hi, websites cannot query your default search provider in firefox, neither does firefox "inform" google about this. not sure why you think that this would be the case...

What you are seeing is just an ad.

I am using a default search engine different from Google and I went to Google for a specific search and Google opened a pop-up window asking me whether I would like to make Google my default search engine. Now how do you explain this?

Maybe Google saw the cookies?

google is probably just detecting that your IP address is located in the US, where it isn't the default search engine in firefox as mozilla has a deal with yahoo there...

doru001 said

Maybe Google saw the cookies?

Spot on   !   Good thinking   ! You won't only get this pop-up whilst using Firefox, though. You'll also get them when you're using that dumb couple Bing/Edge (voice of experience speaking).

What is really annoying is that Google is my default search engine and I still get that annoying pop-up every time I search! By the way I'm in Canada.

goodwitch said

What is really annoying is that Google is my default search engine and I still get that annoying pop-up every time I search!

Same here.   I just click on it and it's gone.   Don't let it bother me   -   there are worse things in life.

By the way I'm in Canada.

I'm in Europe.

Google shows you that message even when you set it as your default search engine in 2004. And every time you delete whatever cookie it sets to turn off the nagging, the message will be back. I just ignore it now, but if you can't stand it, there are add-on and custom style rule options to hide it.

doru001 said

Maybe Google saw the cookies?

Google only sees cookies it sets, it can't see the cookies of the other sites you use.

jscher2000 said </blockquote> Google only sees cookies it sets, it can't see the cookies of the other sites you use. </blockquote> Even when I accept third-party cookies?

https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/types/

https://security.stackexchange.com/

doru001 said

jscher2000 said

Google only sees cookies it sets, it can't see the cookies of the other sites you use.

Even when I accept third-party cookies?

Yes. Let's say you are on a page from SiteA that has images from SiteB and scripts from SiteC embedded in the page. The server listed in the address bar -- SiteA -- is the "first party." Those other content sources -- SiteB and SiteC -- are "third parties."

When Firefox requests the page, it sends the first party server -- SiteA -- any cookies SiteA set during a previously visit. (On your very first request, there are no cookies to send.) While processing, the page, Firefox sends requests to SiteB and SiteC for the embedded content. Each third party server receives only cookies that it previously set; Firefox does not send SiteA cookies to SiteB or SiteC, or SiteB cookies to SiteA or SiteC, etc.

Now, this doesn't mean SiteB and SiteC are completely in the dark about the context of your request. Normally browsers send third party content providers a "referer" header with the URL of the first party page, and even if that is missing, the URL of embedded content may be coded with information that informs the third party whose site is making the request.

jscher2000 said

Yes. Let's say you are on a page from SiteA that has images from SiteB and scripts from SiteC embedded in the page. The server listed in the address bar -- SiteA -- is the "first party." Those other content sources -- SiteB and SiteC -- are "third parties." When Firefox requests the page, it sends the first party server -- SiteA -- any cookies SiteA set during a previously visit. (On your very first request, there are no cookies to send.) While processing, the page, Firefox sends requests to SiteB and SiteC for the embedded content. Each third party server receives only cookies that it previously set; Firefox does not send SiteA cookies to SiteB or SiteC, or SiteB cookies to SiteA or SiteC, etc.

So what does "Accept third-party cookies" mean? That I accept cookies from SiteB and SiteC?

And you claim that Google proposes every single user to change its default search engine to Google even when Google is already the default search engine? And it sets the cookie to stop asking this when you click on the pop-up message?

doru001 said

So what does "Accept third-party cookies" mean? That I accept cookies from SiteB and SiteC?

Yes, if means that in addition to setting and returning first party cookies, Firefox will set and send cookies when requesting third party content embedded in the site.

doru001 said

And you claim that Google proposes every single user to change its default search engine to Google even when Google is already the default search engine? And it sets the cookie to stop asking this when you click on the pop-up message?

Yes, that is how they do it for Firefox users.