FireFox android prevents internet access at Starbucks
I like FireFox and have used it on my pc predominantly for years, but the android version will not grant me access on my most commonly used Starbucks wifi/internet, claiming every time that it is "unsafe". Unlike Chrome, FireFox does not allow you to over-rule the warning and assume the risk in the Advanced settings. Therefore, I cannot use FireFox when I am away from our home network, which I find very frustrating. I seriously doubt that most Starbucks servers are unsafe and high risk, compared with other public networks, and in any case I use Avast VPN for better connection security, or I would, if only FireFox would allow me to connect. What is the work around to allow FireFox to access a public internet?
Chosen solution
pcaker said
I notice that if I access internet first through Opera, then Firefox will work afterwards.
Interesting. This suggests that once the hotspot has recorded your device ID, then all apps are allowed to access the internet, you don't need to authenticate through every app.
But if you want to use Firefox right away:
This issue usually is caused by Firefox trying to load an HTTPS address, and when the request is intercepted by the hotspot, of course, a fake certificate is presented. If the site has previous sent Firefox an HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) header, then Firefox does not allow an override.
You may want to bookmark an ordinary HTTP address to use in that situation, or an HTTPS address on a server that does not send an HSTS header. You might even be able to use:
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I use Avast VPN for better connection security, or I would, if only FireFox would allow me to connect.
Does Firefox work if you disable Avast? Most likely Avast is intercepting your secure connection, and it is the cert generated on the fly by Avast which Firefox considers as insecure. What exactly is the warning you get?
Using Avast for better security sounds very questionable to me, as they break up the end-to-end encryption, and can see everything you send, including passwords. I'd hope you do have a lot of faith in Avast.
Thanks Christ1. Selecting Firefox, the interception says it only recognizes a particular and slightly different Starbucks "datavalet". The interception does not identify its origin. However, the key thing is that Chrome gives you an override option under "advanced", and with Opera Mobile the interception does NOT occur at all. This is why I attribute the interception to Firefox. I have not been able to discover how to temporarily switch off Avast. I tried settings, then Google - no joy. It seems I would have to uninstall whole app to check its contribution to the problem. I notice that if I access internet first through Opera, then Firefox will work afterwards.
I wouldn't install Avast on a mobile device in the first place.
Suluhisho teule
pcaker said
I notice that if I access internet first through Opera, then Firefox will work afterwards.
Interesting. This suggests that once the hotspot has recorded your device ID, then all apps are allowed to access the internet, you don't need to authenticate through every app.
But if you want to use Firefox right away:
This issue usually is caused by Firefox trying to load an HTTPS address, and when the request is intercepted by the hotspot, of course, a fake certificate is presented. If the site has previous sent Firefox an HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) header, then Firefox does not allow an override.
You may want to bookmark an ordinary HTTP address to use in that situation, or an HTTPS address on a server that does not send an HSTS header. You might even be able to use: