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Can I set a password so others cannot install extensions on a public computer?

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  • 4 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have been named the administrator of a computer lab for a non-profit. They have had problems with people installing various toolbars and other extensions in Firefox. I would like to block the installation of these either by setting a password or by some other means. Is there some way I can do this?

I have been named the administrator of a computer lab for a non-profit. They have had problems with people installing various toolbars and other extensions in Firefox. I would like to block the installation of these either by setting a password or by some other means. Is there some way I can do this?

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Try installing the Public Fox add-on, then in its options, make sure that access to the add-ons window and about:config are protected. In the list of file extensions that you do not want to download, add "xpi". Also make sure that "exe" is blocked, as some extensions are added by running an external application.

The above should prevent extensions from being installed, but you can also make the following change to a hidden setting.

  1. Type about:config into the location bar and press enter
  2. Accept the warning message that appears, you will be taken to a list of preferences
  3. Locate the preference xpinstall.enabled and set its value to false by double-clicking on it.
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You can lock the above mentioned pref xpinstall.enabled

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locking_preferences

lockPref("xpinstall.enabled" ,false);