Block "Wait!" cursor pop-ups
Lately it seems every web site thinks it can tell when I am about to bail, and pops up a panic message (for lack of a better term) whenever they think I am about to click something that will take me away from the site, like the back button. Clearly it's a "thing" because so many web sites are doing it.
It is extremely annoying, even thought it really doesn't slow me down that much. It's like walking in to a store, not finding what you want and when you go to walk out the door, a sales associate follows you, pestering you as you walk out, trying to bring your attention to something you dont want...which is why you are walking out...you did not see what you want! I am in the U.S.; this annoying sales tactic might work in the middle and far east, but it makes an American want to never come back.
At least most of them are not as annoying and invasive as Microsoft which will not let you simply "back button" from their pages, you have to click and hold the back button and select from history to escape Microsoft or close the window. Microsoft is like sticking your browser in to mud, you can get out...it just takes an extra tug!
Any help or suggestions to stop this annoying behavior (even the Microsoft annoyance) is very much appreciated. I have a web site for my small business and I would never think of installing such annoying things to pester potential customers. I have a tendency to avoid web sites that annoy me, just like a brick and mortar store. So whoever is advising them just makes them lose my business...smart people dont like being treated like a fool.
All Replies (4)
You may have ad / mal-ware. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.
Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.
What does the prompt look like -- can you post a screenshot of it? This article has tips on capturing screenshots: How do I create a screenshot of my problem? Please cut out or blur any sensitive information in the image before attaching it to a reply.
By default, Firefox supports an event that some sites abuse called beforeunload. If a site hooks into it, Firefox pops up a simple dialog about leaving the page. It's useful mainly on sites that allow you to create posts or replies to remind you that if you leave, your work in process is going to be lost. It's not that useful on other sites.
If you want to set Firefox to always leave without asking, you should be able to do that as follows (I can't remember testing this myself):
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button promising to be careful.
(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste UNLO and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the dom.disable_beforeunload preference to switch it from false (sites can use beforeunload) to true (sites can NOT use beforeunload)
Regarding the issue on Microsoft sites, do you notice any difference between being logged in and not logged in? When you are logged into a Microsoft account, I think there sometimes is an extra redirect as the site checks your account. I stay logged out of my Microsoft account most of the time because it's not my main email, and that might be the reason I haven't noticed any extra history accumulating on the Back button.
Thanks to both of you.
Let me try to re-create both issues.
I'll get a screenshot of the first since it was my primary question.
I'll check on the microsoft log-in question. A very good point.
I'll also run some malware stuff...always a good point...
I'll come back and report. Got a LOT of stuff going on right now so my next reply wont be as fast as both of you...which I really appreciate.
Thanks!