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Disabling "run studies" telemetry breaks websites?!?

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  • 17 views
  • Last reply by mrpectate

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This is pretty shady Mozilla.

When disabling only one setting: "Allow Firefox to install and run studies" it wrecks this site whether logging is or continuing as guest:

https://appointment.questdiagnostics.com/schedule-appointment/as-personal-information

Even after logging in and everything running normal, disabling the studies run by Mozilla and a quick refresh breaks the functionality of the page. All cookies were accepted and the sharing of location was allowed. On a fresh, first run, wide open Firefox people. Literally, the only change that was made was unchecking that one box. In disbelief, i tested it over and over.

Why would disabling a telemetry setting, something that should be optional, cause this to happen? Seriously, what could possibly be the reason. I'd love to hear it.

This was the final nail in the coffin to me and this is since the 0.9x days.

(posted from Supermium)

This is pretty shady Mozilla. When disabling only one setting: "Allow Firefox to install and run studies" it wrecks this site whether logging is or continuing as guest: https://appointment.questdiagnostics.com/schedule-appointment/as-personal-information Even after logging in and everything running normal, disabling the studies run by Mozilla and a quick refresh breaks the functionality of the page. All cookies were accepted and the sharing of location was allowed. On a fresh, first run, wide open Firefox people. Literally, the only change that was made was unchecking that one box. In disbelief, i tested it over and over. Why would disabling a telemetry setting, something that ''should'' be optional, cause this to happen? Seriously, what could possibly be the reason. I'd love to hear it. This was the final nail in the coffin to me and this is since the 0.9x days. (posted from Supermium)
Attached screenshots

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Hmm, I cannot replicate that (screenshots attached). However, some studies are done on a subset of users, so there could be a difference between the studies running on your Firefox versus mine. (Note: I tested in an alternate profile where I've never visited that site before. I don't use it daily, so it might not have the latest studies.)

In your second screenshot, it looks like the style sheet stopped being applied. That page loads style sheets from two additional servers:

  • ds.cdn.questdiagnostics.com (main sheet)
  • fonts.googleapis.com (Material Icons)

Going into the the Style Editor (Shift+F7) and deleting the content of the DSC-Core.2024.03.css sheet from that first server causes the page to display very similarly to your second screenshot. (See attached.)

Which leaves the question: how could deactivating whatever preference changes were affected by a study cause Firefox not to load or not to apply that style sheet? I can't think of a relevant setting. Maybe if you review the about:studies page, something in the list will pop out at you as possibly relevant.

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jscher2000,

I used a brand new firefox setup with NO profile that had ever visited even a single site, period. Not a single cached CSS from anywhere. All new including the so called Firefox Privacy Notice upon first run, as in starting from zero. The only setting that was changed was the one mentioned in the OP. The site in question hadn't even been cached yet, until the first time load tests. I tested it from zero with the studies setting on from scratch followed by the single instance page load, and from zero again with the setting off from scratch followed by the page load. Both yielded the same exact results and was easily reproduced here every time, numerous times. If the CSS wasn't being applied properly it's because the setting was off. That's it. Why? Is it my IP? The fact that I still have Christmas lights up? Makes no sense. It seems to me that team mozilla has intertwined their browser code too much with prioritized "default on" privacy bashing tactics for obvious reasons. They've really lost their way. But hey, everybody is doing it, so why not?

My next test will be on a freshly installed Linux box. I bet I get the exact same results.

Thanks for the reply though.

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You can check the Web Console (Tools -> Web Developer) for messages about blocked content and about the presence of mixed or unsafe content.

You can check the Network Monitor to see if content is blocked or otherwise fails to load.

If necessary use "Ctrl+F5" or "Ctrl+Shift+R" (Mac: Command+Shift+R) to reload the page and bypass the cache to generate a fresh log.


Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) or if hardware acceleration or if userChrome.css/userContent.css is causing the problem.

  • switch to the Default System theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Themes
  • do NOT click "Refresh Firefox" in the Troubleshoot Mode start window

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I can't explain your results, or replicate them in a completely new profile. The site works normally for me with either setting.

You could check the Web Console (Ctrl+Shift+K) to see whether there is any error message associated with the missing style sheet.

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cor-el,

Troubleshooting mode produces the same results. Plus, as mentioned, there are no extensions or user settings, save for the unchecked box, because I'm starting from zero for each test. With the run studies box unchecked CTRL+F5 refresh fixes the site temporarily before breaking again after an F5 or closing and opening the site again. The site runs perfectly with "Allow firefox to install and run studies" turned on. It's a simple thing here. Re-enabling the installation and running of data mining "studies" fixes the issue for me. And everything is unfettered, wide open mozilla default everything.

Librewolf loads the site just fine because, "WOH! hold onto yer hats", there is no telemetry.

Listen, I truly appreciate the efforts here everyone, but for me this horse has been dying by choice for quite awhile now and it's time to stop beatin' it. I solved my own problem by switching to another browser that doesn't utilize google tactics to harvest, I mean, "study" information collected from the user by default like it's just a normal part of the process.

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Are there any errors shown in the Browser Console as it could be possible that some error is throws an exception that causes CSS file not to get applied?

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OK. I just tested this from a live Linux session. I opened firefox and turned off "Allow Firefox to install and run studies" and went to the site mentioned in my original post. The site was broken. I turned "Allow Firefox to install and run studies" back on again. I then refreshed the page and the site functioned normally.

I did this to further prove that firefox was indeed operating in a blank state and that the disabled telemetry setting IS the cause, for whatever reason. One plus one equals two. Simple.

cor-el, there are NO errors in the browser console either. Thanks for the continued input, but please help other people as I am finished here. I've seen all I need to see.

Dear Mozilla, your code has become convoluted and in need of a good cleaning. You should start with the telemetry bits which are breeding conduct unbecoming of a non-profit anyway.

Let your conscience be your guide.

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