Does Firefox have a built in ad blocker?
I keep getting message that I need to disable my ad blocker to continue but I don't use an ad blocker so I puzzled as to why some sites think I am using one. The only sites I've noticed this problem on are my Wordpress sites. The latest one I've noticed a problem with is in the admin area when I try to use the Amazon plugin it fails and a message pops up saying I need to disable my ad blocker before adding links. In my line of work I rely on ads to earn a living and out of respect for other webmasters I don't use blockers.
So, is there an ad blocker built in to Firefox and hidden somewhere? I've gone through my addon's and I don't see any there. Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. If you need more info just let me know.
Thanks, Joe
Wšě wotmołwy (8)
Are you using Private Browsing mode?
Firefox 42+ has a Tracking Protection feature that is enabled by default in Private Browsing mode. Firefox can show a shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar that some content is blocked by Tracking Protection, click the shield icon for more information.
You can disable this feature in "Options/Preferences -> Privacy" or via the about:privatebrowsing page that get when you open a New Private Window.
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy: "Use Tracking Protection in Private Windows"
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/tracking-protection-firefox
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/control-center-site-privacy-and-security-firefox
You can set this pref to true on the about:config page to see more Tracking Protection choices in "Options/Preferences -> Privacy".
- privacy.trackingprotection.ui.enabled
You can check the Web Console (Tools -> Web Developer) for messages about blocked content and about the presence of mixed or unsafe content.
- https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Tools/Web_Console
- https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Tools/Network_Monitor
Use "Ctrl+F5" or "Ctrl+Shift+R" to reload the page and bypass the cache to generate a fresh log.
cor-el said
Are you using Private Browsing mode? Firefox 42+ has a Tracking Protection feature that is enabled by default in Private Browsing mode. Firefox can show a shield icon at the left end of the location/address bar that some content is blocked by Tracking Protection, click the shield icon for more information. You can disable this feature in "Options/Preferences -> Privacy" or via the about:privatebrowsing page that get when you open a New Private Window.
- Options/Preferences -> Privacy: "Use Tracking Protection in Private Windows"
You can set this pref to true on the about:config page to see more Tracking Protection choices in "Options/Preferences -> Privacy".
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/tracking-protection-firefox
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/control-center-site-privacy-and-security-firefox
You can check the Web Console (Tools -> Web Developer) for messages about blocked content and about the presence of mixed or unsafe content. Use "Ctrl+F5" or "Ctrl+Shift+R" to reload the page and bypass the cache to generate a fresh log.
- privacy.trackingprotection.ui.enabled
Nope. Not using private mode for day to day tasks. If I want to do something more private I use a different PC with different OS.
Yes in Private Browsing there is.
With out the telemetry turned on in Firefox to send info to Mozilla I have no idea of anything as I have no info to help me help you that would have been sent.
You can muddle through this... in address bar copy/paste about:support Check Extensions and Firefox Features.
Can also see if taking part in Shield Studies by copy/paste about:studies into address bar
Please turn on telemetry next time submit a new issue please as working blind can not give you more than that with nothing to work with.
Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
To see whether one of your extensions might be at fault, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.
If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox.
If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
and OK the restart.
Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).
Any improvement? (More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode)
jscher2000 said
To see whether one of your extensions might be at fault, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem. If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:and OK the restart. Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh). Any improvement? (More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode)
- "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
- Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
I'll play around with Safe Mode when i have more time. I will have to activate the Amazing add on in order to see if the problem exists with the other add on's disabled.
Pkshadow said
Yes in Private Browsing there is. With out the telemetry turned on in Firefox to send info to Mozilla I have no idea of anything as I have no info to help me help you that would have been sent. You can muddle through this... in address bar copy/paste about:support Check Extensions and Firefox Features. Can also see if taking part in Shield Studies by copy/paste about:studies into address bar Please turn on telemetry next time submit a new issue please as working blind can not give you more than that with nothing to work with. Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
I am going to submit a support ticket with Amazon since it is their add-on that is not working for me. I just wanted to know if Firefox, other than in private browsing, had an ad-blocker in place before I tell Amazon their add-on is broken.
Outside of the Firefox community people say a lot of things. Some say Firefox has a built in ad-blocker some say they don't. Asking the question here I think it's safe to assume that Firefox does not have a built in ad-blocker. (unless using Private Browsing) That is the information I will take to Amazon.
Well, is mostly the truth. Some people are testing a adblocker in there version. It is slow roll out. So some people do and others do not in regular/normal Firefox. Is why asked you for info from about:support and about:studies. Studies is diff. Need to find out if on slow rollout for the adblocker.
Pkshadow said
Yes in Private Browsing there is. With out the telemetry turned on in Firefox to send info to Mozilla I have no idea of anything as I have no info to help me help you that would have been sent. You can muddle through this... in address bar copy/paste about:support Check Extensions and Firefox Features. Can also see if taking part in Shield Studies by copy/paste about:studies into address bar Please turn on telemetry next time submit a new issue please as working blind can not give you more than that with nothing to work with. Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.
So I checked in about:studies and it's empty. Not finding any ad blockers in about:support
Anyway, it turned out the the main issue was caused by the Amazon plugin I was trying to use. Turns out that Amazon.com is behind on updating their tools to work with https sites. I can understand the tool not working properly but it still seems odd that it returned an ad blocker message.