Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Cookie permissions change back to allow every time Firefox is started

  • 4 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by WiTFi

more options

OK, here's the deal. Recently I noticed that cookies were being allowed despite having them disallowed. After messing around I discovered that despite having cookies unchecked, every time I launch FF, the cookies automatically become enabled (both accept cookies & cookies from 3rd party sites is checked). I removed Cookie Monster & the same thing happened. I already deleted the prefs.js file and this did no good. At the time, I have Toggle Cookies installed, which I have to click every time FF launches. When launched, It starts out as denied, and then it changes to allowed. Once I click the icon & set it to deny, then the check marks in the boxes go away. So, why are cookie settings automatically being set to allow each time I launch FF? I wonder if DoNotTrack had something to do with this? I have removed it from FF. I also have Ghostery, but up until a week ago, Ghostery & Cookie Monster played well together. Anyone have any ideas? Has the browser been infected with something? Also noted today, launching FF in safe mode shows that the settings for the cookies do not change back to allowed. Apparently something running in regular mode is causing the problem. Other plug ins present on the browser are: NoScript, Foxy Proxy, AdBlock plus, Quick Java, & Norton toolbar.

OK, here's the deal. Recently I noticed that cookies were being allowed despite having them disallowed. After messing around I discovered that despite having cookies unchecked, every time I launch FF, the cookies automatically become enabled (both accept cookies & cookies from 3rd party sites is checked). I removed Cookie Monster & the same thing happened. I already deleted the prefs.js file and this did no good. At the time, I have Toggle Cookies installed, which I have to click every time FF launches. When launched, It starts out as denied, and then it changes to allowed. Once I click the icon & set it to deny, then the check marks in the boxes go away. So, why are cookie settings automatically being set to allow each time I launch FF? I wonder if DoNotTrack had something to do with this? I have removed it from FF. I also have Ghostery, but up until a week ago, Ghostery & Cookie Monster played well together. Anyone have any ideas? Has the browser been infected with something? Also noted today, launching FF in safe mode shows that the settings for the cookies do not change back to allowed. Apparently something running in regular mode is causing the problem. Other plug ins present on the browser are: NoScript, Foxy Proxy, AdBlock plus, Quick Java, & Norton toolbar.

Modified by WiTFi

Chosen solution

Have you tried disabling all add-ons that specifically mention cookies?

If you find that other settings changes also do not stick between sessions, this can indicate a problem with permissions or file locks in your profile folder.

Does your security suite or other external security/privacy software have its own settings for cookies that it could be pushing into Firefox in some manner?

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (4)

more options

Chosen Solution

Have you tried disabling all add-ons that specifically mention cookies?

If you find that other settings changes also do not stick between sessions, this can indicate a problem with permissions or file locks in your profile folder.

Does your security suite or other external security/privacy software have its own settings for cookies that it could be pushing into Firefox in some manner?

more options

Do not use "Clear Recent History" to clear the "Cookies" and the "Site Preferences"

Clearing "Site Preferences" clears all exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.


more options

Thank you both for the replies. I systematically disabled every plugin, restarted FF to see if cookie permissions would change back. The apparent culprit, Foxy Proxy. I've had this on FF for quite a while without any problems, however once disabled, my cookie deny permissions stay the same.

It was strange as the Toggle Cookies icon would come up at launch of the browser with a red X (deny) and 3 seconds later it would change to a green check (allow).

Thank you once again for the replies, they were both very helpful.

I'll try uninstalling & reinstalling Foxy proxy. If I remember correctly there was a recent update, perhaps that had something to do with it.

Modified by WiTFi

more options

Does your security suite or other external security/privacy software have its own settings for cookies that it could be pushing into Firefox in some manner?

Apparently it was that, although I suspected Norton since they had a recent update, it was the Foxy Proxy Plugin. How this affected cookies I do not know, as stated, I have had this on for quite a while with no problems.

Modified by WiTFi