urlclassifier3.sqlite woes on Firefox 3

Ever since I’ve started using Firefox 3, I’ve been noticing that the ‘profile folder’ (where FF stores all the user’s personal info, extensions info etc) was steadily growing in size. Right from my initial usage of Firefox, I’ve not been using the default folder path for this profile but using the firefox -p startup option, create a Firefox_Profile folder at a different location so that the personalization could be carried over from version to version. 

With Firefox 3, this profile folder started to bloat in size very often. Whilst with FF2 it was almost always nearabout 50 megs, with FF3 it grows to ~100 MB after a few hours of browsing. I looked into the individual files and bam! the culprit stood out to be a urlclassifier3.sqlite file which was topping out at 68 MB . Alarmed at this, I Googled around and found this Mozilla Knowledge Base article on the same.

The urlclassifier2.sqlite file contains information on known phishing sites that is used to warn you should you visit one. The information is downloaded by default from a Google database once a day. This functionality can be modified or turned off in “Tools → Options → Security

Firefox 3 contacts Google at each startup to get an updated list of known phishing websites and updates the same in the urlclassifier3.sqlite file. Agreed this is what makes our browser safe and secure but why is it bloating up in size? Are the phishing sites on the web increasing as fast as the size of this folder? Naah! Apparently, there’s a known bug in FF specific to this urlclassifier file which says that it has a lot of vacuum/blank space within and there ought to be a mechanism to automatically compress it effectively.

Its Germany Vs. Spain in the Euro 2008 Final

    Vs.  

Fiery Spain beat a lacklustre Russia 3-0 in the second Semi Final of the EURO 2008 to book their spot in the final against Germany. The first half ended goalless with Spain carving out many a chances but lacking the finesse to finish it off! Striker David Villa looked subdued and Fernando Torres couldn’t apply the finishing touches to the gilt-edged chances he received. Russia were overtly defensive and never could get their counter-attacking style going. Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko were reined in well by Sergio Ramos and Carlos Puyol and at halftime, the Russians could muster only two shots at goal against the Spaniards five!

Second half started feverishly as both teams were pepped up to finish things off….but it was Spain who landed the opener and with it, the entire momentum of the match. Xavi Hernandez trundled in a neat pass from Iniesta after 50 minutes and the Spaniards gained a ton of confidence after that. Substitute Guiza added a second at the 72nd minute and David Silva sealed the victory with a neat finish from a Cesc Fabregas cross from the left. The Russians were well and truly beaten.

The final is on Sunday between two European powerhouses, each eager to shine on the big stage. Spain have been underdogs for as long as I can remember and Germany haven’t really set the stage alight post their World Cup victory more than 20 years ago. Both teams will be taking an awful lot of confidence after their victories but I feel Spain have the edge, having earned a more decisive victory as compared to the Germans scrappy one.

La victoria de Espana!!!

Flag images courtesy Wikipedia