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Has firefox installed ad-blocking software?

  • 9 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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During my last (I think) FF update (59.0.2 64 bit), I accepted an offer to install an ad blocker. I don't see ads anymore, which is great, but one of my favourite sites informs me that I have a blocker installed and would like me to whitelist them. No ad-blocker is listed anywhere on my add-ons page. How do I access the ad blocking settings?

Thanks for any assistance / suggestions.

During my last (I think) FF update (59.0.2 64 bit), I accepted an offer to install an ad blocker. I don't see ads anymore, which is great, but one of my favourite sites informs me that I have a blocker installed and would like me to whitelist them. No ad-blocker is listed anywhere on my add-ons page. How do I access the ad blocking settings? Thanks for any assistance / suggestions.

Chosen solution

Thank you very much, everybody, for your contributions.

I feel a bit embarrassed to admit that I've realised that the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials that I've downloaded recently to stop trackers also has the effect of blocking ads.

I apologise for taking up your time and thank you again for your help.

Best wishes to all.

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All Replies (9)

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Firefox updates don't offer to install additional software, so what you're saying makes me skeptical about what offer you saw. Do you remember where you downloaded Firefox from?

Try re-installing Firefox from the official site, using the instructions in the following article: How to install Firefox on Windows

If that doesn't work, we'll need some more info about your Firefox setup. Go to [=] > Help > Troubleshooting Information then click Copy text to Clipboard. Open a reply to this post, and go to Edit > Paste to paste the info from your Troubleshooting Information page.

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Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> A)

In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Make sure you know what each one is and what it does.

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Firefox 42+ has a Tracking Protection feature that is enabled by default in Private Browsing mode. Firefox shows a shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar in case content is blocked by Tracking Protection, click the shield icon for more information.

You can disable this feature in "Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security" or via the about:privatebrowsing page that get when you open a New Private Window.

  • Options/Preferences -> Privacy & Security: "Use Tracking Protection in Private Windows"

You can check the Web Console for more detail about what content is blocked.

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Pkshadow said

If you do not have Tracking Protection turned on...

Thank you for your response, Pkshadow, my TP setting is 'always'.

Thanks again.

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Thank you for your reply, Chris. Chris Ilias said

... Do you remember where you downloaded Firefox from?

My update setting is 'Check for updates but let you choose to install them'

If that doesn't work, we'll need some more info about your Firefox setup. Go to [=] > Help > Troubleshooting Information then click Copy text to Clipboard. Open a reply to this post, and go to Edit > Paste to paste the info from your Troubleshooting Information page.

I've copied the text, Chris, but I don't see "Edit > Paste. Do I just paste the text in this reply space (e.g. Ctrl+V)?

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Tracking protection often is treated by websites as an ablocker. You can disable it on sites that you trust if you want to

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Thanks, Fred.

FredMcD said

Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control> (Mac=<Command>) <Shift> A) In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Make sure you know what each one is and what it does.

These are the extensions listed:

  1. # DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials
  2. # Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on (by Google)
  3. # IBM Security Rapport
  4. # LastPass: Free Password Manager

Thanks again for your suggestion.

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Chosen Solution

Thank you very much, everybody, for your contributions.

I feel a bit embarrassed to admit that I've realised that the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials that I've downloaded recently to stop trackers also has the effect of blocking ads.

I apologise for taking up your time and thank you again for your help.

Best wishes to all.

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That was very good work. Well done.