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Firefox ESR 52.1.0 on Linux 64bit: Still connects to cloudfront.net (keep alive) although browser.selfsupport.url value is changed to a blank string

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  • Last reply by edwekei

edwekei
edwekei

Firefox ESR 52.1.0 on Linux 64bit: Still connects to cloudfront.net (keep alive) although browser.selfsupport.url value is changed to a blank string, using about:config.

Firefox ESR 52.1.0 on Linux 64bit: Still connects to cloudfront.net (keep alive) although browser.selfsupport.url value is changed to a blank string, using about:config.

Chosen solution

Solution, two actions needed:

First change "network.tcp.keepalive.enabled" to false. This disabled the keep-alives to cloudfront.net.

After disabling this, I also noticed traffic to cloudfront.net once more. Every now and then a GET [string].cloudfront.net/success.txt. Apparently this traffic was also happening before, just couldn't see the difference, thought it was part of keep-alives. So,

Secondly change "network.captive-portal-service.enabled" to false.

As I can see now, opening Firefox with a blank page produces no traffic. I believe that that should be the default behaviour for a decent browser. Thanx Mozilla for the great browser and the ability to customize everything on it, but please keep it simple and low overhead by default.

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edwekei
edwekei Question owner

Update: Using wireshark I found that "browser.selfsupport.url" is indeed working. If leaving the default setting I can see connections to "shield-normandy-elb-prod-2099053585.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com". Leaving "browser.selfsupport.url" empty vanishes connections to amazonws.com.

So the question should be rephrased; how can I disable this keep-alive to [somestring].cloudfront.net?

All my tests are being done with disabled add-ons or executing firefox in safe mode.

edwekei
edwekei Question owner

Chosen Solution

Solution, two actions needed:

First change "network.tcp.keepalive.enabled" to false. This disabled the keep-alives to cloudfront.net.

After disabling this, I also noticed traffic to cloudfront.net once more. Every now and then a GET [string].cloudfront.net/success.txt. Apparently this traffic was also happening before, just couldn't see the difference, thought it was part of keep-alives. So,

Secondly change "network.captive-portal-service.enabled" to false.

As I can see now, opening Firefox with a blank page produces no traffic. I believe that that should be the default behaviour for a decent browser. Thanx Mozilla for the great browser and the ability to customize everything on it, but please keep it simple and low overhead by default.