USMCPrice said

When I log onto secure websites to pay credit cards etc. the initially send me a text or e-mail so that it verifies my computer. It recognizes my computer up until I do a Firefox update, at which time I have to redo the entire verification process again because the sites no longer recognize my computer. Firefox is currently trying to get me to update my browser but I'm avoiding it because I have payments to make next Weds. and I really don't want to go through the constant re-authentication. Can I stop updates or is there some method to prevent it from making my computer no longer recognized? Still having this issue. Can updates be turned off? I'm tired of the request to update continually popping up, and I won't upgrade as long as the issue above can't be fixed.

Web sites store information on your computer using 'cookies.' These cookies contain information like your site settings, and your 'logged in' status.

Profile data can be removed or not recorded several ways;

• 1) Running Firefox in Private Mode (nothing is recorded)
• 2) Privacy settings; (In the address bar, type about:preferences#privacy<enter>)
• 3) Many disk cleaners and anti-virus type programs can remove data from browsers. Open their settings and have them leave the browsers alone.
• 4) Mal-ware.

Check your cookie options. Note: Updating Firefox should not change user settings. But on rare occasions, user profiles have been known to be 'reset.'

USMCPrice said

When I log onto secure websites to pay credit cards etc. the initially send me a text or e-mail so that it verifies my computer. It recognizes my computer up until I do a Firefox update, at which time I have to redo the entire verification process again because the sites no longer recognize my computer. ... is there some method to prevent it from making my computer no longer recognized?

Sites are trying to avoid getting tricked to protect your account. While they typically set a cookie to recognize your browser, and Firefox normally saves those cookies as long as the site specifies, and updates generally do not touch cookies, cookie storage can be a bit fragile. You may want to back up the cookie database before updating in case you need to restore it. Here's where to find the file:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
• (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
• type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Here you will find a file named cookies.sqlite which is the cookie database. While Firefox is running, the database component may create temporary files with deferred cookie updates. Before copying the file to a backup location, switch back to Firefox and Exit out completely, either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
• (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then you can copy the file somewhere. If it turns out that you need to restore it, you would come back to this location and replace the not-working cookies.sqlite with the one you saved before, after exiting Firefox.

But!

Site may also take into consideration other system parameters when evaluating the veracity of your Firefox's claim to be the one you used before. These parameters may include your current IP address -- set by your service provider, shouldn't change when you update Firefox -- and your browser's identification of its version number. If you only have this problem on major updates, that is, from 51.0 to 51.0.1 no problem, from 51.0.1 to 51.0.2 no problem, 52.0 problem, then the site may be requiring re-authentication any time the major version number changes.