How to Remove the "Ubuntu Modifications" in Firefox Web Browser?

Ubuntu uses the highly secured Firefox :) as the default web browser... but Mark Shuttleworth did say that in the future Ubuntu "might" switch to the faster, more simpler Chrome web browser.

Anyhow, as a way of branding and giving/enabling the users more optimized Ubuntu experience, Ubuntu developers make sure to add their own customizations to the Firefox web browser that comes in the default ISO image + in the repositories which you'd use to install the latest versions in the future, etc. .

If needed, we can disable these "Ubuntu changes" permanently OR temporarily (in case you wanted them back) since these settings are implemented using the Firefox Extension API (it's added as an Extension).

But before doing that lets have a look at what this Firefox extension does...

*. Set the Homepage to Ubuntu Start (which can be quite useful since it's like the online "Ubuntu-Pedia" where you can ask and find almost anything about Ubuntu :D).

*. Restart notification after an Upgrade:

Say that you upgraded your Firefox web browser to a never version, then when having this Extension, it'll make sure to automatically "notify" you to do a restart of the Browser to apply the changes.

*. Adds ask.com as the default search engine (weird, I don't know why).

*. Search for plugins in Ubuntu software Catalogue.

*. Adds the official Ubuntu release note to the Help menu...

But most importantly, this add-on/extension enables us to easily install software (automatically adds PPA, etc) by just clicking on a URL (which is called "apt://" protocol) and then launch either Synaptic or Ubuntu Software Center to install them. For instance, just click on this link (which is a URL that uses the "apt://" protocol) and see what happens.

Result of a "apt://" URL...

So after removing you'll lose these features and the above mentioned, most important (useful) feature too. But interestingly, after temporarily disabling it in the Firefox extensions section, the "apt://" protocols still worked in my Firefox ... perhaps we have to completely remove the package to make it completely disable that feature.

1. Anyhow, as said, if you want to temporarily disable it, then launch your Firefox web browser and from the menu bar click on: "Tools" -> "Add-ons"

2. And then from the window that you get, to your left go to: "Extensions" and then from your right side select:

"Ubuntu Firefox Modifications" and click on the "disable" button.

Step: 1

Also remember to click on the "Restart now" link to apply the changes

But if you want to completely remove it, then open your Terminal window and enter the below command.

sudo apt-get purge xul-ext-ubufox

If you wanted to get it back later ;-), then use the below command to manually install it.

sudo apt-get install xul-ext-ubufox

Well, that's about it. Not the most useful post of all but but ;-)...