When using Firefox, my financial website keeps asking to verify my computer everytime but in Internet Explorer it does not. How can I fix this?
To verify my identity, my financial website will send me a code to enter when I try to log in to the site. This happens with a new computer or if I change browsers. When I use Internet Explorer, I only do this one time and the site recognizes me for each subsequent log in. With Firefox, I have to ask for a code every time to verify who I am and it is frustrating. I don't know why the site can't remember my computer under Firefox but it will under Internet Explorer. Also Firefox is one of the browsers recommended by the financial institution. I am guessing that there is something in Firefox that I much change to prevent this but I haven't a clue.
Chosen solution
You can inspect and manage permissions for the domain in the currently selected tab via these steps:
- Click the "Site Identity Button" (globe/padlock) on the location/address bar
- Click "More Information" to open "Tools > Page Info" with the Security tab selected
- Go to the Permissions tab (Tools > Page Info > Permissions) to check the permissions for the domain in the currently selected tab
Clear the cache and remove cookies only from websites that cause problems.
"Clear the Cache":
- Firefox/Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"
"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:
- Firefox/Tools > Options > Privacy > "Use custom settings for history" > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
If clearing cookies didn't help then it is possible that the cookies.sqlite file that stores the cookies got corrupted.
- Rename (or delete) cookies.sqlite (cookies.sqlite.old) and delete other present cookies files like cookies.sqlite-journal in the Firefox profile folder in case the file cookies.sqlite got corrupted.
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
All Replies (5)
Usually these sites are setting a cookie to indicate they have worked with this computer before. If you have Firefox set to clear cookies when you close the browser, or if you have add-ons that clean up cookies, or external software that cleans up cookies, then that might explain why the bank doesn't recognize Firefox as having been used on the site before.
Have you modified Firefox's cookie settings? This article describes how to maximize compatibility, but if you prefer to keep fewer cookies, we can explain alternative approaches: Websites say cookies are blocked - Unblock them.
The settings I have in Firefox have not been changed but are the default settings. The cookies settings is to always allow and to save until they expire. I use Norton security software and I wouldn't think that of any other software installed would be the problem because that would effect my Internet Explorer from working fine on that site (my opinion anyway). That is why I thought it was something within Firefox itself.
I know my wife does not have this problem with her computer which runs Windows 8.1 I run Windows 7 on my computer and I don't know if that could be an issue.
On my financial site when I see the reasons given for having to go through this identifying process each time nothing applies to my computer. It does have an option that says that may the computer is running in "private" or "Incognito" mode. Again my cookies show to accept and I don't see any way that I would be running in a private mode with the default settings.
Chosen Solution
You can inspect and manage permissions for the domain in the currently selected tab via these steps:
- Click the "Site Identity Button" (globe/padlock) on the location/address bar
- Click "More Information" to open "Tools > Page Info" with the Security tab selected
- Go to the Permissions tab (Tools > Page Info > Permissions) to check the permissions for the domain in the currently selected tab
Clear the cache and remove cookies only from websites that cause problems.
"Clear the Cache":
- Firefox/Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"
"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:
- Firefox/Tools > Options > Privacy > "Use custom settings for history" > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
If clearing cookies didn't help then it is possible that the cookies.sqlite file that stores the cookies got corrupted.
- Rename (or delete) cookies.sqlite (cookies.sqlite.old) and delete other present cookies files like cookies.sqlite-journal in the Firefox profile folder in case the file cookies.sqlite got corrupted.
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Clearing the cookies seemed to resolve the issue. I noticed that once I returned to the site, it created a cookie that was not on the original cookies list. Maybe that missing cookie was creating the problem.
I can now use Firefox as my default browser. My wife was told that Firefox was a more secure browser than IE. I don't know if that is true or not.
Thank you both for your assistance in resolving this issue.
I have a federal credit union. Every time I log on (monthly) I have wait for a phone call for a code. Be glad that you do. No one is truly safe using on line banking. And IE has enough problems regardless if they remember passwords. I just depends if you want to take the chance of identity theft.
RadicalDudette