Firefox 69 Nightly: Fission can now be enabled (for testing)

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Mozilla is working on a new feature for the Firefox web browser that helps users generate random secure passwords when they create new accounts on the Internet.

The feature is part of a concentrated effort to make the password manager of the Firefox browser more useful. Mozilla launched a first batch of improvements in Firefox 67 which it released on May 21, 2019 to the public. Among the new features were options to save passwords in private browsing mode and support for an authentication API.

Mozilla released Firefox Lockwise, a password manager companion app for Android, iOS and desktop systems recently as well. Firefox Lockwise on mobile brings all saved Firefox passwords to the mobile device and supports options to sign-in globally using these passwords.

firefox generate password


Mozilla plans to introduce a password generator in Firefox 69. The password generator would work in conjunction with Firefox's built-in password manager.

Firefox suggests a password during registration processes on Internet sites. The process works on sites that use the autocomplete="new-password" attribute currently only but will work on password fields that don't use it as well in the future. (thanks Sören)

Firefox displays a "use generated password" option when the password field is activated. Selection of the password adds it to the field and saves it automatically under saved logins. The password is saved there even if the registration is ended prematurely.

signon.generation.available


The new password generator of Firefox is not enabled by default in Firefox Nightly. It is controlled by an advanced configuration option that Firefox users may set to on or off to allow or disable the functionality.
  1. Load about:config in the Firefox address bar.
  2. Confirm that you will be careful.
  3. Search for signon.generation.available.
  4. Set the preference to True to enable the password generator or set it to False to disable it.
firefox suggest-generator strong passwords


Firefox 69 has a preference in the regular settings to control the password generator.
  1. Load about:preferences#privacy in the Firefox address bar.
  2. Scroll down to the logins and passwords section.
  3. Suggest and generate strong passwords determines whether Firefox's password generator is turned on or off. Check it to turn it on, or uncheck it to turn it off.
Firefox 69 is scheduled for a September 3, 2019 release.

Closing Words
The password generator comes without any configuration options at this point; it is not possible to change important parameters such as the password length or charset. Still, the introduction is a step in the right direction as it assists users who use Firefox's built-in password manager with the generation of passwords that are more secure than the average passwords that users choose when they create accounts on the Internet.

Google Chrome supports password generations as well but only if sync is enabled.


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Ink

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An absolute killer feature, Firefox First! The rest will copy. /s
 

silversurfer

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Mozilla added an option to recent Firefox Nightly version, version 69 at the time of writing, to enable Fission in the web browser.

I talked about Mozilla's ambitious Project Fission in February 2019. The organization is working on changing Firefox's current process model to improve performance, security, and stability of Firefox operations.

One of the core changes that Fission introduces is that any cross-site iframe will be loaded in its own process to separate it from the main content process of the loaded site.

Firefox's new architecture resembles that of Google Chrome's. Google introduced site isolation support in the company's web browser in 2018. The company revealed in the meantime that the change had a positive effect on stability and security, and that it caused a 20% increase in RAM usage.

Mozilla is aware of the implications. Firefox would use more processes than currently as well and that would increase the browser's RAM usage and requirements as a consequence. The organization is working on memory optimizations at the same time to reduce that impact when Fission launches in stable versions of the web browser.

Firefox Nightly users may enable Fission already in the web browser. It needs to be noted that Fission is still an ongoing project and that bugs are to be expected at this point in time. Users may experience crashes when they visit sites and other issues while they browse the Internet.

It is therefore recommended to enable Fission only for testing purposes at the time. Users should also note that memory usage is higher than it will be when Fission launches officially. The memshrink project is still ongoing and many of the changes have not been implemented yet in the Firefox web browser.
Here is how you enable or disable Fission in the Firefox Nightly web browser:
  1. Load about:config in the web browser's address bar.
  2. Confirm that you will be careful if the warning is displayed.
  3. Search for fission.autostart.
  4. Set the preference to Enabled to turn Fission on, or Disabled to turn it off.
  5. Restart the browser after a state change.

 
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