actions

 

Thanks, Rafi -- Unfortunately, I did not miss the above, but choose to return to 97.0.2 instead. The above does not address my initial concern, as it only adds unnecessary work, sorry.

[rafi]

15 hours ago, MarkAtHome said:

Thanks, Rafi -- Unfortunately, I did not miss the above, but choose to return to 97.0.2 instead. The above does not address my initial concern, as it only adds unnecessary work, sorry.

Well, it works as before for me (files are saved in temp, see clip below). I guess I have some other old tweaks in my FF98 settings like browser.photon.enabled = False ...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dy7pHXaEKZA_ykk43EvcF5-klTjZ5rMD/view?usp=sharing

[PiusX]

On Mozilla forum there was another user that followed those process and it downloaded rather then start the torrent software. So it was a hit and miss. I reimaged my system and update to 97.0.2 and Regedit to stop Update Checks. I won't go past 97.0.2 until Firefox fixes back so it's user choice not Firefox choice and fix real security bugs not introduce security holes. Some malware/virus sites jus requires a click to download and that's all they need to infect and Firefox 98.x.x jut gave them that BackDoor access for free.

[MarkAtHome]

On 3/20/2022 at 1:08 PM, MarkAtHome said:

Thanks, Rafi -- Unfortunately, I did not miss the above, but choose to return to 97.0.2 instead. The above does not address my initial concern, as it only adds unnecessary work, sorry.

On 3/21/2022 at 5:03 AM, rafi said:

Well, it works as before for me (files are saved in temp, see clip below). I guess I have some other old tweaks in my FF98 settings like browser.photon.enabled = False ...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dy7pHXaEKZA_ykk43EvcF5-klTjZ5rMD/view?usp=sharing

If I click on a torrent file from FF, I expect the file to open/launch uTorrent.exe. I see no reason for FF to save the file, as that would be handled by utorrent, no?

[MarkAtHome]

8 hours ago, MarkAtHome said:

If I click on a torrent file from FF, I expect the file to open/launch uTorrent.exe. I see no reason for FF to save the file, as that would be handled by utorrent, no?

Restore classic download prompt for FF99

[PiusX]

That's good to know one day I'll update and give it a try. I also recall someone on reddit someone said it didn't work so until I restore my system and test. I'll know by then.

Edited April 7, 2022 by PiusX
update

[desmondu]

Just upgraded from 97.0.2 to FF 99.

Did the browser.download.improvements_to_download_panel set to false

Back to normal!  Torrent files in utorrent's assigned directory, no other stray files in surprise places.

Thanks to those who helped.

 

[PiusX]

Ok ,I finally went to FF99.0.2 and used the link that was post and I also found while searching:

https://www.askvg.com/tip-restore-classic-download-confirmation-prompt-in-mozilla-firefox/

And followed the instructions and so far it is working as before in FF97.0.2 install with torrents links going to utorrent instead of trying to save them instead. I'll keep using it for now with this setting but will have to change if with subsequent FF updates as it most likely will get removed in future updates forcing me to do this process of changing it all over again. But I guess I will live with this since Chrome screwsup any torrent attempted download to utorrent.