Mozilla Firefox

CNET Editors' review

Read CNET senior editor Rob Vamosi's extended review of Firefox 3.

No longer a fledgling upstart, Firefox 3 is full-featured, lightning fast, and an able Internet Explorer foe. Previous versions have seen Mozilla's approach to features such as tabbed browsing and extensions become extremely popular. Even though Firefox 3 lacks a killer feature, it offers significant improvements not to be missed.

Version 3 introduces a multitude of safety and usability features. The location bar drop-down menu now includes URLs from both your browsing history and your bookmarks. A new Add-Ons manager includes a built-in plug-in search engine, saving you the previous trip to the Mozilla Web site. Single-click the star icon on the right of the location bar to bookmark the current page, or double-click on it to simultaneously add and edit the bookmark entry. You can tag bookmarks, too. Other impressive new features include password confirmation before adding it to the saved passwords list, the ability to pause and resume downloads, and merged forward and backward history lists.

Firefox 3 now runs faster and, according to Mozilla, is less susceptible to hacks and other vulnerabilities. The browser now warns your system's antivirus program when you download a file, and anti-malware and anti-phishing utilities now throw up a warning page before allowing Firefox to load risky sites. The favicon reveals Web sites' ownership details and displays the security level of your connection to that site.

Developers will appreciate that Firefox 3's new graphics and text rendering code provide rendering improvements in CSS and SVG as well as improved display of fonts and complex scripts. Firefox 3--still open-source, as ever--is a browser that all users should consider making their default Web-surfing tool.

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All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    4.3 stars

    out of 15,263 votes

    • 5 star: 10213
    • 4 star: 2381
    • 3 star: 943
    • 2 star: 604
    • 1 star: 1122
  • Current version:

    4.0 stars

    out of 35 votes

    • 5 star: 21
    • 4 star: 5
    • 3 star: 2
    • 2 star: 1
    • 1 star: 6
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-10 of 35

  • 5.0 stars

    "A great browser that's always performed 110%+ for me."

    June 6, 2010  |   By SpiritCat

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    It's safe and dependable.

    Cons

    I like this browser far more than all the others.

    Summary

    Firefox has always had my browser,internet security and surfing safety as number one.
    Thanks to all those involved with making Firefox the best browser there is.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

  • 3.0 stars

    "Encryption Page Security Issues"

    March 23, 2009  |   By hutchdave64

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    Excellent use of third party plugins make this version of Firefox a dream to use.

    Cons

    Warning, Firefox 3.06 does not automatically warn the user that they are leaving an encryption page, making it prone for hackers to access private information while doing online shopping.

    Summary

    Be very careful using this version of Firefox when doing online shopping. Encryption pages can suddenly go live leaking private information that Firefox will not warn you about unless you set Firefox up to do so.

    I find this unacceptable, and users must be made aware of this. Firefox have said that they have disabled the Security Warn popup because they had a number complaints from users about same. I say better to be annoyed than lose thousands of dollars because of it.

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  • 3.0 stars

    "Firefox Freezes up"

    March 2, 2009  |   By Brents30

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    From time to time the firefox browser has been locking up/freezes up its started this problem after i started adding the "add on" such as reloader (auto refresher url)

    Cons

    i have a notebook windows vista

    Reply to this review Read reply (1)

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Fantastic and Fun"

    March 2, 2009  |   By notAVG

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    SUPER QUICK, MANY ADD ONS, GOOD THEMES, NEVER CRASHED ONCE

    Cons

    Youtube used to crash, thats sorted for now

    Summary

    The only time you should use another browser is to install Mozilla Firefox. !

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  • 5.0 stars

    "IT'S BEST BROWSER!"

    March 1, 2009  |   By stupid3700

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    Millions of GREAT add-ons. Much better pop-up blocker than I.E.
    It's a lot faster too. I.E. takes 2 mins to load on my PC, Firefox takes 2 secs.
    It's more secure, too.

    Cons

    I wouldn't say anything bad. Unlike Microsoft, Mozilla don't mess up.

    Summary

    Great browser. Much better than Internet Explorer. It's a must!

    Reply to this review

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  • 2.0 stars

    "Mozilla Hates Vista!"

    February 27, 2009  |   By WhenUglyWasIn

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    Works great with XP.

    Cons

    Can't stream music or webcasts or anything useful on the web. Unprecedented number of plug-ins to do basic things easily done on IE. Uses too much memory doesn't allow clean installations. Registry problems after downloading using 1 Click.

    Summary

    If you're an XP user-you'll like Firefox. For Vista Operating Systems, please proceed with caution. My advice if you have Vista-please uninstall and shred, shred, shred!

    Reply to this review Read replies (2)

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  • 5.0 stars

    "The best browser!"

    February 26, 2009  |   By turnerjazz

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    I've tried a half dozen browsers since getting a netbook and firefox is still the best. Once you start browsing the add ons there's no end to what it can do.

    Cons

    A little slow on netbook, but with some tweaks it's fast enough.

    Reply to this review Read reply (1)

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Still my primary browser (for now anyway)"

    February 24, 2009  |   By jjmmhh

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    Firefox is still the browser to beat in my opinion. It blows away all other browsers in the category of customization and extras.

    Cons

    version 3.0.5 had major crash and memory issues but it looks like they have been dealt with in this version so I can't really say right now that I've noticed any cons with this one.

    Summary

    Firefox is a pleasure to surf with. If anyone is looking for a browser loaded with features and customization ability then it is the best no doubt about it. The only other browser that has a chance of knocking firefox out of my primary browser spot is google chrome. I'm starting to surf more with chrome because it is a basic and simple browser to use with everything arranged in a pleasant to look at package and I'm starting to lean more towards basic and simple rather than the loaded and bloated of other browsers. If google puts out a version that has master password control and a better tab preference menu it would be my primary but currently firefox is still the one to beat in my opinion.

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  • 4.0 stars

    "generally much better to offer then windows"

    February 23, 2009  |   By bernardbfb

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    east to understand

    Cons

    not enough business explainations

    Summary

    my nephew told me about Mozilla and that he has it on 2 computers at home and at work and loves it

    Reply to this review

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  • 5.0 stars

    "Easy to use, easy to customize, many useful facilities."

    February 22, 2009  |   By akshay_pathfinder

    Version: Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6

    Pros

    the best thing i like is its customizable interface, tons of ad-on's, its an all in all web browser.

    Cons

    A bit slow to start up first, but then excellent.

    Reply to this review

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Results 1-10 of 35

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