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Intrusive VPN popup pushing Firefox VPN

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Today Firefox stopped altogether and dimmed the entire window and popped up a "Try the Firefox VPN" message. I use Firefox specifically to get away from disruptive, intrusive violations like that. This needs to be removed immediately and never ever happen again. It's completely antithetical to the core values of Firefox.

Furthermore, several users have reported it breaking their browsing. See this Reddit thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/13rnt88/why_is_firefox_windows_11_version_showing_me/

This affected me on Windows 10 running Firefox 113.0.2 64 bit.

Today Firefox stopped altogether and dimmed the entire window and popped up a "Try the Firefox VPN" message. I use Firefox specifically to get away from disruptive, intrusive violations like that. This needs to be removed immediately and never ever happen again. It's completely antithetical to the core values of Firefox. Furthermore, several users have reported it breaking their browsing. See this Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/firefox/comments/13rnt88/why_is_firefox_windows_11_version_showing_me/ This affected me on Windows 10 running Firefox 113.0.2 64 bit.

All Replies (17)

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Hi

Thank you for reaching out with your concern. Firefox is committed to creating an online experience that puts people first, as such we quickly stopped running the ad experience, and are reviewing internally.

Okulungisiwe ngu Paul

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There is a bug on file by now at https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1835158

EDIT: Bug 1835158 has become irrelevant because the issue of whether/when/how to show the VPN promotion message is someone else's decision (not a coding project).

Okulungisiwe ngu jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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The above bug was closed as RESOLVED WORKSFORME by some unheard-of user, which indicates that this won't be fixed, regardless of what was said earlier. Since Firefox can't be guaranteed to provide a method that works for all of its future spam (the current `about:config` solution is explicitly for the VPN spam), how do I block all future spam from Firefox using uBlock Origin?

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Chai T. Rex said

The above bug was closed as RESOLVED WORKSFORME by some unheard-of user, which indicates that this won't be fixed, regardless of what was said earlier. Since Firefox can't be guaranteed to provide a method that works for all of its future spam (the current `about:config` solution is explicitly for the VPN spam), how do I block all future spam from Firefox using uBlock Origin?

The latest information is that the promotion was suspended.

uBlock Origin blocks ads inside web pages, and not messages which are displayed as part of Firefox's user interface (such as little panels that drop down from the main menu button or another toolbar button, which are the most typical manner of showing messages).

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Firefox is committed to creating an online experience that puts people first

If that would be true then Firefox would not be serving ads. Especially as it is not like it is a first such case. At least this time it is not an ad for a Disney movie, that was pretending to not be an ad for additional gaslighting (see https://web.archive.org/web/20220308222503/https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/98.0/whatsnew/?oldversion=97.0.1 )

(also, replies in corporate English are also a clear signal here)

Okulungisiwe ngu matkoniecz

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Paul said

Firefox is committed to creating an online experience that puts people first

An online experience that puts people first would

1) Not show ads, and 2) Never, ever, ever use the "not now" option.

I am absolutely appalled to see Mozilla putting ads into web pages and using these dark patterns.

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Paul said

Hi Thank you for reaching out with your concern. Firefox is committed to creating an online experience that puts people first, as such we quickly stopped running the ad experience, and are reviewing internally.

The "PR speak" doesn't help, Paul. It only makes people angrier.

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Paul said

Firefox is committed to creating an online experience that puts people first, as such we quickly stopped running the ad experience, and are reviewing internally.

If this were true they wouldn't be putting ads on the browser and closing the related bug ticket as "works for me."

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I just got the ad, and ended up here to read it was said to be suspended yesterday.

It popped up while I was using my router web admin, though I think it's just random.

Does Firefox VPN protect from such intrusions? Just asking.

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The "Firefox Private Network" is being discontinued in support as of on June 20th, 2023. An announcement about the status of "Firefox Private Network" was made at /forums/contributors/716327

The product "Mozilla VPN" is still being continued.

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Paul said

Hi Thank you for reaching out with your concern. Firefox is committed to creating an online experience that puts people first, as such we quickly stopped running the ad experience, and are reviewing internally.

Since you care then don't put it in the first place? Just a thought

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Paul said

Hi Thank you for reaching out with your concern. Firefox is committed to creating an online experience that puts people first, as such we quickly stopped running the ad experience, and are reviewing internally.

Yeah that's why they resolved it as works for me?

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I can't believe that one advertisement can violate two of Mozilla's principles at the same time.

Principle 5:

"Individuals must have the ability to shape the internet and their own experiences on it."

The ad is in itself the evidence, taking control from me.

Principle 8:

"Transparent community-based processes promote participation, accountability and trust."

For 8 I'm pretty sure no one in the community was involved in this decision, or this direction. if I'm wrong please let me know who to speak to.

  • I literally teach my elderly relations and friends that this kind of ad is suspicious and dangerous and ignore it.* - takes over the screen and has a "not now* type of choice.

I evangelize Firefox as something that doesn't do this.

Okulungisiwe ngu matthew69

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jscher2000 - Support Volunteer said

There is a bug on file by now at https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1835158

the aboved bugs is resolved works for me '

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a.mpoygiatiwths said

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer said

There is a bug on file by now at https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1835158

the aboved bugs is resolved works for me '

Bug 1835158 has become irrelevant because the issue of whether/when/how to show the VPN promotion message is someone else's decision (not a coding project).

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There's something I don't get. Is this ad part Firefox' code (coming from a update) or is it some kind of command deployed from a central server? If it's the first option, how this code was approved by developers? If the second, why the hell there's someone with power to push a button to send annoying messages to users of a browsers? Either way, this kind of behavior is really problematic and tarnishes the product's image with its main audience. Firefox used to be my safe haven in the middle of this addicted browser market, now it's a little less so.

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jscher2000 - Support Volunteer said

a.mpoygiatiwths said

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer said

There is a bug on file by now at https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1835158

the aboved bugs is resolved works for me '

Bug 1835158 has become irrelevant because the issue of whether/when/how to show the VPN promotion message is someone else's decision (not a coding project).

This someone else decision makes him a bonehead