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This article explains the various reasons why Firefox makes automatic connections to the Internet, and how you can stop it from doing so if you wish.

Some people are particularly concerned about the connections Firefox makes to the Internet, especially when such connections are made with no apparent cause. This article will explain the various reasons why Firefox may make a connection to the Internet, and how you can stop it from doing so if you so desire. __TOC__ = Loopback connection = A loopback connection (to IP address 127.0.0.1) can be made by Firefox on non-Unix machines. In this case the browser is communicating with itself as expected, and it is not recommended that this communication be blocked. See [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=100154 bug 100154] for more information. = Live Bookmarks updating = [[Live Bookmarks]] automatically reload themselves on a regular basis, and in doing so will make a connection to the Internet. Deleting all your Live Bookmarks will stop these connections from being made. = Auto-update checking = {warning}'''Warning''': Disabling update checking is not recommended and will leave you open to security vulnerabilities that get fixed in newer versions.{/warning} Firefox occasionally checks to see if any updates are available for itself{for fx35}, for your add-ons (extensions, themes),{/for} and for your search engines. To disable these checks: # [[T:optionspreferences]] # Select the {menu Advanced} icon. # Select the {menu Update} tab. #{for fx35}Uncheck '''Firefox''', '''Add-ons''', and '''Search Engines'''.{/for}{for =fx4,=fx5,=fx6,=fx7,=fx8,=fx9}Uncheck '''Automatically check for updates to:''' and '''Search Engines'''.{/for}{for fx10}Check '''Never check for updates (not recommended: security risk)''' and uncheck '''Search Engines'''.{/for} {for fx4} Firefox also checks to see if any updates are available for your add-ons (extensions, themes). To disable this check: #[[T:Open Add-ons|type=Extensions]] #At the top of the tab, click the Tools for All Add-ons menu and uncheck '''Update Add-ons Automatically''', then select '''Reset All Add-ons to Update Automatically'''. {/for} = Home page loading = Your home page may be loading. To change your home page to something that doesn't generate connections to the Internet: # [[T:optionspreferences]] # Select the {menu General} panel. # Either set '''When Firefox starts''' to '''Show a blank page''' or set it to '''Show my home page''' and click {button Restore to Default}. = Anti-phishing list updating = {warning}'''Warning''': Disabling the anti-phishing protection is not recommended, as it will leave you vulnerable to untrustworthy web-sites that might try to steal your financial information and/or your identity.{/warning} The [http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/phishing-protection/ phishing protection] list may be updating itself. To turn this off: # [[T:optionspreferences]] # Select the {menu Security} panel. # Uncheck '''Block reported web forgeries'''. = Anti-malware list updating = {warning}'''Warning''': Disabling the anti-malware protection is not recommended, as it will leave you vulnerable to untrustworthy web-sites that might try to infect you with a virus, trojan or spyware.{/warning} The malware protection list may be updating itself. To turn this off: # [[T:optionspreferences]] # Select the {menu Security} panel. # Uncheck '''Block reported attack sites'''. = Add-on list prefetching = Each time the Add-ons manager is opened, Firefox prefetches a list of add-ons to improve responsiveness of the {menu Get Add-ons} pane. This connection is not made if the add-ons manager is not opened. <!-- See bug https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=446301 --> = Add-on blocklist updating = {warning}'''Warning''': Disabling blocklist updating is not recommended and may result in you using extensions known to be untrustworthy.{/warning} Firefox may be updating its add-on blocklist. For more information, see [[Add-ons Blocklist]]. To disable this: # [[T:aboutconfig]] # In the about:config page, search for the preference {pref extensions.blocklist.enabled}. # Observe the '''Value''' column of the {pref extensions.blocklist.enabled} row. #* If it is set to {pref false} then do nothing. #* If it is set to {pref true}, double-click on it to set it to {pref false}. = Add-on metadata updating = The Add-ons manager displays information about each add-on you have installed and provides personalized recommendations in the Get Add-ons pane. To keep this data updated, Firefox will request information from the [https://addons.mozilla.org/ Mozilla Add-ons gallery] once a day (for more information, see [https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/how-to-opt-out-of-add-on-metadata-updates/ this blog post]). To disable these updates: # [[T:aboutconfig]] # In the about:config page, search for the preference {pref extensions.getAddons.cache.enabled}. # Observe the '''Value''' column of the {pref extensions.getAddons.cache.enabled} row. #* If it is set to {pref false} then do nothing. #* If it is set to {pref true}, double-click on it to set it to {pref false}. = Link prefetching = Firefox will prefetch certain links if any of the websites you are viewing uses the special prefetch-link tag. For more information, please see the [https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Link_prefetching_FAQ Link Prefetching FAQ]. To disable prefetching: # [[T:aboutconfig]] # In the about:config page, search for the preference {pref network.prefetch-next}. # Observe the '''Value''' column of the {pref network.prefetch-next} row. #* If it is set to {pref false} then do nothing. #* If it is set to {pref true}, double-click on it to set it to {pref false}. = Extensions = An extension you have installed may be making a connection to a website that it relies on. For example, a connection to a website to synchronize your bookmarks, a connection to a website to update a list of sites to block, etc. Or it is possible an extension could be changing the expected behavior of Firefox in other ways. For example, FasterFox extension has an option to prefetch all links. {for not fx15}To easily disable all of your extensions please read the [[Safe Mode]] article, paying particular attention to the '''Disable all add-ons''' option under the {button Make Changes and Restart} section.{/for} {for fx15} To disable or remove your extensions, see the [[Disable or remove Add-ons]] article.{/for} = Downloads restarted = When you start Firefox, any interrupted downloads from your previous browsing session may be automatically resumed. # Press {for win}{key Ctrl+J}{/for}{for linux}{key Ctrl+Shift+Y}{/for}{for mac}{key command+J}{/for} to open the [[Downloads window]]. # Ensure nothing is currently being downloaded {for win} = Infected with malware = If your machine is infected with a virus, trojan, or spyware, then Firefox's Internet connection may be being piggybacked in order for the malware to communicate with its author or to deliver adverts onto your machine, etc. If you suspect this is the case, consider seeking specialized advice from one of these malware support sites: * [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums Bleeping Computer Forums] * [http://www.spywarewarrior.com/index.php Spyware Warrior Forums] * [http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/ SWI Forums] Please be aware that Mozilla is not responsible for the content of third-party websites. {/for} <!-- MZ credit --> <br/> <br/> '''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Connections_established_on_startup_-_Firefox Connections established on startup - Firefox (mozillaZine KB)]''''' [[Template:ShareArticle|link=http://mzl.la/Mxv856]]