Firefox 107 out with security fixes and Windows performance improvements
Mozilla Firefox 107 will be released later today. The new Stable version of the Firefox web browser fixes several security issues in the browser and improves performance for some users who run the browser on Windows 11 version 22H2 devices.
For the most part, Firefox 107 is a smaller release though. Next to Firefox 107, a new Extended Support Release version, ESR, is also released. Firefox 102.5 ESR will become available later today as well.
Mozilla publishes updates for all development versions of Firefox around the time Firefox Stable is updated. This moves Firefox Beta and Dev to version 108, and Firefox Nightly to version 109.
Ashwin covered the big new feature of Firefox 107 for Android yesterday already.
Executive Summary
- Firefox 107 is a security update. We don't know how serious the fixes are at this point, but will update the article once Mozilla publishes information about the update.
- Firefox 108 Stable will be the last major browser release of 2022. A few point releases may be released as well to address bugs and issues.
- Mozilla fixed a total of 19 different security issues in the browser. The highest severity of the vulnerabilities is high.
Firefox 107 download and update
Firefox 107's release date is November 15, 2022. The browser becomes available on that day and most Firefox installations should pick up the new version automatically.
Since it is a security release, Firefox users may want to update as soon as possible. This is done either with a manual check for updates, or by downloading the latest installer from the Mozilla website.
To check for updates in Firefox, select Menu > Help > About Firefox. The current version is displayed when About Firefox is selected. Firefox runs a check for updates and downloads/installs any new version that it finds.
Here are the official download locations:
- Firefox Stable download
- Firefox Beta download
- Nightly download
- Firefox ESR download
- Firefox for Android on Google Play
Firefox 107.0 new features and improvements
Firefox 107 Stable is light on new features. The official release notes list just two improvements.
Windows 11 users who have updated the operating system to the Windows 11 2022 Update already may notice performance improvements under certain conditions. This applies only to systems on which Windows Defender is the security tool and Microsoft IME, Input Method Editor, is used.
Mozilla notes that it has improved the performance when the URL of the active document is retrieved by Windows Defender under these conditions.
Improved the performance of the instance when Microsoft's IME and Defender retrieve the URL of a focused document in Windows 11 version 22H2.
The second change introduces support for power profiling to Linux and Mac devices with Intel processors. The feature was only available on Windows 11 and Apple Silicon devices previously. Mozilla introduced it in the Firefox 104 Stable release.
Check out our guide on analyzing the power usage of websites in Firefox, for an in-depth guide.
Other changes and fixes
Developer
- The contain-intrinsic-size shorthand property was improved. It allows developers to "determine the size of an element without needing to render its child element".
- The non-standard and deprecated SVGSVGElement.useCurrentView property has been removed.
- Mozilla improved the debugging of WebExtensions in the new release. Changes highlighted include inspecting popup windows created by WebExtensions, a new webext argument, to automatically open the Developer Tools (using --devtools), and reload in the Developer Tools to see changes made to WebExtensions right away.
Enterprise changes
None published.
Known Issues
None listed.
Security updates / fixes
Security updates are revealed after the official release of the web browser. You find the information published here after release. We will update the review of Firefox 107 once the information is published by Mozilla.
Mozilla fixed 19 different security issues in Firefox. Several vulnerabilities have a high severity, second only to critical. At least some of the vulnerabilities affect Firefox ESR as well.
Outlook
Firefox 108 Stable and Firefox 102.6 ESR are expected on December 13, 2022.
Firefox extension reviews and news
Recent Firefox news and tips
- Firefox 106.0.5 fixes a crash on certain Intel systems
- Firefox 106.0.4 fixes browser crashes
- Mozilla may extend Firefox on Windows 7 and 8.1 support
- Firefox 106.0.3 fixes a crash and hangs on Windows
- Firefox 106.0.2 fixes a freeze, opening issue and more
- Firefox Beta for Android now supports custom add-on collections
- Firefox 106.0.1 fixes a crash on certain AMD systems
- How to hide Firefox's List All Tabs icon
Additional information / sources
- Firefox 107 release notes
- Firefox 107 for Developers
- Firefox for Enterprise 107 - release notes (not published)
- Firefox Security Advisories
- Firefox Release Schedule
>Windows performance improvements
It works noticeably worse on my end.
Same observation: no performance improvement but degradation in performance
@boudeman, no degradation here. I’ve never encountered Firefox issues here, nor performance degradation but on the contrary updates (major anyway) always bringing improved and increased velocity, power, performance. I think i’ll never understand the litany of complaints especially if they’re not invented for the sake of relieving one’s nerves on an easy target, when on the other side users who don’t mix up with all the available settings, think before crying or yelling, will appreciate an excellent exceptional qualities and may even consider it as the best in terms of a medium scoring fed with performance+privacy+security data. I’ve been a Firefox user ever since versions 2.x and my only complaints concerned the entrance to the multi-process architecture (famous v.58) and deep CSS changements at one time (in the seventies’ versions mainly) and that was because I dislike changing what works… until I discover that it runs better than previously… and then i tell myself ; “Mate, you’ve lost a good opportunity to avoid complaining”.
@Dostojny Kocu, this is like going to the dentist and he says… everything fine, but four cavities!
>”The highest severity of the vulnerabilities is high.”
Google says, “If you don’t get at least 5 criticals and at least 1 zero-day, you aren’t hardly even trying.”
Google also says, “Hold my beer.”
Quote: “Firefox 102.5 ESR will become available later today as well.”
I don’t know how they manage to do it, but (and this happened many times before, too) the well-known software listing site MajorGeeks already offered a download of the new Firefox 102.5 ESR version yesterday morning, when the official Firefox ESR download page (mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-esr) did not yet have it.
MajorGeeks’ 1998-style layout sure looks antiquated, but (like Ghacks…) it’s one of the sites I check every day.
They download from the official Mozilla server here: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/
I can’t understand why this release of FF 107.0 is not the FF 106.0.6 that it should be according that it is only a security update only. Numbering versions are a crazy game right now.
Moonchild of Pale Moon said the trend as “rabid release” to surpass Chromium versioning.
The higher the number, the better.
Pale meme lol
@Anonymous, the meme is the new power of people, Trump’s people mostly.
@Laid-off Metamate, +1 completely agree!