I need to log in to a site regularly. It is now saying every time that my device is not recognized, so they send an email with a security token. Can I fix this
Having to wait for the security token everyday is really getting old and this didn't use to happen. When I talked to the website they said it has to do with my web browser. I found instructions to fix for Internet Explorer, but not Firefox. I would rather stay with FireFox if I can get this fixed. Thank you for your help.
Chosen solution
A detail like a website remembering you (log you in automatically) is stored in a cookie.
You can use these steps to make a website recognize and remember you:
- you can create an "Allow" exception to keep specific cookies, especially in case of secure websites and when cookies expire when Firefox is closed.
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> Cached Web Content: "Clear Now": Exceptions
In case you use "Clear history when Firefox closes" or otherwise clear history.
- do not clear the Cookies
- do not clear the Site Preferences
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy -> Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" -> Settings
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-browsing-search-download-history-firefox
- clearing "Site Preferences" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exception for password and other website specific data
- clearing "Cookies" will remove all selected cookies including cookies with an "Allow" exception you may want to keep
All Replies (2)
This is generally a problem retaining the cookie the site sets when you enter the secondary form of authentication. Firefox's default setting is to keep a site's cookies as long as the site requests, but of course there are many ways to override this:
- Using a private window
- Changing Firefox's cookie settings
- Setting Firefox to clear history (if you include cookies) when it closes
- Manually clearing history (if you include cookies)
- Using add-ons that modify cookie handling
- External cleaning or privacy software that removes browser data
It's a lot of check, I know, but can you think of any recent changes?
To check built-in settings, you can start with this article: Websites say cookies are blocked - Unblock them.
One other possible reason for this is if your computer's IP address changed since the authentication cookie was set. To guard against using stolen cookies on a different computer, you may need to authenticate again.
One possible reason for an unstable IP address is using a VPN service, and another is a Firefox connection setting. You can check that setting here:
- Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
- Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
- Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
- Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it
Firefox 56-58: In the search box at the top of the page on the right side, type proxy and Firefox should filter to the "Settings" button, which you can click.
Firefox 38-55: In the left column, click Advanced. Then on the right side, with the "Network" mini-tab active, click the "Settings" button.
In All Versions: The default of "Use system proxy settings" piggybacks on your Windows/IE "LAN" setting. "Auto-detect" can lead to a flaky connection. You may want to try "No proxy".
Any difference?
Chosen Solution
A detail like a website remembering you (log you in automatically) is stored in a cookie.
You can use these steps to make a website recognize and remember you:
- you can create an "Allow" exception to keep specific cookies, especially in case of secure websites and when cookies expire when Firefox is closed.
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security -> Cached Web Content: "Clear Now": Exceptions
In case you use "Clear history when Firefox closes" or otherwise clear history.
- do not clear the Cookies
- do not clear the Site Preferences
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy -> Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history": [X] "Clear history when Firefox closes" -> Settings
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-browsing-search-download-history-firefox
- clearing "Site Preferences" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, and software installation and exception for password and other website specific data
- clearing "Cookies" will remove all selected cookies including cookies with an "Allow" exception you may want to keep