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What is the purpose of "app.normandy" in about:config - can I set all to false?

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  • 1 has this problem
  • 31 views
  • Last reply by plew29881

plew29881
plew29881
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Mozilla Firefox keeps rolling out changes to functionality and the user interface without notification, as well as altering my user preferences. A set of about:config preferences that start with "app.normandy" seem to have something to do with installing these on my Windows 10 system. I did NOT enroll in any FF studies. So, it is odd that there seems to be outside manipulation . I am not a programmer. I would appreciate a lay person explanation.

"Normandy is a collection of servers, workflows, and Firefox components that enables Mozilla to remote control Firefox clients in the wild based on precise criteria."

app.normandy.api_url https://normandy.cdn.mozilla.net/api/v1 app.normandy.dev_mode false app.normandy.enabled true app.normandy.first_run false app.normandy.last_seen_buildid app.normandy.logging.level 50 app.normandy.migrationsApplied 10 app.normandy.onsync_skew_sec 600 app.normandy.run_interval_seconds 21600 app.normandy.shieldLearnMoreUrl https://support.mozilla.org/1/firefox/%VERSION%/%OS%/%LOCALE%/shield app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.partnerlink.useAttributionURL true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.toolbars.bookmarks.2h2020 true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.topsites.experiment.ebay-2020-1 true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.topsites.useRemoteSetting true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.enabled true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.profileCreationThreshold 1896163212345 app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.provider-steering.enabled true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.provider-steering.provider-list [{ "name": "comcast", "canonicalName": "doh-discovery.xfinity.com", "uri": "https://doh.xfinity.com/dns-query" }] app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.network.preload true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.print.tab_modal.enabled false app.normandy.user_id 9893538f-07be-4513-8265-9124f1f967ff

Mozilla Firefox keeps rolling out changes to functionality and the user interface without notification, as well as altering my user preferences. A set of about:config preferences that start with "app.normandy" seem to have something to do with installing these on my Windows 10 system. I did NOT enroll in any FF studies. So, it is odd that there seems to be outside manipulation . I am not a programmer. I would appreciate a lay person explanation. "Normandy is a collection of servers, workflows, and Firefox components that enables Mozilla to remote control Firefox clients in the wild based on precise criteria." app.normandy.api_url https://normandy.cdn.mozilla.net/api/v1 app.normandy.dev_mode false app.normandy.enabled true app.normandy.first_run false app.normandy.last_seen_buildid app.normandy.logging.level 50 app.normandy.migrationsApplied 10 app.normandy.onsync_skew_sec 600 app.normandy.run_interval_seconds 21600 app.normandy.shieldLearnMoreUrl https://support.mozilla.org/1/firefox/%VERSION%/%OS%/%LOCALE%/shield app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.partnerlink.useAttributionURL true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.toolbars.bookmarks.2h2020 true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.topsites.experiment.ebay-2020-1 true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.browser.topsites.useRemoteSetting true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.enabled true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.profileCreationThreshold 1896163212345 app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.provider-steering.enabled true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.doh-rollout.provider-steering.provider-list [{ "name": "comcast", "canonicalName": "doh-discovery.xfinity.com", "uri": "https://doh.xfinity.com/dns-query" }] app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.network.preload true app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.print.tab_modal.enabled false app.normandy.user_id 9893538f-07be-4513-8265-9124f1f967ff

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
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The presence of a app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.<pref> indicates that you participate in a shield study to investigate how users experience this new feature. This is also used to roll out new features or disable features that aren't working properly without the need to release a Firefox update.

Modified by cor-el

plew29881
plew29881 Question owner
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I am alarmed to hear this!! I specifically set my FF preferences to NOT participate in any study. Under Privacy and Security > Firefox Data Collection and Use, I unchecked the box to DISALLOW studies. ~ I am not enrolled in any study according to about:studies ~

--> Can I delete all these "app.normandy."options in the about:config window without harm?

~ Are you telling me Firefox is making these changes anyway, surreptiously behind my back no matter what options I have selected? ~

I have zero control over the browser?

It is crazy-making. I deliberately stopped installing upgrades after v.84 to avoid the problems caused by unwanted, unannounced changes to functionality and the interface. Especially after the terrible changes to the print function which I encountered using another computer. Then it happened on this PC, despite not updating.