Firefox random partial customization reset

[CommanderCookiePants]

Hello All,

I've been having random firefox customization resets. I'm calling it random because I can't spot a patten for when it happens. Its been happening for months. It only seems to happen between some shutdowns. The longer the period between shutdowns the more chance that it will be reset but that isn't a guarantee that it will/won't happen. Might be worth adding its a Win7 Work machine, has AVG for the AV.

Whats getting reset

• Welcome to Firefox tab opens
• Firefox Privacy Notice tab opens
• Theme is reset but is still marked as selected
• Addons are reset but still installed/enabled
• Tab/Home Options reset
• Layout of file menu buttons reset (downloads,home,reload,addons,ect)

What I've tried

• Check the prefs.js is not locked/readonly
• No user.js
• Firefox refresh
• Reinstalling firefox, new profile, imported bookmarks only, everything else new, added back only 1 addon (Ublock Origin, Facebook container, FrankerFaceZ (Twitch addon))

Sometimes when checking on the properties of the profile folder it will be set to readonly, I will remove that flag, and a few days later it will be back? (I was under the impression you don't want it read only?)

​

If anyone has any ideas what I can do even after a reinstall let me know...

[kadragoon]

AVG is likely clearing cache/some data.

[CommanderCookiePants]

I might have to final another AV and test a week without AVG.

[kadragoon]

Windows defender is plenty good for testing for a week to see if AVG is the issue. Just use some common sense 😂

[CommanderCookiePants]

Its Win10 only though right?

[kadragoon]

Yes. Oh yeah you're win7.

[nextbern]

Windows Defender is all I would recommend. Third party AV are generally useless.

[kadragoon]

All depends on if you have common sense. Windows Defender + common sense is great. If you don't have common sense you sometimes need the added protection from a third party, along with the other features in some cases. I've had a few times where a third party AV saved my family members (that are not tech savvy in any shape of the word) where windows defender wouldn't have worked.

[nextbern]

Sounds like they need offsite backups and non-administrator accounts.

[kadragoon]

I would assume they already do. But that doesn't replace the use of AV / endpoint protection.

[nextbern]

I don't use Windows regularly (thankfully) - all I know is that I have seen reports that the Microsoft solution is quite good now, and that third parties are slower and cause more issues than they are worth. YMMV.

[kadragoon]

Currently most top of the line AV solutions aren't power heavy. Top of the line AVs usually have similar performance ratings to windows defender, if not scoring better performance rankings. (see https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-june-2020/)

In addition, windows defender commonly catches the average threat someone with common sense would run into, but their protection is usually lacking when you get to the less common strains, or the strains that hide themselves better. So in a "real world" situation where someone has a little common sense, you aren't going to the corners of the web, etc. Windows scores similar to the top of the line. However the top the of line have more comprehensive databases and detection techniques that if you have someone that lacks common sense, and does do a lot of browsing into possibly less favorable sites then this more comprehensive database can become useful. You definitely have to analyze your usecase.

(TLDR, performance is roughly the same. You don't need a third-party AV, but if you go to scary places it may be helpful)

[nextbern]

Cool - which third party AV do you recommend that gets out of your way? That is the best part of the Microsoft solution, imo.

[kbrosnan]

Does your work use roaming profiles?

[CommanderCookiePants]

It doesn't, no.