disabling private browsing using `policies.json` seems not work
I followed https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1229792#question-reply about, disabling private browsing using `policies.json`, but that seems not work.
PS: am using ubuntu 18.04
All Replies (9)
The code that you have in your policies.json file appears to be correct, but the distribution folder needs to be located in the Firefox installation directory, not your bin folder. If you go to the about:support page in Firefox, the installation directory will be listed as the Update Directory on the Application Basics table.
For more information about using the policies.json file to enforce policies in Firefox, see the Customizing Firefox Using policies.json page.
Hope this helps.
not yet helpful, am a bit confused. Basically I installed firefox via `Ubuntu Software` as a desktop application. I have done research on how to know the installation directory on ubuntu, I have found `which firefox` which points to `/usr/bin/firefox`
Firefox from the Ubuntu repositories may behave differently and Ubuntu might be customizing Firefox in a way (e.g. via autoconfig.cfg) that overrides the policies.json file.
You can check the about:policies#active page to see whether policies are active (63+).
Try the Firefox version from the official Mozilla server if you currently use a version from the repositories of your Linux distribution.
Before installing a new firefox following https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release, which was installed successfully, checking about:policies#active, the policies were inactive, however, the new firefox, on policy was active ( DisableAppUpdate true ). So following Wesley's directive ( about:support ), my update directory is '/snap/firefox/418', which contained the distribution folder by default and policies.json files with content ``` {
"policies": {
"DisableAppUpdate": true
}
} ```. So when I try to open the policies.json file using `nano policies.json`, to add policies, I get an error ( that the file system is read only ), see screen shot below.
Basically, file `policies.json` is unwritable. So how can I remove that restriction ?
Modified by lubegasimon
You need to run nano as root (sudo nano) to be able to edit this file as it is in a location owned by root.
it also have to be said, that after downloading the new firefox, I opened it using `ubuntu archive software manager`, not a direct save.
cor-el said
You need to run nano as root (sudo nano) to be able to edit this file as it is in a location owned by root.
sorry, I just forgot to include it in a post, but it's exactly what I did `sudo nano policies.json`.
See the error down in the terminal `file 'policies.json' is unwritable`
Modified by lubegasimon
Hmm. The screenshot shows it asks a password for simon and not the password for root. I don't if this is different on Ubuntu.
cor-el said
Hmm. The screenshot shows it asks a password for simon and not the password for root. I don't if this is different on Ubuntu.
I did supply the password, I just wanted to show you that I had used ‘sudo nano’ before to open the policies file.