As you noticed, Firefox 98 changed from saving downloads in the Windows Temp folder for "Open with [relevant application]" to saving them in your default downloads folder. It's not possible to pass a file to an application without saving it somewhere.

This change addressed problems with data loss for users who could not re-download files they forgot to save after they were removed from the Temp folder. However, now users who preferred those files to be "out of sight, out of mind" are faced with the task of cleaning them up manually.

Cleaning Up. Rather than read through the Downloads folder, it may be faster to use the "Delete" item on the right-click context menu for items on the Downloads list. That deletes the file from disk and leaves a notation on the history that the file is missing/removed. You can use that to remove files you do not want to keep. But yes, it's an extra step.

More Options Expected in a Future Update. Many users have expressed the view that they preferred Firefox using the Windows Temp folder (or Linux /tmp directory) for "Open with [relevant application]" and "Use [relevant application]". In recent days, the developers were tasked with adding an option to use a sub-folder of the Windows Temp folder (or Linux /tmp directory) for those downloads. I don't know whether to expect this with the scheduled June 28th release of Firefox 102 or in some later version.

Workaround? What I'm doing for now is this set of settings:

(1) Change the default download folder to a "temp" folder I created (2) Set Firefox to always ask where I want to save a file so I can choose a real folder when I want to keep the file

On the Settings page, it looks like this:

Regarding Amazon Smile, your add-ons list didn't include the Smile add-on.

Where is the pop-up appearing? Is it a separate Firefox window you can move around and close, or a panel that drops from the main Firefox toolbar, or a desktop notification in the lower right corner, or an element within a page you are visiting, etc.

It is a separate Firefox window which I can (and do, every time) close with the X, and I think it is caused by Kaspersky (which is my malware protection -- I hope it is still trustworthy!) but that "secure browser" window is ONLY supposed to open when I actually want to go to a site where business is transacted, such as shopping or banking, not when I want to search or use open sites such as FindAGrave. It is very annoying that it pops up after I have partially filled out something for a search or to go to a site like FindAGrave, and I have to close it and restart/resume what I was trying to do. PITA! I wonder if Amazon's greed has anything to do with it? ALSO THANK YOU for the post about the bother of saving all downloads, I hope they do change it back, and do appreciate your advice in the meantime. God bless! Jim Crouse, Fort Wayne IN

Hi Jim, it is possible that a page is sending a request to Amazon due to affiliate or fundraising relationship. I'm not sure how that ends up creating a completely new window. It could be a setting in a Kaspersky add-on??

Perhaps it would help to clear out your Amazon cookies (which will log you out). If you visit the Amazon home page, you can click the lock icon at the left end of the address bar to access that. After a moment, a "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button should appear at the bottom. Go ahead and click that.

In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites. Then close that dialog and close that tab.

Any difference on sites that seem to be connected with Amazon?

I tried this three times, but it does not solve the problem. I also posted it to Kaspersky but I doubt they care. Short of getting a different virus/malware protection (IF you think I should, please recommend) and then deleting Kaspersky, how can I stop this very annoying window from opening when I have NOT tried to access any site which calls for a "protected" browser window? Thank you for continuing to try to assist!