I miss all of the usability, security, and aesthetic features my extensions provided, but Firefox does feel a little snappier now.

There's nothing unstable at all about a NS-only Fx in my experience.Alan Baxter wrote: I don't recommend using extensions to non-technical users. By far the most prevalent internet-related computer security problems aren't addressed by any of them, including NoScript, and they tend to make Firefox less reliable. Mom and my friend find it perfectly usable without even changing any of the settings.
Nothing unstable? I agree. But it does make for "Firefox isn't working right" scenarios, and not just ones caused by extension conflicts. But as for extensions in general, well take a look at what's causing the majority of the user problems reported on Mozillazine and the Mozilla support site. Extensions! I continue to think a vanilla Firefox without extensions provides the most trouble-free experience.Grumpy Old Lady wrote:There's nothing unstable at all about a NS-only Fx in my experience.Alan Baxter wrote: I don't recommend using extensions to non-technical users. By far the most prevalent internet-related computer security problems aren't addressed by any of them, including NoScript, and they tend to make Firefox less reliable. Mom and my friend find it perfectly usable without even changing any of the settings.
You're right, it is an assumption. My assumption is that the majority of systems are compromised by people downloading and installing malware on their systems, not by XSS attacks that exploit an unpatched system. I suppose they're often tricked into it. I suspect most problems are introduced through social engineering techniques, not by ones that NS can prevent. I have no data to support my opinion, just my observations of what kind of decisions people are prone to make while trying to get things done on the Internet. (I only say XSS attacks because we already have evidence that many users will just keep Allowing with NS until the page seems to work properly. Hence my opinion that "Temporarily Allow all on this page" is the most dangerous selection on the menu.)Your assumption about the prevalence of JS net security problems could be influenced by the very careful don't tell policy of banks and government in general about individual account misappropriation and identity fraud. And by the situation that many novice net users end up with - ie a 'slow internets' that they put up with for their small amount of browsing and email, rather than paying for professional help; all the while they are online their machine is doing dutiful bot work.
A NS with 'allow globally' and the default system ABE LOCAL is really essential Fx for those who have no clue what to trust or what to navigate with.
I encourage all the novices I know to install NS; I can only remember one who had problems. They used yahoo for business.
On the other hand, I advise novices to choose file scanning applications that are fully supported, preferably with a phone help desk.
Occam's Razor fits perfectly here, as it does in so much of life.Alan Baxter wrote: ....Extensions! I continue to think a vanilla Firefox without extensions provides the most trouble-free experience....
Our library self-help group is around 20 strong most of the time.helping many people
No argument with that, but the assertion I did engage with wasBut it does make for "Firefox isn't working right" scenarios, and not just ones caused by extension conflicts.
and I read that as less predictable; less workable. My choice of "unstable" was perhaps unfortunate.makes Firefox less reliable
Certainly, but that's self-evident. I wouldn't have taken exception to that if you'd used "trouble-free" instead of "reliable".I continue to think a vanilla Firefox without extensions provides the most trouble-free experience.
By far the most prevalent internet-related computer security problems aren't addressed by any of them, including NoScript
Multiple assumptions in there:My assumption is that the majority of systems are compromised by people downloading and installing malware on their systems, not by XSS attacks that exploit an unpatched system. I suppose they're often tricked into it. I suspect most problems are introduced through social engineering techniques, not by ones that NS can prevent.
Ah, these aren't users that don't see what all the fuss is about, like me; these are ones that been burned and are motivated to use NoScript.Grumpy Old Lady wrote:the ones I recommend NS to are the ones who've already been shafted by this or that compromise and who are making a start with Fx.
What do you call a computer whose user relies on an "anti-virus" app with resident scanner for protection? Infected!Yes, I mean "anti-virus" apps with resident scanners. They work for many, and stuff around with many others. I hate trouble-shooting them.
Being a more recent learner, and only partly along the path, I *do* understand and empathize with AU (average user), and have tried to use that to advantage, to represent the AU's point of view here. Have sometimes been met with resistance, which I would attribute to exactly that frank and honest admission, which most techies won't admit. I won't bore you or the board with analogous (or analogic; they're not digital) anecdotes from non-tech fields in which I've taught, where the "experts" (one with Olympic gold) couldn't identify with their nervous novices. Cheers.Alan Baxter wrote:...I'm afraid I've been a techie far too long to understand what it's like for a normal user...