24.7.0 update link does not connect to the update server

Question

FirefoxESR 24.4.0 was bundled with Debian. For several days, I have gotten a popup message to install the security update, 24.7.0. The Mozilla link from within Firefox says I have the most up-to date version (24.4.0). Apper software manager says everything is current. Every time I click on the install link in the popup, the download window stays on the "connecting to update server..." screen indefinitely, never connecting. Firefox and everything else works fine, there is no apparent reason from this end why connection should not take place.

Answer 1

"The Debian build of Firefox 24.4.0esr is Not updated by Mozilla but by Debian."
Correct.
"If the 24.4.0esr you are trying to update is actually from Mozilla and not a third-party build then make sure the folder has read/write permissions for that Linux user."
It never gets as far as permissions or actually trying to download an update. When Firefox checks with Mozilla using Firefox's internal update check, it comes back as 24.4.0 being the latest version.
"The Firefox tarball from Mozilla.org is certainly not a one time install. "
What I meant by one time install is that nobody would go through the effort more than once, and then only if there were extraordinary circumstances.
"If you put it in a folder in Home or make sure the folder has read/write permissions if you put it elsewhere then you should get updates from Mozilla as they are released. "
The current version received an update notice from Mozilla. The link tries but never connects with the update server.
"The updates are by .mar files whether on Windows, Mac OSX or Linux. "
I've used Firefox for years, with both Windows and Linux. I've never had to deal with .mar files or .tar files, or manually installing. Everything has always been a one-click automated install for both initial installation and updates.
Also, I don't want to perform a manual install unless it is for critical software, like needed drivers, and there is no other way. I would like to let the system do the work of keeping track of everything installed and its update status. I switched to Debian stable for the stability and am generally trying to avoid introducing software from outside of the tested stuff in their repository. The only reason I've pursued this update at all is that it is a security update and installing it shouldn't really affect Debian's status tracking (unless I stick the new version somewhere else).
I'm assuming that sooner or later, Mozilla will fix whatever problems are preventing the update from working correctly, or Debian will put 24.7.0 in their repository.