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Groups > alt.comp.software.firefox > #13001

Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings

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On 4/8/25 2:22 PM, Dave Royal wrote:
> Jackson Durmott <jdurmott55655@enau.net> Wrote in message:
> 
>> On 4/8/25 10:05 AM, Dave Royal wrote:
>>> Jackson Durmott <jdurmott55655@enau.net> Wrote in message:
>>>
>>>> I have recently set up a shared desktop PC with Internet access.  It is
>>>> running Firefox and the OS is Ubuntu 22.04.  I want to restrict certain
>>>> sites so added a Firefox extension called "Block Site".  I wanted this
>>>> extension to be unremovable so followed some instructions for creating a
>>>> policies.json file that was placed in the "distribution" folder of the
>>>> Firefox installation location.  This worked and anywhere  options
>>>> existed for extension removal were greyed out.  However, much to my
>>>> dismay, after testing the extension, I find that it is only blocking
>>>> websites  if the option to "run in private windows" is "allowed".  By
>>>> simply clicking "don't allow" nothing is blocked so setting up a
>>>> password within the extension and making the extension unremovable were
>>>> wasted efforts.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately, I don't have much time before the PC is open for shared
>>>> use.  Is there any way I can simply lock the settings within the "Block
>>>> Site" extension to not allow user access?  All I'd need to do is to make
>>>> sure that the "allow to run in private windows" setting is locked and
>>>> cannot be changed.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance for any help.
>>>>
>>>> JD
>>>>
>>>
>>> This?
>>> <https://addons.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/addon/block-website/>
>>
>> Yes, that is the extension.
>>
>>>
>>> Try adding this to your policy file:
>>> { "policies": { "DisablePrivateBrowsing": true } }
>>>
>>> I'm not sure if that still works.
>>
>> No, did not work.  On a pinch, I decided to go into Firefox settings in
>> about:preferences#privacy.  Under the "History" section, I UNchecked
>> "Always use private browsing mode" which originally greyed out the three
>> options below it.  Once this was done, I made sure to uncheck the two
>> boxes below it and to clear history when FF closes.  This actually
>> seemed to do the trick!  Now when I turn off "allow to run in private
>> windows" in "Block Site" settings and go to any website I have blocked,
>> it now works!  So now it's working whether "allow to run in private
>> windows" in enabled or not.  Problem solved.
>>
>> I'm not sure why I had to turn off private browsing mode in FF to get
>> this to work though and am a bit concerned about what this does to
>> security.
>>
> 
> That all sounds odd. Why was "Always use private browsing mode" in
>   about:preferences checked? Was that deliberate?

I believe I did set that originally, yes (or was the result of using 
"strict" FF settings).

> 
> Does it block sites if the user deselects "allow to run in private
>   windows" in the addon and then puts Firefox in Private Browsing
>   mode?

Yes, it does seem to now.

> 
> And in answer to your original question - how to stop the use
>   changing the options for an addon - I don't know of a way. You
>   could ask the addon author.

Yes, the author has a Github where users can post issues.  If it's 
anything like I have experienced in the past with other programs, my 
issue would probably never be addressed at all.

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Thread

any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Jackson Durmott <jdurmott55655@enau.net> - 2025-04-08 06:18 -0400
  Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> - 2025-04-08 15:05 +0100
    Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Jackson Durmott <jdurmott55655@enau.net> - 2025-04-08 12:59 -0400
      Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> - 2025-04-08 19:22 +0100
        Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Jackson Durmott <jdurmott55655@enau.net> - 2025-04-08 15:11 -0400
          Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Frank Miller <miller@posteo.ee> - 2025-04-08 22:34 +0200
            Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Frank Miller <miller@posteo.ee> - 2025-04-08 23:15 +0200
        Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Dave Royal <dave@dave123royal.com> - 2025-04-08 21:54 +0100
  Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-04-11 05:57 +0000

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