1. You have https everywhere extension installed which will force some sites to use https. Every update of that extension adds/enables and/or deletes/disables some sites on their included list.
   • Add-ons > Extensions look at the options for that extension.
   • HTTPS Everywhere home page - https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
2. A discussion about the topic when it was a new feature in Firefox 14:
   • https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/933470

Other- You need to check and update your Plugins as necessary

1. Check your Plugins - https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
2. Shockwave Flash 11.2 r202
   • https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/keep-flash-up-to-date-and-troubleshoot-problems
   • https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-flash-plugin-view-videos-animations-games

Thanks for your quick reply.

I have disabled https-everywhere. Indeed at some point before reporting this I had stumbled on that and thought it was the problem, but sadly not.

I've deactivated all plugins except for "GNU GNUzilla privacy extension". Indeed I am using Icecat 14. I've also got Flash, Flashblock, No-script and Firebug left active. They could be part of the cause but I doubt it.

If you think it's helpful I can disable them and re-restart the browser. I'd be willing to even test a standard Firefox later if needed.

As I said in the original post, the issue totally disappears if I change the Location bar suggestions.

Cheers,

Did you exit Firefox, wait a few seconds and then restart Firefox after disabling https everywhere?

Did you thoroughly read the second link that I posted about the autocomplete function new in Firefox 14 and try any suggestions in that thread?

If the problem is resolved when changing the Location bar behavior, then the item is most like a History item or a Bookmark. You can delete the History item or the Bookmark for that/those sites.

Additionally, some Firewalls/Firewall toolbars have an option to force https on sites that have both a http and https availability.

You can also restart Firefox without Extensions (and some other items) to test if an extension is causing the issue - Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled. To get back into Firefox, click the Firefox Desktop icon and and it will load with Extensions enabled again.

• Also see - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-using-safe-mode

Indeed, I did not "thoroughly read the second link". For those interested, the short version is:

about:config -> urlbar.autofill = false

Of course the link was a History item or a Bookmark, I mentioned I was "switching" from http<->https. Also I mentioned that deactivating the "location bar suggestions" the problem went away. And also, this goes both ways, going from https to http as well as http to https.

I can see that with urlbar.autofill = true the History/Bookmarks are "quicker" to access, in that sense, why not. However the fact that it's nearly impossible to visit a "very similar page" to one I visited is not very useable and borderline insecure (ex: you try to change http->https to login to a website you often visit).

In the meantime I will make sure to have urlbar.autofill = false.

Thanks TheOldFox.

BTW, I wanted to go back and mark TheOldFox's first reply as being helpful as well, but I can't. So for the record, both of TheOldFox's replies were helpful. Also noting that HTTPS everywhere can be a pain and have similar effects.

However the actual thing that helped was "about:config -> urlbar.autofill = false" which I dug out of your links and brought here.

Cheers,