browser.download.useDownloadDir

[hub2git]

Dear dev yokoffing,
I am using your betterfox creation. Thank you for your work on that . My fave browser is now more secure.

In the Peskyfox section there is this line:

user_pref("browser.download.useDownloadDir", false);

Why? Isn't being asked always where to save the pesky choice? In other words, isn't it less pesky for the line above to say "true"?

The description of Peskyfox (in https://github.com/yokoffing/BetterFox#simple-configs) says: "Provide a clean, distraction-free browsing experience."

Isn't being always asked where to save a download distraction-full?

My entire user.js is at https://gist.github.com/hub2git/0076fa1464e9c3ffd73839a6e6b2182d

[yokoffing]

You're not wrong. The pref browser.download.useDownloadDir was added for security, but I'm happy to revisit it.

Betterfox/Peskyfox.js

Lines 322 to 339 in f269678

	// PREF: always ask where to download
	// Enforce user interaction for greater security.
	// [SETTING] General>Files and Applications>Downloads>Always ask you where to save files
	// [DIALOGUE] "Ask whether to open or save files"
	// true=direct download (default)
	// false=the user is asked what to do
	// [1] https://github.com/yokoffing/Betterfox/issues/267
	user_pref("browser.download.useDownloadDir", false);
	//user_pref("browser.download.dir", "C:\Users\<YOUR_USERNAME>\AppData\Local\Temp"); // [WINDOWS]
	// PREF: always ask how to handle new mimetypes
	// Enforce user interaction for greater security.
	// [SETTING] General>Files and Applications>Applications>What should Firefox do with other files?
	// false=Save files
	// true=Ask whether to open or save files
	user_pref("browser.download.always_ask_before_handling_new_types", true);

We currently have settings that prioritizes security and users who prefer to download in various locations.

A build that balances annoyances and security may be:

user_pref("browser.download.useDownloadDir", true); // DEFAULT
user_pref("browser.download.always_ask_before_handling_new_types", true);

This way Firefox saves common files without unneeded interaction (Content Type), but alerts the user for first-time file types or unlisted types (What should Firefox do with other files?).