Firefox Send Explained

Firefox Send
Developer:Mozilla
Discontinued:yes
Latest Release Version:No version number given
Platform:Web browser
Genre:Secure file sharing
License:Mozilla Public License 2.0[1]
Website:send.firefox.com

Firefox Send was a free and open-source end-to-end encrypted file sharing web service developed by Mozilla.[2] It was operational from August 1, 2017 until July 7, 2020.[3] [4]

Functionality

Firefox Send allowed users to upload computer files, including large files up to 2.5 gigabytes, to the Send website, generating links from which the file could be accessed and downloaded.[5] Users could also set expiration dates or maximum number of downloads for the links.[6]

The service was end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the uploader and those who the links were shared with could view the file.[2]

History

On August 1, 2017, Mozilla launched Firefox Send via its Test Pilot program. The developers wanted to experiment with end-to-end encrypted data syncing and this service allowed them to try out encrypting large files, gigabytes in size, as opposed to the megabytes usually synced by browsers.[7]

Firefox Send was launched to the public on March 12, 2019.[8] On July 7, 2020, the service was suspended after the discovery that cybercriminals abused it to spread malware and mount spear phishing attacks. Developers attributed these problems to the absence of any form of authentication and the lack of abuse reporting mechanisms. Developers planned to resume service after implementing mandatory authentication via Firefox Account for file uploading and creating malware reporting mechanisms.

On September 17, 2020, as a part of Mozilla's business and products refocusing plans, the service was shut down permanently, along with Firefox Notes.[9] [10] The shutdown followed employee lay-offs in August[11] that likely included the staff who would have been responsible for implementing abuse prevention and malware reporting mechanisms.

On July 28, 2023, Thunderbird has announced resurrecting Firefox Send as Thunderbird Send.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: send/LICENSE at master ยท mozilla/send. deHaan. Peter. 2017-07-27. 2021-03-16. GitHub.
  2. Barrett. Brian. 3 December 2019. Firefox Send Is an Easy Way to Share Large Files Securely. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226024845/https://www.wired.com/story/firefox-send-encrypted-large-files/. 26 February 2020. 12 July 2020. Wired.
  3. Web site: Lardinois . Frederic . 2017-08-01 . Mozilla launches experimental voice search, file-sharing and note-taking tools for Firefox . 2023-07-31 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  4. Web site: Cimpanu . Catalin . 7 July 2020 . Mozilla suspends Firefox Send service while it addresses malware abuse . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709004514/https://www.zdnet.com/article/mozilla-suspends-firefox-send-service-while-it-addresses-malware-abuse/ . 9 July 2020 . 12 July 2020 . ZDNet.
  5. Web site: Wallen. Jack. 15 January 2020. What is Firefox Send and How Does it Work. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713001911/https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-firefox-send-how-does-it-work-4686622. 13 July 2020. 12 July 2020. Lifewire.
  6. Web site: Nguyen. Nick. 12 March 2019. Introducing Firefox Send, Providing Free File Transfers while Keeping your Personal Information Private. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200331025419/https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2019/03/12/introducing-firefox-send-providing-free-file-transfers-while-keeping-your-personal-information-private/. 31 March 2020. 12 July 2020. The Mozilla Blog.
  7. Web site: Lardinois . Frederic . August 1, 2017 . Mozilla launches experimental voice search, file-sharing and note-taking tools for Firefox . 2022-06-16 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  8. Web site: Perez . Sarah . 12 March 2019 . Mozilla launches its free, encrypted file-sharing service, Firefox Send . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200327031856/https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/12/mozilla-launches-its-free-encrypted-file-sharing-service-firefox-send/ . 27 March 2020 . 12 July 2020 . Tech Crunch.
  9. Web site: Cimpanu . Catalin . Mozilla shuts down Firefox Send and Firefox Notes services . 2020-09-17 . ZDNet . en.
  10. Web site: Mozilla . Update on Firefox Send and Firefox Notes . 2020-09-18 . The Mozilla Blog . en-US.
  11. Web site: Brodkin . Jon . 2020-08-12 . Mozilla cuts 250 jobs, says Firefox development will be affected . 2020-09-17 . Ars Technica . en-us.
  12. Web site: Thunderbird . 2023-07-28 . Thunderbird Is Resurrecting Firefox Send . 2023-08-23 . TilVids . en-US.

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