Ubuntu: ID-software installation, updating and removal

For Ubuntu, it is most convenient to install ID-software using an automated script.

To do this, you need to first save the script to your hard disk and then run it in the Terminal window.

Software installation

cd /home/username/Downloads

3. Run the AutoScript:
   To run the script, enter the following Terminal command and press  Enter.

sh install-open-eid.sh

4. Enter user password:
   There's nothing going on when you write your password – don't let it get in the way 🙂 When you have entered the password in the correct format, press Enter.
5. You will see the question “Do you want to continue?”:
   In a few moments, the question "Do you want to continue? [Y/n]” remains on the Terminal.
6. In order to continue, please agree by entering Y using the keyboard and press Enter.

If you use a version of Ubuntu supported by ID-software, ID-software should be installed successfully.

Setting up Mozilla Firefox to use an ID-card

Starting with Ubuntu 21.10, Mozilla Firefox is installed by default as SNAP.

In the Firefox SNAP web browser, authentication and signing in e-services that have switched to the Web eID solution (e.g. TARA) is successful.

If you want to authenticate with an ID card in an e-service that uses the TLS-CCA solution for authentication, we recommend removing Mozilla Firefox SNAP and installing the normal version.

Below are instructions for setting up and removing SNAP Browser.

• Using the Mozilla Firefox SNAP browser with Web eID

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  1. Install the ID software from the id.ee page.
  2. Install the Web eID extension from the Firefox extension store and give consent to enable:

  

  3. At the next authentication/signing (if the website uses Web eID), consent must be given:

  

  NB! In the Firefox SNAP web browser, authentication and signing is successful in e-services that have switched to the Web eID solution (e.g. TARA). If the TLS-CCA solution is used for authentication in the e-service, authentication with an ID card does not work.

  NB! If there are problems (e.g. no consent dialog), you should make sure that Firefox is updated. If desired, it can be done manually, in order to:

  1. close the Firefox web browser;
  2. enter the terminal command: sudo snap refresh

  If Firefox has already been updated or updating Firefox does not help, the following file should be deleted:

  ~/.local/share/flatpak/db/webextensions

  Then reboot the computer. After that, try to authenticate/sign again.

• Removing Mozilla Firefox SNAP and installing regular version

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  1. Remove the Firefox snap version by entering the commands:

  snap remove --purge firefox

  sudo apt remove --autoremove firefox

  NB! The last command will also remove ALL personal information from Firefox, including browsing history, saved passwords, bookmarks, and more. If necessary, you should sync your data with your Firefox account or manually save it.

  2. For the latest stable version of Firefox, use command:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa

  3. To ensure that updates are not reinstalled as a Firefox snap, enter the following commands:

  sudo nano /etc/apt/preferences.d/99mozillateamppa

  When the text editor opens, add the following lines (one after the other) to it (after the third line, add an empty line):

  

  Package: firefox* Pin: release o=LP-PPA-mozillateam Pin-Priority: 501

  Package: firefox* Pin: release o=Ubuntu Pin-Priority: -1

  To save your changes press Ctrl+X, then Y or y and Enter.

  4. Install Firefox without snap by entering the command:

  sudo apt install -t 'o=LP-PPA-mozillateam' firefox

  Press Y or y when prompted to confirm the action at the command line.

Software update

For security, ease of use and reliability, it is important to keep all software on your computer up to date.

To update the ID-software, open Terminal, add the following command

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

and press Enter. After that, enter the password for the computer and then press Enter again. If there is a new version of the ID-software, it will be installed on the computer.

Software removal

Removing the software is similar to installing the software – please follow the instructions below and everything should go quickly and conveniently!

1. Download the software removal script:
   You can find it here: https://installer.id.ee/media/install-scripts/uninstall-open-eid.sh
2. Open the Terminal and locate the script directory:
   Open the terminal and navigate to the directory where you saved the installation script using the “cd Folder name” command. Don't add quotes! For example, a navigation command might look like this:

cd /home/username/Downloads

3. Run AutoScript:
   To run the script, enter the following Terminal command and press  Enter. 

sh uninstall-open-eid.sh

4. Enter user password:
   There's nothing going on when you write your password – don't let it get in the way 🙂 When you have entered the password in the correct format, press Enter.
5. You will see the question “Do you want to continue?”:
   In a few moments, the question "Do you want to continue? [Y/n]” remains on the Terminal.
   It should look like this on your screen:
   
6. In order to continue, please agree by entering Y using the keyboard and press Enter

Now the ID-software and related packages have been removed from the computer!