Whenever I install a new system with a GUI — which is quite often as the responsible for the network — it's unavoidable to have Firefox on it since is hit and miss with u… (read more)
Whenever I install a new system with a GUI — which is quite often as the responsible for the network — it's unavoidable to have Firefox on it since is hit and miss with uBO and the Chromium ones.
Except for the pages that load automatically on install, before I open the first page, and before I enable sync; I make sure to match my settings on other Firefox instances first. I even set several in about:config too; namely anything related to QUIC/HTTP3, encrypted DNS, and this relentless need Firefox has to navigate automatically to the HTTPS version of a domain as if they were always the same site. Technically speaking, they're not even the same server but I digress, when I finally enable sync it reverts all* the settings to defaults again.
I thought this was synced down from somewhere but recently I installed Firefox on an older system, I did the ritual with the settings, the candles, the about:config, the dead cat, y'know… the whole thing, and enabled sync. But what it actually happened was; I only logged in. Sync remained off. It read something like "sync off" in the setting next to the big blue button to turn it on.
Before I click the button, I opened a new window, and went to the settings again to make sure that the settings on the current window weren't stale. I noticed the reversal had already happened. Despite nothing had been synced I already was back to defaults.
I changed them back.
When I clicked on the button, the usual selection of things I sync was already done, I just had to confirm it and that was all. Once it finished, my settings were change to defaults… again! Albeit to a much lesser degree. The password manager turned itself on again, but not all the checkboxes below the main setting, one of the two Recommend, something-something while I browse was turned back on, I think Show search suggestions in address bar results was turned on too, and I don't remember if the settings for Firefox Home were changed, they often are, I don't use it at all, but it's rather easy to accidentally have the shortcuts from that page to prepopulate in the address bar drop down.
There must be one setting that prevents this, on Windows I think I have it under control (Firefox is preinstalled and preconfigured through Active Directory), that would be awesome if anybody actually used Windows, we only have it because our accounts are in Active Directory, but it does prove that it can be controlled. Most of the settings that have disappeared from Firefox are still available to Enterprise administrators and then some …which is a bit telling from the browser that allegedly champions privacy.
I want Firefox to let me navigate to "dangerous sites", so I learn early from my mistakes, not later when these protections have made me careless and it's riskier; to keep remembering on my own to keep my passwords fresh, not have that software crutch that relies on a third party service; to be a browser, not my operative system.
Although I'm not a dev, you can get as technical as you want, no need to dumb it down; if I don't understand it, I will be happy do my homework, just tell me how, please (and thanks.)
- not all but it feel like it: it's mostly those that use Mozilla's hosted services, I believe, such as the password manager and the like.
