Can't create a desktop shortcut for a website in Firefox Tor Browser
I am a Tor Browser user, and I really like the Firefox interface. According to my about page, my Firefox browser is up to date. But For some reason I cannot save desktop shortcuts for a website. Every time I drag the icon next to a website (variously a glob, a green lock, and other icons), I get a denial mouse icon anywhere I try to put the web shortcut on the desktop. This even happens when I drag bookmarks from my bookmark bar! My guess is that something is blocked in the Tor settings that won't allow shortcuts. Any suggestions on where the shortcuts settings are in Firefox?
Vahaolana nofidina
Fred, all the other add-ons worked fine. I contacted the Tor people, and they weren't sure what is going on. I've pasted their response below, but the short answer was they told me to just save shortcuts manually from the desktop whenever the Tor Button is active. Thanks for all your help, you've been great!
4.1. Proxy Obedience from https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser/design/
Quote Point 3: <<<<Begin Quote>>>> External App Blocking and Drag Event Filtering
External apps can be induced to load files that perform network activity. Unfortunately, there are cases where such apps can be launched automatically with little to no user input. In order to prevent this, Torbutton installs a component to provide the user with a popup whenever the browser attempts to launch a helper app.
Additionally, modern desktops now pre-emptively fetch any URLs in Drag and Drop events as soon as the drag is initiated. This download happens independent of the browser's Tor settings, and can be triggered by something as simple as holding the mouse button down for slightly too long while clicking on an image link. We filter drag and drop events events from Torbutton before the OS downloads the URLs the events contained. <<<<<End Quote>>>>>
Hamaky an'ity valiny ity @ sehatra 👍 0All Replies (7)
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift (Mac Options) > key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?
Create a folder on your desktop. Can you drop the web page into it?
deskCut {web link} This extension adds desktop shortcut creation to the context-menu for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Send Tab URLs {web link} Send a list of browser tab URLs to email, Web mail, or the clipboard
Thank you for the suggestions! I started Tor Browser in safe mode, I was able to save shortcuts then! So it has something to do with the automatic settings the Tor people have made (I haven't changed their default proxy settings and so forth). When I started Tor Browser up in ordinary mode, I could not save shortcuts, not even into a folder icon or into a folder. I'll use DeskCut if I have to, but I'd sure love to know what settings Tor Browser made to disable the shortcut feature, so I can just turn that off. Any thoughts?
I don't know Tor.
Type about:addons<Enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control>(Mac:<Command>)<Shift> A)
In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Disable a few add-ons, then Restart Firefox.
Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause Firefox issues. Disable All of them.
If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue. Re-enable the last group ONE AT A TIME (restarting FF) until the problem returns.
Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.
Fred,
I've located the source of the problem. It is most definitely the TorButton extension. The Torbutton controls the Firefox security settings. I've gone through all its features, and I don't see anything directly controlling the ability to save shortcuts. But when it's disabled, the shortcuts work fine, and when it's on, they don't work at all. I've attached the two relevant settings pages in the Tor Button below to see if you can figure out what setting is tripping the shortcuts. But I'm going to go ahead and email the Tor Project people to see if someone there has any ideas. If you figure it out, I'll let them know, and if they tell me first, I'll update this page. Thanks for all your help so far!
I don't know that program. Go to its Mozilla Add-ons web page and find the support link. Then ask them about this. It may be a bug.
Do the other add-ons I sent you work okay? Then you should be about done, until you hear from the Tor support people.
Once you get an answer, please post it here. Good Luck, Happy Holidays !
Vahaolana Nofidina
Fred, all the other add-ons worked fine. I contacted the Tor people, and they weren't sure what is going on. I've pasted their response below, but the short answer was they told me to just save shortcuts manually from the desktop whenever the Tor Button is active. Thanks for all your help, you've been great!
4.1. Proxy Obedience from https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser/design/
Quote Point 3: <<<<Begin Quote>>>> External App Blocking and Drag Event Filtering
External apps can be induced to load files that perform network activity. Unfortunately, there are cases where such apps can be launched automatically with little to no user input. In order to prevent this, Torbutton installs a component to provide the user with a popup whenever the browser attempts to launch a helper app.
Additionally, modern desktops now pre-emptively fetch any URLs in Drag and Drop events as soon as the drag is initiated. This download happens independent of the browser's Tor settings, and can be triggered by something as simple as holding the mouse button down for slightly too long while clicking on an image link. We filter drag and drop events events from Torbutton before the OS downloads the URLs the events contained. <<<<<End Quote>>>>>
Well, as long as you can do what you want. At some point, they may fix it.
Please flag your last post as Solved Problem so other will know.