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Groups > alt.comp.software.firefox > #12999

Re: any way to freeze Firefox extension settings

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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.

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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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